*Greens in historic gains in Bristol West - with largest swing in constituency's electoral history
*Darren Hall narrowly misses victory in Bristol West
Darren Hall (1), Green Party Candidate for Bristol West, has narrowly missed electoral victory in this three-way marginal constituency.
Nonetheless, the Green’s vote share of 26.8% represents an unprecedented swing of 23% in this constituency’s electoral history. The closest contender being Labour’s swing of 10.5% in 1997. In 2010 the Green’s took received 3.8% of the votes cast in Bristol West.
Hall, Green Party Home Affairs Spokesperson, said this of these landmark gains:
“We have seen the Green Party in Bristol go from a small group of committed activists, to a major force for change in the future of this city.”
“We now have powerful foundations from which to build on next year in the all-out elections, and in 2020”
"I’d like to congratulate Thangham, and I truly hope that she can deliver on the promises she has made over the course of her campaign.”
The massive swing has not been the only gain - membership for Bristol Green Party has increased ten-fold since 2010, making it the largest local party and the largest Green Party in the UK. These trends have been reflected at a national level.
The party’s surging vote share has also seen it achieve a record London result, with Charlotte George taking 11.8% in Hackney South & Shoreditch.
Greens have saved a record number of deposits- at least 48 deposits, compared to 22 in 2005. The party has achieved its first ever seconds- Martin Dobson in Liverpool Riverside, with 12.1%, Jillian Creasy in Sheffield Central with 15.8% and Laura Bannister in Manchester Gorton with 9.8%
Greens have also achieved a large number of third places- for Esther Obiri-Darko in Tooting, Ann Duncan in Oxford East, Caroline Russell in Highbury and Islington, Gulnar Hasnain in Vauxhall, Jaspreet Mahal in Ealing Southall, Charlotte George in Hackney and Shoreditch, Vix Lowthian in the Isle of Wight and Heather Finlay for Hackney North & Stoke Newington.
The party has beaten the Lib Dems in over 100 seats.
Ends