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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Lib Dems take control of Bristol | Lib Dems take control of Bristol |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The Liberal Democrats have for the first time won overall control of Bristol City Council. | The Liberal Democrats have for the first time won overall control of Bristol City Council. |
| The party gained the four seats it needed to take its total number of councillors to 36, while Labour lost eight of the 10 seats it was defending. | The party gained the four seats it needed to take its total number of councillors to 36, while Labour lost eight of the 10 seats it was defending. |
| Council leader Barbara Janke said she would not "gloat" over Labour losses. | Council leader Barbara Janke said she would not "gloat" over Labour losses. |
| The Conservatives took four wards to become the second largest party on the council. Meanwhile the Green Party could not add to its single seat. | The Conservatives took four wards to become the second largest party on the council. Meanwhile the Green Party could not add to its single seat. |
| Residents were electing 23 of the city's 70 councillors and went to the polls on Thursday. | |
| Labour, who retained Lawrence Hill ward by just nine votes and also held on to St George West, now has 16 councillors to the Tories' 17. | Labour, who retained Lawrence Hill ward by just nine votes and also held on to St George West, now has 16 councillors to the Tories' 17. |
| With the majority rule we feel we can give confidence to the city and the policies the electorate want Barbara Janke, Lib Dem Leader of Bristol City Council | With the majority rule we feel we can give confidence to the city and the policies the electorate want Barbara Janke, Lib Dem Leader of Bristol City Council |
| Bristol South's Labour MP, Dawn Primarolo, said: "Tonight is clearly disappointing, lots of good Labour councillors have lost their seats. | Bristol South's Labour MP, Dawn Primarolo, said: "Tonight is clearly disappointing, lots of good Labour councillors have lost their seats. |
| "It's undeniable that the voters are angry and it focused around the issues at Westminster and MPs expenses. | "It's undeniable that the voters are angry and it focused around the issues at Westminster and MPs expenses. |
| "What we see is people protesting, they look to protest against party in government in power. | "What we see is people protesting, they look to protest against party in government in power. |
| "I have to acknowledge people are very definitely sending a clear message to us about getting on with the job." | "I have to acknowledge people are very definitely sending a clear message to us about getting on with the job." |
| Meanwhile a triumphant Ms Janke said: "Tonight was absolutely fantastic. Wonderful news. We were cautiously optimistic. | Meanwhile a triumphant Ms Janke said: "Tonight was absolutely fantastic. Wonderful news. We were cautiously optimistic. |
| "The electorate has given us a clear mandate for what they want out of the Liberal Democrats. They've shown us they want leadership. | "The electorate has given us a clear mandate for what they want out of the Liberal Democrats. They've shown us they want leadership. |
| "Now with the majority rule we feel we can give confidence to the city and the policies the electorate want." | "Now with the majority rule we feel we can give confidence to the city and the policies the electorate want." |
| Turnout in most of the contested wards was higher than the 33.9% average for last year's elections. | Turnout in most of the contested wards was higher than the 33.9% average for last year's elections. |