Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer not re-standing as councillor to focus on becoming MP for Bristol Central

Carla Denyer has announced that she will not be re-standing as councillor for Clifton Down in the local elections in May to focus on becoming Bristol’s first Green MP.

Carla has represented the residents of this area in City Hall for almost a decade, after first being elected in 2015. Following ward boundary changes she was re-elected in 2016, and again in 2021 increasing her vote share each time and earning over 60% of the vote in 2021 [1].

As a councillor she has used her platform to advocate for fairer and greener transport, renters’ rights and climate action, including leading Bristol City Council to declare a climate emergency in 2018, the first such motion in Europe. It has since been replicated by 570  local authorities in the UK, and parliament [2].

Carla said:

“It has been an honour to represent the residents of Clifton Down since 2015 and I look forward to continuing working hard for them as I finish my elected term.”

“I will then turn my focus to representing the views and concerns of the residents of Bristol Central (which includes Clifton Down) as their Green Party MP candidate.”

“Everyone in this country deserves an MP who is free to stand up for them in Westminster, making decisions on what is right and not just what their party leader says. I am proud to offer this to people living in Bristol Central.”

“As the Conservatives continue to max out on environmental destruction, and Labour U-turn on investment on climate solutions, the need for Green voices in parliament has never been more apparent.”

Bristol Green Party is in the process of selecting a new candidate for this local council seat. The Green Party is already the largest party on Bristol City Council [3], although not in administration due to the mayoral system that is in place until May. Following two by-election wins this year, the Green councillor group are increasingly well-positioned to win majority control of the council at the elections in May.

Notes:

[1] Clifton Down Ward (bristol.gov.uk)

[2] https://climateemergencydeclaration.org/climate-emergency-declarations-cover-15-million-citizens/

[3] https://www.bristol.gov.uk/council-and-mayor/councillors-and-the-lord-mayor/political-makeup-of-the-council#:~:text=The%20current%20political%20representation%20on,Labour%3A%2024