Green Party co-leader Carla Denier has been elected Member of Parliament for Bristol Central in a major upset for the Labour Party.
Mr Denier received 24,539 votes in the newly drawn constituency, comfortably beating Labour candidate and shadow frontbencher Thangam Devonair, who received 14,132 votes, to come in second.
Devonaire has represented Bristol West, the predecessor constituency of this one, since 2015 and would have been in line to become Culture Secretary in Keir Starmer’s government if he had been elected.
“Today, Bristol residents, we have made history. We have done it together. We have elected the city’s first Green Party councillor,” Deniel, 38, who has been co-leader of the Green Party with Adrian Ramsay for nearly three years, said in his acceptance speech.
She thanked Green Party voters, as well as those who voted for other parties, volunteers, council staff and debonairs.
“This great city has held a place in my heart for a long time, and the warmth and positivity I have felt during this election campaign has been truly humbling. I am incredibly honoured by the opportunity to serve you all and ensure that the true hopes that inspired so many people to vote Green are expressed in Parliament. I can’t wait to get started.”
The full results in Bristol Central, where the turnout was 69.4%, were: Reform UK 1,338, Liberal Democrats 1,162, Labour 14,132, Green Party 24,539, Women’s Party 196 and Conservative 1,998.
In his concession speech, Mr Debonaire congratulated Mr Denier, saying: “Across this country and across this island, people voted for a Labour Government and I could not be prouder to have been part of making it happen.”
She added: “Democracy is a very special thing. People all over the world have worked hard to win it, people all over the world have died for it. We must always cherish and respect it.”
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Exit polls showed the Green Party was expected to retain its seat of Brighton Pavilion, with Sian Berry taking over from former leader Caroline Lucas.
However, exit polls also suggested co-leader Ramsay would fail to win Waveney Valley in Suffolk, and the Greens would miss out on another target constituency, North Herefordshire.
