2025 Local Elections in the South West: What to Expect

February 5, 2025

With today’s confirmation from the Government on which County Council elections will be postponed (based on having an advanced plan to form a Unitary Council in the coming year), we now have clarity on the elections that will take place across the South West.

Nationally, the 2025 Local Elections will be held on 1st May 2025, with elections at 12 County Councils, 10 Unitary Authorities, and 1 Metropolitan Borough.

While nine County Councils will now not go to the polls, this does not include Devon and Gloucestershire County Councils, both of which unsuccessfully requested to delay their elections. However, with dissenting views across the constituent local authorities in both Counties, the Government seems to have determined there is not currently an advanced agreement on the future of local government in Devon and Gloucestershire.

In the South West, four authorities will hold elections on 1st May 2025, alongside the West of England Metro Mayor election. The Conservatives currently form the ruling administration in both County Councils and both Unitary Authorities due to go to the polls in May, while Labour holds the West of England Mayoral seat.

Key Elections in the South West

Gloucestershire County Council

• Gloucestershire is under No Overall Control, with the Conservatives as the largest party, holding 26 of the 53 seats. The Conservatives previously held a majority before a defection last year.

Wiltshire Council (Unitary)

• Since its formation in 2009, Wiltshire Council has been under Conservative majority control. The Conservatives currently hold 59 of the 98 seats.

Devon County Council

• Devon remains under strong Conservative control, with the Tories holding 38 of the 60 councillors.

Cornwall Council (Unitary)

• Another authority under No Overall Control, Cornwall has a Conservative administration, holding 42 of the 87 seats.

West of England Mayoral Election

Incumbent Mayor Dan Norris (Lab) was elected as the Labour MP for North East Somerset and Hanham in July 2024 and is therefore not seeking re-election in the mayoral contest. The main four parties have selected their candidates, while Reform UK has not yet chosen a candidate.

The confirmed candidates are:

• Helen Godwin (Lab) – Former Labour Councillor for Southmead on Bristol City Council (2016–2024).
• Steve Smith (Con) – Previously served as the Conservative Councillor for Westbury-on-Trym & Henleaze on Bristol City Council (2018–2024) but failed to be re-elected in 2024.
• Oli Henman (LD) – A current Councillor in Bath & North East Somerset who has historically contested elections in West Sussex at both Westminster and local levels without success.
• Mary Page (Green) – Current Councillor for Avonmouth & Lawrence Weston on Bristol City Council; contested the Bristol North West parliamentary seat in 2024, finishing second.

If you would like to discuss the elections across the South West, or the Government’s move to “Devolution by Default”, please get in touch.