Labour’s Tim Rippington has won the Brislington East by-election — but will be a councillor for less than four months before having to defend his seat.
He won with 865 votes (40 per cent) ahead of Conservative Richard Williams on 647 (30 per cent), Lib Dem Tara Murray who received 486 (22 per cent) and the Greens’ Isaac Price-Sosner in fourth with 179 (eight per cent).
The Bristol City Council seat, one of two representing the ward, was left vacant with the death of veteran Labour Cllr Mike Langley in October.
Bristol group leader Cllr Marg Hickman said: "We are delighted to welcome Tim Rippington as our newest local Labour councillor.
“Mike left big shoes to fill but Tim has already proven himself to be a real champion for his neighbours in Brislington, St Annes, and Broomhill.
"Tim – working with Marvin and our Labour administration – has helped to save Wick Road library from national austerity and protected local bus services from First Bus cuts.
“Working with other local Brislington Labour candidates, Tim has also won funding for a new youth boxing club and secured a commuter ferry service along the Feeder.
"Brislington East knows that we cannot afford to turn back the clock to a city where nothing got done.
“Yesterday, Bristol's voters rejected that kind of negative politics.
“Our Labour administration will continue to build a better Bristol where nobody is left behind."
All 70 city council seats will be contested at the local elections on May 7, including Cllr Rippington’s.
Labour says his victory doubled the party’s majority from five per cent to 10 per cent, although only one councillor was being returned to City Hall in Thursday’s (January 16) by-election whereas residents were voting for two at the 2016 local elections, so the circumstances were different.
Lib Dem Cllr Tony Carey, who finished second behind Cllr Langley in the 2016 local elections standing as a Tory, is the other member for Brislington East.
Cllr Rippington will be sworn in as a councillor next week. The turnout in the by-election was 23.6 per cent.
Cllr Langley represented Brislington East from 2011-19 and was previously member for Frome Vale in the 1990s.
He is due to be made an honorary alderman.
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