Mayor promises era of cooperation

The new Labour West of England Mayor Helen Godwin has appointed the Liberal Democrat leader of Bath and North East Somerset Council as her first deputy mayor.

- John Wimperis Local democracy reporter

The position of West of England deputy mayor had not been used since 2021 but now will rotate annually between the leaders of the three councils which make up the West of England - B&NES Council leader Kevin Guy; South Gloucestershire Council co-leaders Ian Boulton and Maggie Tyrrell and Bristol City Council leader Tony Dyer.

Cllr Guy said he was “honoured” to be asked to take up the role.

Ms Godwin was sworn in as West of England Mayor after narrowly beating Reform UK’s Arron Banks in the election on May 1.

She said: “I meant what I said during the election campaign. To get the best for all of us in the West Country, politicians must put politics to one side.

“That's how we'll lay the Bristol to Portishead Line, build new affordable homes, and help create the jobs of the future.

“Together, working with the Labour government, we will get things moving in the West of England. In that spirit of renewed collaboration, I’m delighted to appoint Councillor Kevin Guy to serve as my first deputy mayor.

“I’m proud to be from and for our region so am working right away across party lines with Kevin, Tony, Maggie and Ian. We all need to roll up our sleeves and pitch in. Our residents deserve nothing less, and that’s the only way that we will make things happen.”