Bristol had an elected Mayor from May 2012 until May 2024.

Following a public referendum in May 2022, voters decided to replace the Mayor post with a committee system.

The role of the elected Mayor

The Mayor of Bristol:

  • led the council and had responsibility for all major policy decisions
  • had a Cabinet made up of elected Councillors
  • represented Bristol on a national and international level

Previous Mayors

Marvin Rees

Marvin Rees was Mayor from May 2016 to May 2024. He was the first black Mayor to lead a major European city.

The monthly diary appointments and more details about Marvin Rees are now in Bristol Archives. Contact the team to access the information.

Marvin Rees' blog

George Ferguson

George Ferguson was the first independent politician to lead a major English city. He was Mayor from May 2012 to May 2016.

Scrutiny

Our Scrutiny function was part of the Mayoral model of governance. Find out how it worked at the Bristol Archives.