Polls for West mayor and crime boss

The ballot boxes have been taken out of storage as the West goes to the polls today on what has nationally been dubbed “Super Thursday”.

Many elections postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic last year are now taking place across the country.

But the electoral process in the West is somewhat disjointed, with different parts of the region going to the polls for different purposes.

Elections for police and crime commissioners are the only electoral constant in the West – with polls in Avon and Somerset, Dorset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.

The race in Avon and Somerset is particularly key given the recent announcement by Chief Constable Andy Marsh that he would not be seeking a new term when his contract ends in July. One of the first tasks of the incoming commissioner will be to find his replacement. In Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire voters will have the chance to elect a West of England mayor. Incumbent Conservative Tim Bowles is not standing for re-election, having held the post since it was created in 2016.

In a recent survey by the BBC, only seven per cent of voters polled in the region knew who he was and even Boris Johnson failed to recall his name on a recent trip to the region.

Those standing to replace Mr Bowles are Dan Norris for Labour, Jerome Thomas for the Green Party, Stephen Williams for the Liberal Democrats and Samuel Williams for the Conservatives.

Social distancing will mean results may be delayed. The Avon and Somerset PCC result is anticipated on Friday afternoon. The mayoral result is likely to be declared on Saturday.