Conservatives Councillors are the most green

A recent article was published on Bristol Live: Bristol City Councillor takes train to Lithuania in bid to cut down on flight emissions (13 Nov) 2025

Cllr Heather Mack said: “On behalf of Bristol, earlier this year I travelled to Lithuania to collect a climate award from the European Commission. I travelled by train. It was a long journey, but I was able to work while travelling and had a great experience sampling the rail networks of Europe.

The article highlighted the reduction in emissions from Councillors International Travel since the Green Party took over in Bristol.

But this news article just looked at one trip and didn't refer to any other individual trips by Councillors. When I read it I thought it read like a Green Party press release.

I analyse the International Travel data published by Bristol City Council and can provide a much more comprehensive analysis. My data does not include Heather Mack's trip to Lithuania as BCC have only currently published data up to March 2025, which must have been before Heather's trip.

I have analysed the international travel data for current Councillors from Jan 2022 to March 2025. During that period they have made 14 international trips.

Conservative Councillors are the greenest

There is only one group that have not done any international travel over this period and therefore the Conservatives should be considered the greenest Party in Bristol City Council.

Labour are the next greenest party

Labour Councillors took 10 trips over this period, of which 50% of them included Air travel.

The Greens are the next greenest party

67% of the Green Councillors trips involved Air travel.

The Liberal Democrats are the least green

100% of their trips included Air travel.

What do the Green Party say about Air travel?

Councillors

Of the Councillors who have carried out international travel during this period, Labour's Donald Alexander is the greenest of all, with none of his 3 trips involving Air travel.

The next greenest is the Green Councillor Martin Fodor who used Air travel on 50% of his trips.

Kye Dudd (Labour) is third greenest with 60% of his trips involving Air travel.

Andrew Varney (Liberal Democrat), Ellie King (Labour), Paul Goggin (Labour) and Tony Dyer (Green) are the most polluting Councillors, with all of their trips involving Air travel.

Where Cost is £0, the trip was funded by an external party, but the carbon emissions are the same whether BCC paid for it or not.