Bristol Central

Last updated

Bristol Central
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
South West England - Bristol Central constituency.svg
Boundary of Bristol Central in South West England
County City of Bristol
Electorate 70,227 (2023) [1]
Major settlements Bristol
Current constituency
Created 2024
Member of Parliament Carla Denyer (Green)
Seats1
Created from Bristol West
1918–1974
Seatsone
Created from Bristol East
Bristol North
Bristol South
Bristol West
Replaced by Bristol North East
Bristol South East

Bristol Central is a parliamentary constituency located within the City of Bristol in South West England. [2] [3] It returns one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Since 2024, it has been represented by Carla Denyer, former co-leader of the Green Party.

Contents

A constituency of this name existed from 1918 to 1974. The modern constituency was re-established in 2024 as a successor to Bristol West. [4]

Constituency profile

The Bristol Central constituency is located within Bristol, a city in South West England. It is entirely urban and contains the city centre along with neighbourhoods to its north and west, including St Werburghs, Bishopston and Clifton. Bristol is a major port city and has a long history of trade, including the slave trade. The constituency contains the University of Bristol and thus has a large student population.

Compared to national averages, residents of Bristol Central are considerably younger and have very high levels of education and professional employment. They are largely unmarried, irreligious and have low levels of deprivation. [5] Clifton is highly affluent and is one of the 10% least-deprived areas in England. [6] The constituency is slightly more ethnically diverse than the rest of the country; 78% of residents are White, 8% are Asian and 6% are Black. [7] Bristol Central has also been reported to be the most pro-immigration constituency in the United Kingdom; 55% of voters wanted fewer controls and higher levels of immigration in the city according to a survey published by The Telegraph . [8]

At the city council, all wards in the Bristol Central constituency are represented by Green Party councillors. Voters in the constituency overwhelmingly supported remaining in the European Union in the 2016 referendum. An estimated 88% voted against Brexit, the highest rate of any constituency in the United Kingdom. [5]

History

Bristol Central was first created for the 1918 general election, and abolished for the February 1974 general election, after which it was absorbed into Bristol North East and Bristol South East.

During the Fifth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies in 2000-07, a proposal to rename Bristol West to "Bristol Central" was rejected. [9]

Modern constituency

Following the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, Bristol Central largely replaced Bristol West, comprising approximately 70% of the abolished constituency. [10] It was first contested at the 2024 general election. [11]

2024 election

In January 2022, Bristol West MP Thangam Debbonaire was reselected by the Labour Party to stand as their candidate for Bristol Central in the next general election; on 4 September 2023 she was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport by Keir Starmer. [12] London Mayor Sadiq Khan visited Clifton to show support for Debbonaire, claiming that Bristol would "have a strong champion as culture secretary in the next Labour government”. [13]

In 2023, the Green Party said that Bristol Central would be a target seat for the party, and selected their co-leader, Carla Denyer, as their candidate. [14] [15] [16] Following the May local elections, the Green Party became the biggest party in Bristol City Council. [17] Denyer aimed to capitalise upon voters “feeling utterly uninspired by the potential of a Keir Starmer-led Labour party”. [18] Former MP for Liverpool Riverside, Dame Louise Ellman accused the Green Party of stirring up divisions over the Gaza war as part of their electoral campaign, by including the Palestinian flag and images of destruction in Gaza on their distribution letters in Bristol. [19]

Other running candidates included, Reform UK's Robert Clarke, [20] the Liberal Democrats's Nicholas Coombes, [21] and the Conservatives's Samuel Williams. [22]

At the beginning of the campaign, The Economist and the Financial Times predicted Labour would win in Bristol Central, based upon poll tracking. [23] [24] Constituent Carol Vorderman predicted the Green Party would win the election with 52% of the vote share. [25]

Boundaries

Historic

1918–1950: The County Borough of Bristol wards of Central East, Central West, Redcliffe, St Augustine, St James, St Paul, and St Philip and Jacob South.

1950–1955: The County Borough of Bristol wards of Easton, Knowle, Redcliffe, St Paul, St Philip and Jacob North, and St Philip and Jacob South.

1955–1974: The County Borough of Bristol wards of Easton, Knowle, St Paul, St Philip and Jacob, and Windmill Hill.

Current

Bristol Central
Map of boundaries from 2024

2024-present: The City of Bristol wards of Ashley, Central, Clifton, Clifton Down, Cotham, Hotwells and Harbourside, and Redland. [26]

The seat comprises the former Bristol West constituency – minus the wards of Bishopston and Ashley Down, which was moved to Bristol North West, and Lawrence Hill and Easton, which were moved to Bristol East. [27]

Members of Parliament

ElectionMemberPartyNotes
1918 Thomas Inskip Conservative
1929 Joseph Alpass Labour
1931 Lord Apsley Conservative Killed in action, 1942 as Commander of the Arab Legion in Malta
1943 by-election Lady Apsley Conservative
1945 Stan Awbery Labour
1964 Arthur Palmer Labour
1974–2024 NoneConstituency not in use 1974–2024.
2024 Carla Denyer Green Co-leader of the Green Party (until 2 September 2025)

Election results

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Bristol Central [28] [29]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Carla Denyer 24,539 56.6 +30.6
Labour Thangam Debbonaire 14,13232.6−25.9
Conservative Samuel Williams1,9984.6−9.7
Reform Robert Clarke1,3383.1+1.9
Liberal Democrats Nicholas Coombes1,1622.7New
Party of Women Kellie-Jay Keen 1960.5New
Majority 10,40724.0N/A
Turnout 43,36569.1–4.1
Registered electors 62,735
Green gain from Labour Swing +28.2

Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result [30]
PartyVote%
Labour 30,07758.5
Green 13,38126.0
Conservative 7,37614.3
Brexit Party 5931.2
Turnout51,42773.2
Electorate70,227

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1970: Bristol Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Arthur Palmer 12,375 51.4 −7.5
Conservative James R. E. Taylor9,13037.9+1.9
Liberal Antony Rider2,56910.7New
Majority 3,24513.5−9.4
Turnout 24,07466.7−3.3
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Bristol Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Arthur Palmer 15,399 58.9 +3.4
Conservative James R. E. Taylor9,41036.0−3.0
Independent Desmond H. R. Burgess1,3225.1−1.4
Majority 5,98922.9+7.4
Turnout 26,13170.0−1.9
Labour hold Swing
General election 1964: Bristol Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Arthur Palmer 16,207 54.5 +0.9
Conservative James R. E. Taylor11,61639.0−7.4
Independent Desmond H. R. Burgess1,9366.5New
Majority 4,59115.5+8.3
Turnout 29,75971.9−3.1
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Bristol Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Stan Awbery 19,905 53.6 −6.9
Conservative L. G. Pine 17,20946.4+6.9
Majority 2,6967.2−13.8
Turnout 37,11475.0+1.2
Labour hold Swing
General election 1955: Bristol Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Stan Awbery 25,158 60.5 −1.9
Conservative Kenelm Antony Philip Dalby16,40639.5+1.9
Majority 8,75221.0−3.8
Turnout 41,56473.8−9.3
Labour hold Swing
General election 1951: Bristol Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Stan Awbery 26,091 62.4 +2.7
Conservative Kenelm Antony Philip Dalby15,72537.6+6.6
Majority 10,36624.8−3.9
Turnout 41,81683.1−1.4
Labour hold Swing
General election 1950: Bristol Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Stan Awbery 25,889 59.7 −4.2
Conservative John Peyton 13,46131.0−5.1
Liberal Donald David Oliver Jones4,0429.3New
Majority 12,42828.7+0.9
Turnout 43,39284.5+14.5
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Bristol Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Stan Awbery 13,045 63.9 +16.4
Conservative Violet Bathurst 7,36936.1−16.4
Majority 5,67627.8N/A
Turnout 20,41470.0−2.8
Labour gain from Conservative Swing
1943 Bristol Central by-election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Violet Bathurst 5,867 52.1 −0.4
Independent Labour Jennie Lee 4,30838.2New
Ind. Labour Party John McNair 8307.4New
Independent F. H. Dunn2582.3New
Majority 1,55913.9+8.9
Turnout 11,26332.9−39.9
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1930s

General election 1935: Bristol Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Allen Bathurst 15,774 52.5 −7.1
Labour J. J. Taylor14,25847.5+7.1
Majority 1,5165.0−14.2
Turnout 30,03272.8−7.6
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1931: Bristol Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Allen Bathurst 22,311 59.6 +15.3
Labour Joseph Alpass 15,14340.4−15.3
Majority 7,16819.2N/A
Turnout 37,45480.4+2.9
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

Elections in the 1920s

General election 1929: Bristol Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Joseph Alpass 20,749 55.7 +10.8
Unionist Thomas Inskip 16,52444.3−10.8
Majority 4,22511.4N/A
Turnout 37,27377.50.0
Registered electors 48,081
Labour gain from Unionist Swing +10.8
General election 1924: Bristol Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Unionist Thomas Inskip 17,177 55.1 +0.4
Labour James Lovat-Fraser 14,01844.9−0.4
Majority 3,15910.2+0.8
Turnout 31,19577.5+11.7
Registered electors 40,252
Unionist hold Swing +0.4
General election 1923: Bristol Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Unionist Thomas Inskip 14,386 54.7 −1.2
Labour Samuel Edward Walters11,93245.3+1.2
Majority 2,4549.4−2.4
Turnout 26,31865.8−6.2
Registered electors 40,000
Unionist hold Swing −1.2
General election 1922: Bristol Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Unionist Thomas Inskip 15,568 55.9 −6.3
Labour Christopher Thomson 12,30344.1+6.3
Majority 3,26511.8−12.6
Turnout 27,87172.0+18.3
Registered electors 38,709
Unionist hold Swing −6.3

Elections in the 1910s

General election 1918: Bristol Central
PartyCandidateVotes%
C Unionist Party (UK) Thomas Inskip 12,23263.2
Labour Ernest Bevin 7,13736.8
Majority5,09526.4
Turnout 19,36953.7
Registered electors 36,038
Unionist win (new seat)
Cindicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – South West". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  2. ↑ "South West region – Revised proposals" (PDF). Boundary Commission for England. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 December 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  3. ↑ "Bristol Central Borough Constituency" (PDF). Boundary Commission for England. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 April 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  4. ↑ "Revised proposals for new Parliamentary constituency boundaries in the South West region". Boundary Commission for England. Archived from the original on 17 December 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  5. 1 2 "The Electoral Calculus' profile of Bristol Central". Electoral Calculus . Archived from the original on 24 November 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  6. ↑ "Constituency data: Deprivation in England". commonslibrary.parliament.uk. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  7. ↑ "2021 census results: Ethnic groups in your constituency". commonslibrary.parliament.uk. 4 July 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  8. ↑ Booth, Mia V. (23 January 2024). "Bristol Central most pro-immigration constituency in the UK". Bristol24/7 . Archived from the original on 23 January 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  9. ↑ "Fifth Periodical Report" (PDF). Boundary Commission for England . 26 February 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  10. ↑ Baker, Carl; Johnston, Neil (20 March 2024). "Boundary review 2023: Which seats will change in the UK?". UK Parliament . Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  11. ↑ Cork, Tristan (30 June 2023). "New 'Bristol Central' election contest confirmed – and the Greens already say they can win it". BristolLive . Archived from the original on 12 April 2024. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  12. ↑ Harris, Aden (13 September 2023). "Shadow sports minister Debbonaire admits she has never been to a football match". Bristol 24/7. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  13. ↑ Booth, Martin (31 May 2024). "Khan Campaigns In Bristol Central To Support Debbonaire". Bristol 24/7. Archived from the original on 2 June 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  14. ↑ Walker, Peter (6 October 2023). "Green party says it plans to focus its effort on four seats at general election". The Guardian . Archived from the original on 3 April 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  15. ↑ Green, Tilly (28 June 2023). "Bristol constituency boundary changes halve Labour majority". Bristol Green Party . Archived from the original on 28 June 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  16. ↑ "Full list of all Green Party candidates at the next general election". Bright Green . 17 September 2023. Archived from the original on 1 April 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  17. ↑ Ketibuah-Foley, Jasmine (3 May 2024). "Greens become biggest party in Bristol after poll". BBC News. Archived from the original on 4 May 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  18. ↑ Fisher, Lucy (30 May 2024). "Greens aim to win voters 'utterly uninspired' by Keir Starmer" . Financial Times . Archived from the original on 30 May 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  19. ↑ Bell-Cross, Lorin (30 May 2024). "Green Party accused of 'stirring division' over Palestinian flag leaflet". The Jewish Chronicle . Archived from the original on 3 June 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  20. ↑ "Bristol Central Constituency". Reform UK . Archived from the original on 19 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  21. ↑ "Lib Dems announce Bristol candidates for the General Election". Bristol Liberal Democrats . 23 May 2024. Archived from the original on 23 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  22. ↑ Williams, Samuel [@SPSWilliams] (2 June 2024). "It's a huge privilege to be selected as the parliamentary candidate for Bristol Central" (Tweet). Retrieved 3 June 2024– via Twitter.
  23. ↑ "UK election 2024". The Economist . Archived from the original on 28 May 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  24. ↑ "Predict the UK general election result". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 29 May 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  25. ↑ Booth, Martin (3 June 2024). "Carol Vorderman: 'I Wish the Race in Bristol Central Wasn't Between Two Great Women With Strong Political Voices'". Bristol 24/7. Archived from the original on 3 June 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  26. ↑ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". legislation.gov.uk . Archived from the original on 1 March 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  27. ↑ "How Bristol constituency boundaries could change". BBC News . 8 November 2022. Archived from the original on 8 November 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  28. ↑ "Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll". Bristol City Council . 7 June 2024. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  29. ↑ "General election results 2024". Bristol City Council. 5 July 2024. Archived from the original on 10 July 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  30. ↑ "Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". Rallings & Thrasher, Professor David Denver (Scotland), Nicholas Whyte (NI) for Sky News, PA, BBC News and ITV News. UK Parliament . Retrieved 11 July 2024.

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