Bristol South

Last updated

Bristol South
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Bristol South
Interactive map of boundaries from 2024
South West England - Bristol South constituency.svg
Boundary of Bristol South in South West England
County City of Bristol
Population107,365 (2011 census) [1]
Electorate 74,696 (2023) [2]
Major settlements Bedminster
Current constituency
Created 1885
Member of Parliament Karin Smyth (Labour)
SeatsOne
Created from Bristol

Bristol South is a constituency [n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2015 by Karin Smyth of the Labour Party, [n 2] with the seat being Labour-held since 1935.

Contents

Constituency profile

The Bristol South constituency is located in the city of Bristol in South West England. It covers the areas to the south of the city centre, including the inner-city districts of Southville and Bedminster and the suburban neighbourhoods of Bishopsworth, Hartcliffe, Knowle West and Hengrove. Bristol is a major port city and has a long history of trade, including the slave trade. The areas of Bishopsworth, Hartcliffe and Knowle West contain a large proportion of social housing and are amongst the 10% most deprived parts of the country, whilst the areas closer to the city centre are wealthier. [3]

Compared to national averages, residents of Bristol South are young, irreligious and have average levels of wealth, education and professional employment. White people make up 90% of the population. [4] At the city council, areas close to the city centre are represented by Green Party councillors like much of the rest of Bristol. Suburban areas of the constituency elected a mixture of Labour Party, Conservative and Liberal Democrat councillors. Voters in Bristol South were estimated to have been marginally in favour of remaining in the European Union in the 2016 referendum, with the option receiving 51% of the vote compared to 48% nationally. [4]

Boundaries

Bristol South
Map of boundaries 1997–2024

The constituency covers the south-west of Bristol, bounded by the Avon New Cut to the north, the A37 Wells Road to the east, and the city boundaries to the south and west.

1885–1918: The Borough of Bristol wards of Bedminster East, Bedminster West, Bristol, and Redcliffe, and part of the civil parish of Bedminster.

1918–1950: The County Borough of Bristol wards of Bedminster East, Bedminster West, and Southville, and part of Somerset ward.

1950–1955: The County Borough of Bristol wards of Bedminster, Somerset, Southville, and Windmill Hill.

1955–1983: The County Borough of Bristol wards of Bedminster, Bishopsworth, Hengrove, Somerset, and Southville.

1983–1997: The City of Bristol wards of Bedminster, Bishopsworth, Filwood, Hartcliffe, Knowle, Southville, Whitchurch Park, and Windmill Hill.

1997–2024: The City of Bristol wards of Bedminster, Bishopsworth, Filwood, Hartcliffe, Hengrove, Knowle, Southville, Whitchurch Park, and Windmill Hill.

2024–present: The City of Bristol wards of Bedminster; Bishopsworth; Filwood; Hartcliffe & Withywood; Hengrove & Whitchurch Park; Southville; and Windmill Hill. [5]

To bring the electorate within the permitted range, the Knowle ward was moved to Bristol East. [6] [7]

History

The seat has elected Labour MPs at every election since 1935, the only seat in the south of England outside Greater London with such a record. The closest result, giving a marginal majority, was the 1987 election where Dawn Primarolo won a majority of 2.7% of the vote — in that election the Social Democratic Party, a 'moderate' breakaway party from the Labour Party, [n 3] won 19.6% of the vote.

The incumbent prior to Smyth was Baroness Dawn Primarolo who held the seat for 28 years. She was a Minister of the Crown in the Blair Ministry and throughout the Coalition Government 2010 was a Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons.

Members of Parliament

ElectionMember [8] Party
1885 Sir Joseph Dodge Weston Liberal
1886 Sir Edward Stock Hill Conservative
1900 Walter Long Conservative
1906 Sir Howell Davies Liberal
1922 Sir Beddoe Rees Liberal
1929 Alexander Walkden Labour
1931 Noel Ker Lindsay Conservative
1935 Alexander Walkden Labour
1945 William Wilkins Labour
1970 Michael Cocks Labour
1987 Dawn Primarolo Labour
2015 Karin Smyth Labour

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Bristol South [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Karin Smyth 18,521 42.7 −8.9
Green Jai Breitnauer10,85525.0+19.9
Reform Richard Visick6,19514.3+10.0
Conservative Liz Brennan4,94711.4−21.4
Liberal Democrats Andrew Brown2,7216.3+0.1
SDP Neil Norton1640.4N/A
Majority 7,66617.7−1.1
Turnout 43,40357.5−7.1
Registered electors 75,533
Labour hold Swing −14.4

Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result [10]
PartyVote%
Labour 24,91751.6
Conservative 15,84032.8
Liberal Democrats 3,0126.2
Green 2,4455.1
Brexit Party 2,0544.3
Turnout48,26864.6
Electorate74,696
General election 2019: Bristol South [11] [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Karin Smyth 27,895 50.5 −9.6
Conservative Richard Morgan18,03632.7+2.0
Liberal Democrats Andrew Brown4,2277.7+4.4
Green Tony Dyer2,7134.9+2.3
Brexit Party Robert de Vito Boutin2,3254.2N/A
Majority 9,85917.8−11.6
Turnout 55,19665.6+0.1
Labour hold Swing −5.8
General election 2017: Bristol South [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Karin Smyth [14] 32,666 60.1 +21.7
Conservative Mark Weston16,67930.7+6.4
Liberal Democrats Ben Nutland [15] 1,8213.3−5.4
UKIP Ian Kealey1,6723.1−13.4
Green Tony Dyer [16] 1,4282.6−8.9
Independent John Langley1160.2N/A
Majority 15,98729.4+15.3
Turnout 54,38265.5+3.5
Labour hold Swing +7.7
General election 2015: Bristol South [17]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Karin Smyth [18] 19,505 38.4 ±0.0
Conservative Isobel Grant [18] 12,37724.3+1.4
UKIP Steve Wood [19] 8,38116.5+13.9
Green Tony Dyer [18] 5,86111.5+9.0
Liberal Democrats Mark Wright [18] 4,4168.7−20.0
TUSC Tom Baldwin [20] 3020.6+0.2
Majority 7,12814.1+4.4
Turnout 50,84262.0+0.4
Labour hold Swing −0.8
General election 2010: Bristol South [21]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Dawn Primarolo 18,600 38.4 −10.7
Liberal Democrats Mark Wright 13,86628.7+4.9
Conservative Mark Lloyd Davies11,08622.9+2.9
BNP Colin Chidsey1,7393.6N/A
UKIP Colin McNamee1,2642.6−0.5
Green Charles Bolton1,2162.5−2.5
English Democrat Craig Clarke4000.8N/A
TUSC Tom Baldwin2060.4N/A
Majority 4,7349.7−16.6
Turnout 48,37761.6+1.8
Labour hold Swing −7.5

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Bristol South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Dawn Primarolo 20,778 49.1 −7.8
Liberal Democrats Kay Barnard9,63622.8+8.0
Conservative Graham Hill8,46620.0−2.3
Green Charlie Bolton2,1275.0+2.0
UKIP Mark Dent1,3213.1+1.9
Majority 11,14226.3−8.3
Turnout 42,32859.8+3.3
Labour hold Swing −7.9
General election 2001: Bristol South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Dawn Primarolo 23,299 56.9 −3.1
Conservative Richard Eddy9,11822.3+1.1
Liberal Democrats James Main6,07814.8+1.4
Green Glenn Vowles1,2333.0+1.5
Socialist Alliance Brian Drummond4961.2N/A
UKIP Chris Prasad4961.2N/A
Socialist Labour Giles Shorter2500.6N/A
Majority 14,18134.6−4.2
Turnout 40,97056.5−12.4
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Bristol South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Dawn Primarolo 29,890 60.0 +9.8
Conservative Michael Roe10,56221.2−11.2
Liberal Democrats Stephen Williams 6,69113.4−2.2
Referendum Derek W. Guy1,4863.0N/A
Green John H. Boxall7221.50.0
Socialist Alternative Ian P. Marshall3550.7N/A
Glow Bowling Party Louis P. Taylor1530.3N/A
Majority 19,32838.8+21.0
Turnout 49,85968.9−8.9
Labour hold Swing
General election 1992: Bristol South [22]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Dawn Primarolo 25,164 50.2 +9.3
Conservative John Bercow 16,24532.4−5.7
Liberal Democrats Paul N. Crossley7,82215.6−4.0
Green John H. Boxall7561.5+0.3
Natural Law Neil D. Phillips1360.3N/A
Majority 8,91917.8+15.0
Turnout 50,12377.8+3.7
Labour hold Swing +7.5

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Bristol South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Dawn Primarolo 20,798 40.9 −3.1
Conservative Philip Cutcher19,39438.1+3.0
SDP Hilary Long9,95219.6+0.1
Green Glenn Vowles6001.2+0.5
Red Front Carol Meghji1490.3N/A
Majority 1,4042.8−6.1
Turnout 50,89374.1+5.3
Labour hold Swing
General election 1983: Bristol South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Michael Cocks 21,824 44.0
Conservative Alistair B. Gammell17,40535.1
SDP David M. Stanbury9,67419.5
Ecology Geoff Collard3520.7N/A
Communist A. Chester2240.5N/A
Workers Revolutionary L.J. Byrne1130.2
Majority 4,4198.9
Turnout 49,59268.8
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Bristol South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Michael Cocks 25,038 57.9 −1.4
Conservative Terry Dicks 13,85532.1+8.2
Liberal C.J. Bidwell3,8158.8−6.1
National Front K.G. Elliott3920.9−1.0
Workers Revolutionary L.J. Cheek1350.3N/A
Majority 11,18325.8−9.6
Turnout 43,23571.9+2.5
Labour hold Swing
General election October 1974: Bristol South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Michael Cocks 25,108 59.3 +4.1
Conservative R.J. Kellaway10,12423.9−2.1
Liberal D.R.F. Burrows6,28914.9−1.7
National Front P.H. Gannaway7981.9−0.3
Majority 14,98435.4+6.2
Turnout 42,31669.4−5.3
Labour hold Swing +3.1
General election February 1974: Bristol South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Michael Cocks 24,909 55.2 −6.6
Conservative R.J. Kellaway11,74226.0−12.2
Liberal H.J. Stevens7,49916.6N/A
National Front P.H. Gannaway1,0062.2N/A
Majority 13,16729.2+5.6
Turnout 45,15674.7+9.8
Labour hold Swing
General election 1970: Bristol South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Michael Cocks 24,662 61.8 −5.3
Conservative David Hunt 15,25438.2+5.3
Majority 9,42823.6−10.6
Turnout 39,91664.9−4.6
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Bristol South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour William Wilkins 26,552 67.1 +3.6
Conservative Robert William Wall12,99832.9−3.6
Majority 13,55434.2+7.2
Turnout 39,55069.5−3.4
Labour hold Swing
General election 1964: Bristol South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour William Wilkins 26,569 63.5 +2.7
Conservative Robert William Wall15,28236.5−2.7
Majority 11,28727.0+5.4
Turnout 41,85172.9−2.8
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Bristol South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour William Wilkins 27,010 60.8 −3.3
Conservative George Edward McWatters17,42839.2+3.3
Majority 9,58221.6−6.6
Turnout 44,43875.7+1.0
Labour hold Swing
General election 1955: Bristol South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour William Wilkins 24,954 64.1 +0.8
Conservative George Edward McWatters13,97835.9−0.8
Majority 10,97628.2+1.6
Turnout 38,93274.7−9.7
Labour hold Swing
General election 1951: Bristol South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour William Wilkins 24,444 63.3 +3.4
Conservative Herbert E.P. Buckle14,16136.7+4.9
Majority 10,28326.6−1.5
Turnout 38,60584.5−0.6
Labour hold Swing
General election 1950: Bristol South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour William Wilkins 23,456 59.9 +1.1
Conservative Lynch Maydon 12,47331.8+2.6
Liberal Harold Tutt Kay3,2598.3−3.7
Majority 10,98328.1−1.5
Turnout 39,18885.1+9.6
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Bristol South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour William Wilkins 24,929 58.8 +8.4
Conservative Ted Leather 12,37929.2−15.8
Liberal Douglas Arthur Jones5,08312.0+7.3
Majority 12,55029.6+24.2
Turnout 42,39175.5−1.4
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1930s

General election 1935: Bristol South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Alexander Walkden 22,586 50.4 +11.3
Conservative Noel Lindsay 20,15345.0−15.9
Liberal John Osborne Marshall Skelton2,0904.7N/A
Majority 2,4335.4N/A
Turnout 44,82976.9−5.4
Labour gain from Conservative Swing
General election 1931: Bristol South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Noel Lindsay 26,694 60.9 N/A
Labour Alexander Walkden 17,17439.1−17.4
Majority 9,52021.8N/A
Turnout 43,86882.3+1.4
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

Elections in the 1920s

General election 1929: Bristol South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Alexander Walkden 23,591 56.5 +8.1
Liberal Beddoe Rees 18,19443.5−8.1
Majority 5,39713.0N/A
Turnout 41,78580.9−2.1
Registered electors 51,628
Labour gain from Liberal Swing +8.1
General election 1924: Bristol South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Beddoe Rees 16,722 51.6 −1.1
Labour David Vaughan 15,70248.4+1.1
Majority 1,0203.2−2.2
Turnout 32,42483.0+8.2
Registered electors 39,056
Liberal hold Swing −1.1
General election 1923: Bristol South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Beddoe Rees 15,235 52.7 −3.5
Labour David Vaughan 13,70147.3+3.5
Majority 1,5345.4−7.0
Turnout 28,93674.8−1.1
Registered electors 38,675
Liberal hold Swing −3.5
General election 1922: Bristol South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
National Liberal Beddoe Rees 16,199 56.2 −12.0
Labour David Vaughan 12,65043.8+12.0
Majority 3,54912.4N/A
Turnout 28,84975.9+19.3
Registered electors 38,030
National Liberal gain from National Liberal Swing N/A

Elections in the 1910s

Davies Howell Davies MP.jpg
Davies
General election 1918: Bristol South [23]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
C Liberal Howell Davies 13,76168.2+17.7
Labour Thomas Lewis 6,40931.8N/A
Majority 7,35236.4+35.4
Turnout 20,17056.6−27.8
Registered electors 35,663
Liberal hold Swing N/A
Cindicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.
General election December 1910: Bristol South [24]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Howell Davies 6,895 50.5 −0.4
Conservative J.T. Francombe6,75749.5+0.4
Majority 1381.0−0.8
Turnout 13,65284.4−4.0
Registered electors 16,171
Liberal hold Swing −0.4
General election January 1910: Bristol South [24]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Howell Davies 7,281 50.9 −9.3
Conservative H.W. Chatterton7,01049.1+9.3
Majority 2711.8−18.6
Turnout 14,29188.4−0.2
Registered electors 16,171
Liberal hold Swing −9.3

Elections in the 1900s

Walter Long Walter Hume Long, 1st Viscount Long portrait.jpg
Walter Long
General election 1906: Bristol South [25]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Howell Davies 7,964 60.2 +13.2
Conservative Walter Long 5,27239.8−13.2
Majority 2,69220.4N/A
Turnout 13,23688.6+10.4
Registered electors 14,935
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +13.2
General election 1900: Bristol South [25]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Walter Long 5,470 53.0 −0.9
Liberal Howell Davies 4,85947.0+0.9
Majority 6116.0−1.8
Turnout 10,32978.2−0.1
Registered electors 13,206
Conservative hold Swing −0.9

Elections in the 1890s

General election 1895: Bristol South [25]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Edward Stock Hill 5,190 53.9 +1.0
Liberal John O'Connor Power 4,43146.1−1.0
Majority 7597.8+2.0
Turnout 9,62178.3−1.0
Registered electors 12,281
Conservative hold Swing +1.0
General election 1892: Bristol South [25]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Edward Stock Hill 4,990 52.9 −3.6
Liberal William Wills 4,44247.1+3.6
Majority 5485.8−7.2
Turnout 9,43279.3+3.5
Registered electors 11,887
Conservative hold Swing −3.6

Elections in the 1880s

Hill Edward Stock Hill.jpg
Hill
General election 1886: Bristol South [26]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Edward Stock Hill 4,447 56.5 +7.1
Liberal Joseph Dodge Weston 3,42343.5−7.1
Majority 1,02413.0N/A
Turnout 7,87075.8−4.5
Registered electors 10,384
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +7.1
General election 1885: Bristol South [26] [27] [28]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Joseph Dodge Weston 4,217 50.6
Conservative Edward Stock Hill 4,12149.4
Majority 961.2
Turnout 8,33880.3
Registered electors 10,384
Liberal win (new seat)

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
  2. ↑ As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.
  3. ↑ See also spoiler effect

References

  1. ↑ "Bristol South: Usual Resident Population, 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  2. ↑ "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.
  3. ↑ "Constituency data: Deprivation in England". commonslibrary.parliament.uk. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  4. 1 2 Electoral Calculus https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/fcgi-bin/seatdetails.py?seat=Bristol+South Archived 2022-02-07 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ↑ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 7 South West region.
  6. ↑ "South West | Boundary Commission for England". boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  7. ↑ "New Seat Details - Bristol South". Electoral Calculus . Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  8. ↑ "Bristol South 1885-". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) . Archived from the original on 15 October 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  9. ↑ "Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll". Bristol City Council. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  10. ↑ "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.
  11. ↑ "Statement of Persons Nominated". Archived from the original on 25 July 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  12. ↑ "UK Parliamentary (General Election) results Thursday 12 December 2019". 13 December 2019. Archived from the original on 13 December 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  13. ↑ "Bristol South". BBC. Archived from the original on 24 November 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  14. ↑ Ashcroft, Esme (18 April 2017). "Bristol's four MPs will all be defending their seats in the general election". bristolpost. Archived from the original on 24 April 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  15. ↑ Ben Nutland [@BenNutland] (6 May 2017). "Delighted to announce that I have been selected as the @LibDems Parliamentary Candidate for Bristol South at the upcoming General Election" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  16. ↑ "Green MEP to stand for Bristol West in general election". ITV News. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  17. ↑ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  18. 1 2 3 4 "UK ELECTION RESULTS: BRISTOL SOUTH 2015". Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  19. ↑ "Bristol South". UK Vote. Archived from the original on 10 September 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  20. ↑ "TUSC parliamentary candidates in May 2015" (PDF). Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition . 4 February 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 February 2015.
  21. ↑ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  22. ↑ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  23. ↑ Craig, F.W.S., ed. (1969). British parliamentary election results 1918-1949 . Glasgow: Political Reference Publications. p.  419. ISBN   0-900178-01-9.
  24. 1 2 Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN   9781349022984.
  25. 1 2 3 4 British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)
  26. 1 2 British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918, FWS Craig
  27. ↑ The Liberal Year Book, 1907
  28. ↑ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886

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