Bristol Central (UK Parliament constituency)

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Bristol Central
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Location of City of Bristol within England
CountyCity of Bristol
Electorate[1]
Major settlementsBristol
Current constituency
Created2024
Member of ParliamentTBD
Seats1
Created fromBristol West
1918–1974
Seatsone
Created fromBristol East
Bristol North
Bristol South
Bristol West
Replaced byBristol North East
Bristol South East

Bristol Central is a parliamentary constituency to be represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, located within the City of Bristol, in South West England, from the 2024 general election.[2][3] It returns one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

A constituency of the same name was previously 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. The constituency name was re-established in the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies as a successor to Bristol West.[4]

Background[edit]

During the 2007 review, a proposal to rename Bristol West to "Bristol Central" was rejected.[5]

Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, Bristol Central will largely replace Bristol West, and will be first contested at the next general election.[6] However the Bishopston and Ashley Down ward will move to Bristol North West, and the Lawrence Hill and Easton wards to Bristol East.[7]

Constituency profile[edit]

Based on data from the 2021 census, Electoral Calculus characterises the proposed seat as "Strong Left", with left-wing economic and socially liberal views, high levels of university education and an internationalist outlook including strong opposition to Brexit.[8] Bristol Central was reported to be the most pro-immigration constituency in the United Kingdom; 55 per cent of voters wanted fewer controls and higher numbers in Bristol, the survey found.[9]

History[edit]

Modern constituency[edit]

Bristol Central was recreated as a constituency for 2024 general election, after being abolished in the 1970s. The modern Bristol Central became the successor constituency to Bristol West created from the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, of which Thangam Debbonaire was the final MP.[10]

2024 election[edit]

In January 2022, Debbonaire was reselected by the Labour Party to re-stand as a candidate in the next general election; on 4 September 2023 she was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport by Keir Starmer.[10][11]

Bristol Central is a target seat for the Green Party where 12 of the 14 Bristol City Council members are Greens; the Green party selected Carla Denyer as their candidate.[12][13]

Boundaries[edit]

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.

Proposed[edit]

Map
Map of boundaries from 2024

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, enacted by the Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023, from the next general election, due by January 2025, the constituency will be composed of the following (as they existed on 1 December 2020):

The re-established seat will comprise approximately 70% of the, to be abolished, constituency of Bristol West.[15]

Members of Parliament[edit]

Election Member Party Notes
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 None Constituency abolished for 50 years

Election results[edit]

Elections in the 2020s[edit]

Next general election: Bristol Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Thangam Debbonaire[10]
Green Carla Denyer[16]
Reform UK Robert Clarke[17]
Majority
Turnout

Elections in the 1970s[edit]

General election 1970: Bristol Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Arthur Palmer 12,375 51.4 -7.5
Conservative James R. E. Taylor 9,130 37.9 +1.9
Liberal Antony Rider 2,569 10.7 New
Majority 3,245 13.5 -9.4
Turnout 24,074 66.7 -3.3
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s[edit]

General election 1966: Bristol Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Arthur Palmer 15,399 58.9 +3.4
Conservative James R. E. Taylor 9,410 36.0 -3.0
Independent Desmond H. R. Burgess 1,322 5.1 -1.4
Majority 5,989 22.9 +7.4
Turnout 26,131 70.0 -1.9
Labour hold Swing
General election 1964: Bristol Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Arthur Palmer 16,207 54.5 +0.9
Conservative James R. E. Taylor 11,616 39.0 -7.4
Independent Desmond H. R. Burgess 1,936 6.5 New
Majority 4,591 15.5 +8.3
Turnout 29,759 71.9 -3.1
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s[edit]

General election 1959: Bristol Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Stan Awbery 19,905 53.6 -6.9
Conservative L. G. Pine 17,209 46.4 +6.9
Majority 2,696 7.2 -13.8
Turnout 37,114 75.0 +1.2
Labour hold Swing
General election 1955: Bristol Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Stan Awbery 25,158 60.5 -1.9
Conservative Kenelm Antony Philip Dalby 16,406 39.5 +1.9
Majority 8,752 21.0 -3.8
Turnout 41,564 73.8 -9.3
Labour hold Swing
General election 1951: Bristol Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Stan Awbery 26,091 62.4 +2.7
Conservative Kenelm Antony Philip Dalby 15,725 37.6 +6.6
Majority 10,366 24.8 -3.9
Turnout 41,816 83.1 -1.4
Labour hold Swing
General election 1950: Bristol Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Stan Awbery 25,889 59.7 -4.2
Conservative John Peyton 13,461 31.0 -5.1
Liberal Donald David Oliver Jones 4,042 9.3 New
Majority 12,428 28.7 +0.9
Turnout 43,392 84.5 +14.5
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1940s[edit]

General election 1945: Bristol Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Stan Awbery 13,045 63.9 +16.4
Conservative Violet Bathurst 7,369 36.1 -16.4
Majority 5,676 27.8 N/A
Turnout 20,414 70.0 -2.8
Labour gain from Conservative Swing
1943 Bristol Central by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Violet Bathurst 5,867 52.1 −0.4
Independent Labour Jennie Lee 4,308 38.2 New
Ind. Labour Party John McNair 830 7.4 New
Independent F. H. Dunn 258 2.3 New
Majority 1,559 13.9 +8.9
Turnout 11,263 32.9 −39.9
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1930s[edit]

General election 1935: Bristol Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Allen Bathurst 15,774 52.5 -7.1
Labour J. J. Taylor 14,258 47.5 +7.1
Majority 1,516 5.0 -14.2
Turnout 30,032 72.8 -7.6
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1931: Bristol Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Allen Bathurst 22,311 59.6 +15.3
Labour Joseph Alpass 15,143 40.4 -15.3
Majority 7,168 19.2 N/A
Turnout 37,454 80.4 +2.9
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

Elections in the 1920s[edit]

General election 1929: Bristol Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Joseph Alpass 20,749 55.7 +10.8
Unionist Thomas Inskip 16,524 44.3 −10.8
Majority 4,225 11.4 N/A
Turnout 37,273 77.5 0.0
Registered electors 48,081
Labour gain from Unionist Swing +10.8
General election 1924: Bristol Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Thomas Inskip 17,177 55.1 +0.4
Labour James Lovat-Fraser 14,018 44.9 −0.4
Majority 3,159 10.2 +0.8
Turnout 31,195 77.5 +11.7
Registered electors 40,252
Unionist hold Swing +0.4
General election 1923: Bristol Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Thomas Inskip 14,386 54.7 −1.2
Labour Samuel Edward Walters 11,932 45.3 +1.2
Majority 2,454 9.4 −2.4
Turnout 26,318 65.8 −6.2
Registered electors 40,000
Unionist hold Swing −1.2
General election 1922: Bristol Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Thomas Inskip 15,568 55.9 −6.3
Labour Christopher Thomson 12,303 44.1 +6.3
Majority 3,265 11.8 −12.6
Turnout 27,871 72.0 +18.3
Registered electors 38,709
Unionist hold Swing −6.3

Elections in the 1910s[edit]

General election 1918: Bristol Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C Unionist Thomas Inskip 12,232 63.2
Labour Ernest Bevin 7,137 36.8
Majority 5,095 26.4
Turnout 19,369 53.7
Registered electors 36,038
Unionist win (new seat)
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "England Parliamentary electorates 2010-2018". Boundary Commission for England. Archived from the original on 12 April 2024. Retrieved 12 April 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. ^ "Fifth Periodical Report" (PDF). Boundary Commission for England. 26 February 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "How Bristol constituency boundaries could change". BBC News. 8 November 2022. Archived from the original on 8 November 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  8. ^ "Bristol Central: New Boundaries 2023 Calculation". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 7 April 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  9. ^ Booth, Mia Vines (23 January 2024). "Bristol Central most pro-immigation constituency in UK". Bristol24/7. Archived from the original on 23 January 2024. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  10. ^ a b c Cork, Tristan (26 January 2022). "Bristol MP reselected as candidate for next General Election". BristolLive. Archived from the original on 26 January 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". legislation.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 1 March 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  15. ^ 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.
  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. ^ "Bristol Central Constituency". Reform UK. Archived from the original on 19 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.

Sources[edit]


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