# Bristol Central (UK Parliament constituency)

Bristol Central is a parliamentary constituency located within the City of Bristol in South West England. 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, co-leader of the Green Party.
A constituency of this name existed from 1918 to 1974. The modern constituency was re-established in 2024 as a successor to Bristol West.

## Constituency profile

Based on data from the 2021 census, the Electoral Calculus categorises the proposed seat as being part of the “strong left” demographic, those who have very economically left wing and socially liberal views, are composed of a largely student population and have an internationalist outlook including strong opposition to Brexit. For reference, the site gives a notional result of only 12% for those who voted Brexit back in 2016, indicating that Bristol Central is a heavily pro-Remain area. In addition to this, around 43% of the constituency is deprived, in terms of employment, income and education, which can be seen as considerably low in contrast to the national average of 52% deprivation, according to the site. For general statistics, the average age is 37.6, at least 65% of the local population owns a car, whilst 41% own a home, and the gross household income is £48,529.
Bristol Central has also been 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, a survey published by the Telegraph found.

## 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.

### Modern constituency

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

### 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. 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”.
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. Following the May local elections, the Green Party became the biggest party in Bristol City Council. Denyer aimed to capitalise upon voters “feeling utterly uninspired by the potential of a Keir Starmer-led Labour party”. 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.
Other running candidates included, Reform UK's Robert Clarke, the Liberal Democrats's Nicholas Coombes, and the Conservatives's Samuel Williams.
At the beginning of the campaign, The Economist and the Financial Times predicted Labour would win in Bristol Central, based upon poll tracking. Constituent Carol Vorderman predicted the Green Party would win the election with 52% of the vote share.

## 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

2024-present: The City of Bristol wards of Ashley, Central, Clifton, Clifton Down, Cotham, Hotwells and Harbourside, and Redland.
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 was moved to Bristol East.

## Members of Parliament

| Election | 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 | 1974–2024 | None | None | Constituency not in use 1974–2024. |
| | 2024 | Carla Denyer | Green | Co-leader of the Green Party |

## Election results
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Bristol Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Carla Denyer | 24,539 | 56.6 | +30.6 |
| | Labour | Thangam Debbonaire | 14,132 | 32.6 | −25.9 |
| | Conservative | Samuel Williams | 1,998 | 4.6 | −9.7 |
| | Reform UK | Robert Clarke | 1,338 | 3.1 | +1.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nicholas Coombes | 1,162 | 2.7 | N/A |
| | Party of Women | Kellie-Jay Keen | 196 | 0.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,407 | 24.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,365 | 69.1 | –4.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 62,735 | | |
| | Green gain from Labour | Green gain from Labour | Swing | +28.2 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result :
| Party | Party | Vote | % |
| | Labour | 30,077 | 58.5 |
| | Green | 13,381 | 26.0 |
| | Conservative | 7,376 | 14.3 |
| | Brexit Party | 593 | 1.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 51,427 | 73.2 |
| Electorate | Electorate | 70,227 |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1970: Bristol Central :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 3,245 | 13.5 | −9.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 24,074 | 66.7 | −3.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Bristol Central :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 5,989 | 22.9 | +7.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 26,131 | 70.0 | −1.9 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election 1964: Bristol Central :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 4,591 | 15.5 | +8.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 29,759 | 71.9 | −3.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1950s

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

### Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Bristol Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Stan Awbery | 13,045 | 63.9 | +16.4 |
| | Conservative | Violet Bathurst | 7,369 | 36.1 | −16.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,676 | 27.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,414 | 70.0 | −2.8 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
1943 Bristol Central by-election :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 1,559 | 13.9 | +8.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,263 | 32.9 | −39.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1930s

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

### Elections in the 1920s

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

### Elections in the 1910s

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