# Bristol South (UK Parliament constituency)

Bristol South is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2015 by Karin Smyth of the Labour Party.

## Constituency profile

Bristol South is a traditional white working class seat. Residents' wealth is around average for the UK.

## Boundaries

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

## 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, 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

| Election | Member | 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 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Karin Smyth | 18,521 | 42.7 | −8.9 |
| | Green | Jai Breitnauer | 10,855 | 25.0 | +19.9 |
| | Reform UK | Richard Visick | 6,195 | 14.3 | +10.0 |
| | Conservative | Liz Brennan | 4,947 | 11.4 | −21.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andrew Brown | 2,721 | 6.3 | +0.1 |
| | SDP | Neil Norton | 164 | 0.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,666 | 17.7 | −1.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,403 | 57.5 | −7.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 75,533 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −14.4 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result :
| Party | Party | Vote | % |
| | Labour | 24,917 | 51.6 |
| | Conservative | 15,840 | 32.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 3,012 | 6.2 |
| | Green | 2,445 | 5.1 |
| | Brexit Party | 2,054 | 4.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 48,268 | 64.6 |
| Electorate | Electorate | 74,696 |
General election 2019: Bristol South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Karin Smyth | 27,895 | 50.5 | −9.6 |
| | Conservative | Richard Morgan | 18,036 | 32.7 | +2.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andrew Brown | 4,227 | 7.7 | +4.4 |
| | Green | Tony Dyer | 2,713 | 4.9 | +2.3 |
| | Brexit Party | Robert de Vito Boutin | 2,325 | 4.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,859 | 17.8 | −11.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 55,196 | 65.6 | +0.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −5.8 | |
General election 2017: Bristol South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Karin Smyth | 32,666 | 60.1 | +21.7 |
| | Conservative | Mark Weston | 16,679 | 30.7 | +6.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ben Nutland | 1,821 | 3.3 | −5.4 |
| | UKIP | Ian Kealey | 1,672 | 3.1 | −13.4 |
| | Green | Tony Dyer | 1,428 | 2.6 | −8.9 |
| | Independent | John Langley | 116 | 0.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15,987 | 29.4 | +15.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,382 | 65.5 | +3.5 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +7.7 | |
General election 2015: Bristol South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Karin Smyth | 19,505 | 38.4 | ±0.0 |
| | Conservative | Isobel Grant | 12,377 | 24.3 | +1.4 |
| | UKIP | Steve Wood | 8,381 | 16.5 | +13.9 |
| | Green | Tony Dyer | 5,861 | 11.5 | +9.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mark Wright | 4,416 | 8.7 | −20.0 |
| | TUSC | Tom Baldwin | 302 | 0.6 | +0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,128 | 14.1 | +4.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,842 | 62.0 | +0.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −0.8 | |
General election 2010: Bristol South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Dawn Primarolo | 18,600 | 38.4 | −10.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mark Wright | 13,866 | 28.7 | +4.9 |
| | Conservative | Mark Lloyd Davies | 11,086 | 22.9 | +2.9 |
| | BNP | Colin Chidsey | 1,739 | 3.6 | N/A |
| | UKIP | Colin McNamee | 1,264 | 2.6 | −0.5 |
| | Green | Charles Bolton | 1,216 | 2.5 | −2.5 |
| | English Democrat | Craig Clarke | 400 | 0.8 | N/A |
| | TUSC | Tom Baldwin | 206 | 0.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,734 | 9.7 | −16.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,377 | 61.6 | +1.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −7.5 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Bristol South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Dawn Primarolo | 20,778 | 49.1 | −7.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Kay Barnard | 9,636 | 22.8 | +8.0 |
| | Conservative | Graham Hill | 8,466 | 20.0 | −2.3 |
| | Green | Charlie Bolton | 2,127 | 5.0 | +2.0 |
| | UKIP | Mark Dent | 1,321 | 3.1 | +1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,142 | 26.3 | −8.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,328 | 59.8 | +3.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −7.9 | |
General election 2001: Bristol South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Dawn Primarolo | 23,299 | 56.9 | −3.1 |
| | Conservative | Richard Eddy | 9,118 | 22.3 | +1.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | James Main | 6,078 | 14.8 | +1.4 |
| | Green | Glenn Vowles | 1,233 | 3.0 | +1.5 |
| | Socialist Alliance | Brian Drummond | 496 | 1.2 | N/A |
| | UKIP | Chris Prasad | 496 | 1.2 | N/A |
| | Socialist Labour | Giles Shorter | 250 | 0.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,181 | 34.6 | −4.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,970 | 56.5 | −12.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Bristol South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Dawn Primarolo | 29,890 | 60.0 | +9.8 |
| | Conservative | Michael Roe | 10,562 | 21.2 | −11.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stephen Williams | 6,691 | 13.4 | −2.2 |
| | Referendum | Derek W. Guy | 1,486 | 3.0 | N/A |
| | Green | John H. Boxall | 722 | 1.5 | 0.0 |
| | Socialist Alternative | Ian P. Marshall | 355 | 0.7 | N/A |
| | Glow Bowling Party | Louis P. Taylor | 153 | 0.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 19,328 | 38.8 | +21.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,859 | 68.9 | −8.9 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election 1992: Bristol South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Dawn Primarolo | 25,164 | 50.2 | +9.3 |
| | Conservative | John Bercow | 16,245 | 32.4 | −5.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul N. Crossley | 7,822 | 15.6 | −4.0 |
| | Green | John H. Boxall | 756 | 1.5 | +0.3 |
| | Natural Law | Neil D. Phillips | 136 | 0.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,919 | 17.8 | +15.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,123 | 77.8 | +3.7 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +7.5 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Bristol South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Dawn Primarolo | 20,798 | 40.9 | −3.1 |
| | Conservative | Philip Cutcher | 19,394 | 38.1 | +3.0 |
| | SDP | Hilary Long | 9,952 | 19.6 | +0.1 |
| | Green | Glenn Vowles | 600 | 1.2 | +0.5 |
| | Red Front | Carol Meghji | 149 | 0.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,404 | 2.8 | −6.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,893 | 74.1 | +5.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election 1983: Bristol South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Michael Cocks | 21,824 | 44.0 | |
| | Conservative | Alistair B. Gammell | 17,405 | 35.1 | |
| | SDP | David M. Stanbury | 9,674 | 19.5 | |
| | Ecology | Geoff Collard | 352 | 0.7 | N/A |
| | Communist | A. Chester | 224 | 0.5 | N/A |
| | Workers Revolutionary | L.J. Byrne | 113 | 0.2 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,419 | 8.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,592 | 68.8 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Bristol South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Michael Cocks | 25,038 | 57.9 | −1.4 |
| | Conservative | Terry Dicks | 13,855 | 32.1 | +8.2 |
| | Liberal | C.J. Bidwell | 3,815 | 8.8 | −6.1 |
| | National Front | K.G. Elliott | 392 | 0.9 | −1.0 |
| | Workers Revolutionary | L.J. Cheek | 135 | 0.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,183 | 25.8 | −9.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,235 | 71.9 | +2.5 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election October 1974: Bristol South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Michael Cocks | 25,108 | 59.3 | +4.1 |
| | Conservative | R.J. Kellaway | 10,124 | 23.9 | −2.1 |
| | Liberal | D.R.F. Burrows | 6,289 | 14.9 | −1.7 |
| | National Front | P.H. Gannaway | 795 | 1.9 | −0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,984 | 35.4 | +6.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,316 | 69.4 | −5.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +3.1 | |
General election February 1974: Bristol South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Michael Cocks | 24,909 | 55.2 | −6.6 |
| | Conservative | R.J. Kellaway | 11,742 | 26.0 | −12.2 |
| | Liberal | H.J. Stevens | 7,499 | 16.6 | N/A |
| | National Front | P.H. Gannaway | 1,006 | 2.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,167 | 29.2 | +5.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,156 | 74.7 | +9.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election 1970: Bristol South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Michael Cocks | 24,662 | 61.8 | −5.3 |
| | Conservative | David Hunt | 15,254 | 38.2 | +5.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,428 | 23.6 | −10.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,916 | 64.9 | −4.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Bristol South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Wilkins | 26,552 | 67.1 | +3.6 |
| | Conservative | Robert William Wall | 12,998 | 32.9 | −3.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,554 | 34.2 | +7.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,550 | 69.5 | −3.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election 1964: Bristol South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Wilkins | 26,569 | 63.5 | +2.7 |
| | Conservative | Robert William Wall | 15,282 | 36.5 | −2.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,287 | 27.0 | +5.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,851 | 72.9 | −2.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Bristol South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Wilkins | 27,010 | 60.8 | −3.3 |
| | Conservative | George Edward McWatters | 17,428 | 39.2 | +3.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,582 | 21.6 | −6.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,438 | 75.7 | +1.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election 1955: Bristol South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Wilkins | 24,954 | 64.1 | +0.8 |
| | Conservative | George Edward McWatters | 13,978 | 35.9 | −0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,976 | 28.2 | +1.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,932 | 74.7 | −9.7 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election 1951: Bristol South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Wilkins | 24,444 | 63.3 | +3.4 |
| | Conservative | Herbert E.P. Buckle | 14,161 | 36.7 | +4.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,283 | 26.6 | −1.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,605 | 84.5 | −0.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election 1950: Bristol South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Wilkins | 23,456 | 59.9 | +1.1 |
| | Conservative | Lynch Maydon | 12,473 | 31.8 | +2.6 |
| | Liberal | Harold Tutt Kay | 3,259 | 8.3 | −3.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,983 | 28.1 | −1.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,188 | 85.1 | +9.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Bristol South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | William Wilkins | 24,929 | 58.8 | +8.4 |
| | Conservative | Ted Leather | 12,379 | 29.2 | −15.8 |
| | Liberal | Douglas Arthur Jones | 5,083 | 12.0 | +7.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,550 | 29.6 | +24.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,391 | 75.5 | −1.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1930s

General election 1935: Bristol South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Alexander Walkden | 22,586 | 50.4 | +11.3 |
| | Conservative | Noel Lindsay | 20,153 | 45.0 | −15.9 |
| | Liberal | John Osborne Marshall Skelton | 2,090 | 4.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,433 | 5.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,829 | 76.9 | −5.4 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
General election 1931: Bristol South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Noel Lindsay | 26,694 | 60.9 | N/A |
| | Labour | Alexander Walkden | 17,174 | 39.1 | −17.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,520 | 21.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,868 | 82.3 | +1.4 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1920s

General election 1929: Bristol South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Alexander Walkden | 23,591 | 56.5 | +8.1 |
| | Liberal | Beddoe Rees | 18,194 | 43.5 | −8.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,397 | 13.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,785 | 80.9 | −2.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 51,628 | | |
| | Labour gain from Liberal | Labour gain from Liberal | Swing | +8.1 | |
General election 1924: Bristol South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Beddoe Rees | 16,722 | 51.6 | −1.1 |
| | Labour | David Vaughan | 15,702 | 48.4 | +1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,020 | 3.2 | −2.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 32,424 | 83.0 | +8.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 39,056 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −1.1 | |
General election 1923: Bristol South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Beddoe Rees | 15,235 | 52.7 | −3.5 |
| | Labour | David Vaughan | 13,701 | 47.3 | +3.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,534 | 5.4 | −7.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 28,936 | 74.8 | −1.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 38,675 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −3.5 | |
General election 1922: Bristol South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National Liberal | Beddoe Rees | 16,199 | 56.2 | −12.0 |
| | Labour | David Vaughan | 12,650 | 43.8 | +12.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,549 | 12.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 28,849 | 75.9 | +19.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 38,030 | | |
| | National Liberal gain from National Liberal | National Liberal gain from National Liberal | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1910s

General election 1918: Bristol South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| C | Liberal | Howell Davies | 13,761 | 68.2 | +17.7 |
| | Labour | Thomas Lewis | 6,409 | 31.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,352 | 36.4 | +35.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,170 | 56.6 | −27.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 35,663 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||
General election December 1910: Bristol South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Howell Davies | 6,895 | 50.5 | −0.4 |
| | Conservative | J.T. Francombe | 6,757 | 49.5 | +0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 138 | 1.0 | −0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 13,652 | 84.4 | −4.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 16,171 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −0.4 | |
General election January 1910: Bristol South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Howell Davies | 7,281 | 50.9 | −9.3 |
| | Conservative | H.W. Chatterton | 7,010 | 49.1 | +9.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 271 | 1.8 | −18.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 14,291 | 88.4 | −0.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 16,171 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −9.3 | |

### Elections in the 1900s

General election 1906: Bristol South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Howell Davies | 7,964 | 60.2 | +13.2 |
| | Conservative | Walter Long | 5,272 | 39.8 | −13.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,692 | 20.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 13,236 | 88.6 | +10.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 14,935 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +13.2 | |
General election 1900: Bristol South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Walter Long | 5,470 | 53.0 | −0.9 |
| | Liberal | Howell Davies | 4,859 | 47.0 | +0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 611 | 6.0 | −1.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,329 | 78.2 | −0.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 13,206 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −0.9 | |

### Elections in the 1890s

General election 1895: Bristol South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Stock Hill | 5,190 | 53.9 | +1.0 |
| | Liberal | John O'Connor Power | 4,431 | 46.1 | −1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 759 | 7.8 | +2.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,621 | 78.3 | −1.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,281 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.0 | |
General election 1892: Bristol South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Stock Hill | 4,990 | 52.9 | −3.6 |
| | Liberal | William Wills | 4,442 | 47.1 | +3.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 548 | 5.8 | −7.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,432 | 79.3 | +3.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,887 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −3.6 | |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1886: Bristol South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Stock Hill | 4,447 | 56.5 | +7.1 |
| | Liberal | Joseph Dodge Weston | 3,423 | 43.5 | −7.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,024 | 13.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,870 | 75.8 | −4.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,384 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +7.1 | |
General election 1885: Bristol South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Joseph Dodge Weston | 4,217 | 50.6 | |
| | Conservative | Edward Stock Hill | 4,121 | 49.4 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 96 | 1.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,338 | 80.3 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,384 | | |
| | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) |