Bristol West
Former Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Bristol West in Avon
Outline map
Location of Avon within England
CountyCity of Bristol
Electorate84,571 (2018)[1]
Major settlementsBristol
1885–2024
SeatsOne
Created fromBristol
Replaced byBristol Central
Bristol East
Bristol North West

Bristol West is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom since 2015 by Thangam Debbonaire of the Labour Party. It mostly covers the central and western parts of Bristol.

Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat will be reduced in size, with the Bishopston and Ashley Down ward being transferred to Bristol North West and Lawrence Hill and Easton wards to Bristol East. It will also be renamed Bristol Central, to be first contested at the next general election.[2][3][4]

Constituency profile

More urban since boundary changes in 2010, the seat retains a high proportion of the city's most garden-rich, grandest houses and landscaped civic parks in affluent suburbs such as Clifton and Redland. Many of the townhouses in Bristol were subdivided in the latter half of the 20th century, during which time the size of the University of Bristol increased (the city's largest single independent employer which is chiefly in the seat). The seat also includes poorer areas such as Lawrence Hill and Easton.

Boundaries

1885–1918: The Municipal Borough of Bristol wards: Clifton, St Augustine's, St Michael's, and Westbury, and the local government district of Horfield.

1918–1950: The County Borough of Bristol wards: Clifton North, Clifton South, Horfield, Redland, St Michael, and Westbury-on-Trym.

1950–1955: The County Borough of Bristol wards: Bishopston, Clifton, Redland, St Augustine, St James, and St Michael.

1955–1974: The County Borough of Bristol wards: Bishopston, Cabot, Clifton, Durdham, and Redland.

1974–1983: as above plus District

1983–1997: The City of Bristol wards of Ashley, Bishopston, Cabot, Clifton, Cotham, Henleaze, Redland, and Stoke Bishop.

1997–2010: as above plus Westbury-on-Trym.

2010–present: as above less Westbury-on-Trym, Stoke Bishop and Henleaze, plus Clifton East, Easton, and Lawrence Hill

The above shows that the changes implemented for the 2010 general election boundaries were relatively great, recommended by a periodic impartial Boundary Commission review.[5] Easton and Lawrence Hill wards were transferred from Bristol East, while Henleaze, Stoke Bishop and Westbury-on-Trym wards were lost to Bristol North West. During the 2007 review, a proposal to rename the constituency as "Bristol Central" was rejected.[5]

History

Held by Conservatives continuously for 112 years, it was at various points represented by Conservative cabinet ministers Michael Hicks-Beach, Oliver Stanley, Walter Monckton and William Waldegrave. As part of a national Labour Party landslide, exceeding that of 1945, the 1997 gain by Valerie Davey was from a third-placed starting point for the party's candidate in 1992. At the 2005 election the seat was Liberal Democrat target number 18, and Conservative target number 50; it had been frequently described in the media as a "three-way marginal", and all parties fought hard for the constituency. The seat was taken by Liberal Democrat Stephen Williams with a large majority, thought to have been aided by the large student electorate, hostile to Labour's top-up fees policy. This Liberal Democrat success was similar to those in other seats with a large student population, such as Cambridge, Manchester Withington, Leeds North West and Cardiff Central. In the 2010 election, Stephen Williams held the seat with an increased majority.[6] In the 2015 general election, the Lib Dem vote fell by 29.2%; Williams came a distant third behind the winning Labour candidate Thangam Debbonaire and more than 5,000 votes behind the Green Party candidate, who achieved the greatest increase in the Green vote (+23%) in any seat that election.[7] In 2017 Bristol West had the biggest swing to Labour in the country.[8] The 52.1% majority was also the largest in the seat since 1931.

In the 2016 referendum to leave the European Union, the constituency voted remain by 79.3%. This was the second highest support for remain for a constituency.[9]

As a result of the formation of a Brexit 'Unite to Remain' pact between the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party and Plaid Cymru prior to the 2019 snap election, the Liberal Democrats agreed to withdraw from the Bristol West election in favour of the Green Party.[10] The result was a doubling of the Green vote and a reduction in the Labour majority by almost 10,000, but with a majority of over 28,000 for the Labour Party, the seat remains very safe.

As of February 2023, 17 of the 20 city councillors in the Bristol West Constituency were from the Green Party.[11]

Members of Parliament

ElectionMember[12][13] Party
1885 Michael Hicks-Beach Conservative
1906 George Gibbs Conservative
1928 by-election Cyril Culverwell Conservative
1945 Oliver Stanley Conservative
1951 by-election Sir Walter Monckton Conservative
1957 by-election Robert Cooke Conservative
1979 William Waldegrave Conservative
1997 Valerie Davey Labour
2005 Stephen Williams Liberal Democrats
2015 Thangam Debbonaire Labour

Elections

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Bristol West[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Thangam Debbonaire 47,028 62.3 –3.6
Green Carla Denyer 18,809 24.9 +12.0
Conservative Suria Aujla 8,822 11.7 –2.1
Brexit Party Neil Hipkiss 869 1.2 New
Majority 28,219 37.4 –14.7
Turnout 75,528 76.1 –1.0
Labour hold Swing
General election 2017: Bristol West[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Thangam Debbonaire 47,213 65.9 +30.2
Conservative Annabel Tall 9,877 13.8 –1.4
Green Molly Scott Cato 9,216 12.9 –13.9
Liberal Democrats Stephen Williams 5,201 7.3 –11.5
Money Free Party Jodian Rodgers 101 0.1 New
Majority 37,336 52.1 +43.2
Turnout 71,608 77.1 +5.1
Labour hold Swing +15.8
General election 2015: Bristol West[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Thangam Debbonaire 22,900 35.7 +8.2
Green Darren Hall 17,227 26.8 +23.0
Liberal Democrats Stephen Williams 12,103 18.8 –29.2
Conservative Claire Hiscott 9,752 15.2 –3.2
UKIP Paul Turner 1,940 3.0 +1.8
Independent Dawn Parry 204 0.3 New
Left Unity Stewart Weston 92 0.1 New
Majority 5,673 8.9 N/A
Turnout 64,218 72.0 +5.1
Labour gain from Liberal Democrats Swing

(Note that the vote-share changes for 2010 are from the notional results on the new boundaries, not the actual 2005 results)

General election 2010: Bristol West[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Stephen Williams 26,593 48.0 +8.9
Labour Paul Smith 15,227 27.5 –9.0
Conservative Nick Yarker 10,169 18.4 +2.0
Green Ricky Knight 2,090 3.8 –1.9
UKIP Christopher Lees 655 1.2 –0.1
Independent Danny Kushlick 343 0.6 New
English Democrat Jon Baker 270 0.5 New
Majority 11,366 20.5 +11.6
Turnout 55,347 66.9 +3.3
Liberal Democrats hold Swing +9.0

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Bristol West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Stephen Williams 21,987 38.3 +9.4
Labour Valerie Davey 16,859 29.4 –7.4
Conservative David Martin 15,429 26.9 –1.9
Green Justin Quinnell 2,163 3.8 +0.3
UKIP Simon Muir 439 0.8 –0.1
Socialist Labour Bernard Kennedy 329 0.6 –0.5
Save Bristol North Baths Party Douglas Reid 190 0.3 New
Majority 5,128 8.9 N/A
Turnout 57,396 70.5 +4.9
Liberal Democrats gain from Labour Swing +8.4
General election 2001: Bristol West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Valerie Davey 20,505 36.8 +1.6
Liberal Democrats Stephen Williams 16,079 28.9 +0.9
Conservative Pamela Chesters 16,040 28.8 –4.0
Green John Devaney 1,961 3.5 +2.1
Socialist Labour Bernard J. Kennedy 590 1.1 +0.7
UKIP Simon D. Muir 490 0.9 New
Majority 4,426 7.9 +5.5
Turnout 55,665 65.6 –7.8
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Bristol West[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Valerie Davey 22,068 35.2 +10.5
Conservative William Waldegrave 20,575 32.8 –9.4
Liberal Democrats Charles R. Boney 17,551 28.0 –2.7
Referendum Margot Beauchamp 1,304 2.1 New
Green Justin Quinnell 852 1.4 –0.3
Socialist Labour Roy Nurse 244 0.4 New
Natural Law Jai Brierley 47 0.1 –0.1
Majority 1,493 2.4 N/A
Turnout 62,641 73.8 –0.2
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +10.0
General election 1992: Bristol West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Waldegrave 22,169 42.2 –3.3
Liberal Democrats Charles Boney 16,098 30.7 –0.6
Labour Hedley Bashforth 12,992 24.7 +3.8
Green George Sawday 906 1.7 –0.3
Natural Law David James Cross 104 0.2 New
Revolutionary Communist Ben Brent 92 0.2 New
Struck Off and Die Doctors Alliance Phil Hammond 87 0.2 New
Anti-Federalist League Timothy Hedges 42 0.1 New
Majority 6,071 11.5 –2.7
Turnout 52,490 74.0 –1.0
Conservative hold Swing –1.4

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Bristol West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Waldegrave 24,695 45.5 –3.6
Liberal George Ferguson 16,992 31.3 +1.9
Labour Mary Georghiou 11,337 20.9 +1.4
Green Gundula Dorey 1,096 2.0 +0.3
Communist Veronica Ralph 134 0.3 New
Majority 7,703 14.2 –5.5
Turnout 54,254 75.0 +4.3
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1983: Bristol West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Waldegrave 25,400 49.1
Liberal George Ferguson 15,222 29.4
Labour Pamela Tatlow 10,094 19.5
Ecology James Scott 872 1.7
Independent Sebastian Boyle 142 0.3
Majority 10,178 19.7
Turnout 51,730 70.7
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Bristol West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Waldegrave 22,257 52.6 +5.7
Labour Vivien Bath 9,691 22.9 -0.8
Liberal Bernard Silver 8,881 21.0 -8.3
Ecology John K. Ingham 1,154 2.7 New
National Front M. Jones 246 0.6 New
United Democratic Party Raymond R. Redmore 93 0.2 New
Majority 12,566 29.7 +12.1
Turnout 42,322 71.6 +6.2
Conservative hold Swing
General election October 1974: Bristol West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Cooke 18,555 46.9 -1.4
Liberal Robert G.R. Stacey 11,598 29.3 -0.6
Labour John Malos 9,372 23.7 +1.9
Majority 6,957 17.6 -0.8
Turnout 39,525 65.4 -7.3
Conservative hold Swing
General election February 1974: Bristol West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Cooke 21,141 48.3 -11.9
Liberal Robert G.R. Stacey 13,076 29.9 +14.6
Labour John Malos 9,526 21.8 -2.7
Majority 8,065 18.4 -17.3
Turnout 43,743 72.7 +6.4
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1970: Bristol West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Cooke 20,110 60.2 +3.5
Labour David J. Blackman 8,175 24.5 +0.8
Liberal Robert G.R. Stacey 5,108 15.3 -4.3
Majority 11,935 35.7 +2.7
Turnout 33,393 66.3 -5.9
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Bristol West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Cooke 19,783 56.7 -1.3
Labour Leslie Walter Bosisto 8,265 23.7 +3.7
Liberal Robert G.R. Stacey 6,850 19.6 -0.5
Majority 11,518 33.0 -4.9
Turnout 34,898 72.2 -1.0
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1964: Bristol West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Cooke 21,230 58.0 -9.3
Liberal Keith Basil Wedmore 7,366 20.1 +6.0
Labour Donald McLaren 7,306 20.0 +1.4
Taxpayers' Coalition Party P. Michael Kingston 709 1.9 New
Majority 13,864 37.9 -10.8
Turnout 36,611 73.2 -0.4
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Bristol West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Cooke 27,768 67.3 -8.0
Labour Michael Cocks 7,651 18.6 -6.1
Liberal Colin Hart-Leverton 5,835 14.1 New
Majority 20,117 48.7 -1.9
Turnout 41,254 73.6 -1.0
Conservative hold Swing
Bristol West by-election 7 March 1957
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Cooke 24,585 70.2 Decrease 5.1
Labour Bill Rodgers 10,423 29.8 Increase 5.1
Majority 14,162 40.4 Decrease10.2
Turnout 35,008 61.1 Decrease13.5
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1955: Bristol West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Walter Monckton 32,767 75.3 +11.7
Labour Walter Johnson 10,766 24.7 -4.1
Majority 22,001 50.6 +15.8
Turnout 43,533 74.6 -6.0
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1951: Bristol West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Walter Monckton 25,858 63.6 +4.7
Labour Harold Lawrance 11,716 28.8 -1.2
Liberal David Goldblatt 3,115 7.7 -3.4
Majority 14,142 34.8 +5.9
Turnout 40,689 80.6 -1.8
Conservative hold Swing
Bristol West by-election 15 February 1951
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Walter Monckton 22,216 81.4 Increase 22.5
Labour Harold Lawrance 5,072 18.6 Decrease 11.4
Majority 17,144 62.8 Increase 33.9
Turnout 44,432 53.6 Decrease28.8
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1950: Bristol West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Oliver Stanley 24,920 58.9 +10.3
Labour Edward Bishop 12,677 30.0 -8.0
Liberal Hilda Nuttall 4,688 11.1 -2.3
Majority 12,243 28.9 +18.3
Turnout 42,285 82.4 +7.7
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Bristol West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Oliver Stanley 32,149 48.6 -22.4
Labour William Edward Balmer 25,163 38.0 +9.0
Liberal Desmond Allhusen 8,849 13.4 New
Majority 6,986 10.6 -31.4
Turnout 66,161 74.7 +3.9
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1930s

General election 1935: Bristol West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Cyril Culverwell 36,820 71.0 -12.0
Labour Percy Williams 15,058 29.0 +12.0
Majority 21,762 42.0 -24.0
Turnout 51,878 70.8 -8.5
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1931: Bristol West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Cyril Culverwell 43,264 83.0 +29.3
Labour F. E. White 8,875 17.0 -8.3
Majority 34,389 66.0 +37.6
Turnout 52,139 79.3 +1.6
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1920s

General election 1929: Bristol West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Cyril Culverwell 25,416 53.7 −25.3
Labour Clare Annesley 11,961 25.3 +4.3
Liberal William Nichols Marcy 9,909 21.0 N/A
Majority 13,455 28.4 −29.6
Turnout 47,286 77.7 +2.6
Registered electors 60,844
Unionist hold Swing −14.8
1928 Bristol West by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Cyril Culverwell 16,970 57.2 −21.8
Labour Clare Annesley 7,702 26.0 +5.0
Liberal William Nichols Marcy 4,996 16.8 New
Majority 9,268 31.2 −26.8
Turnout 29,688 67.6 −7.5
Registered electors 43,900
Unionist hold Swing −13.4
General election 1924: Bristol West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist George Gibbs 23,574 79.0 N/A
Labour Matt Giles 6,276 21.0 New
Majority 17,298 58.0 N/A
Turnout 29,850 75.1 N/A
Registered electors 39,752
Unionist hold Swing N/A
General election 1923: Bristol West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist George Gibbs Unopposed
Unionist hold
General election 1922: Bristol West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist George Gibbs 18,124 62.0 N/A
Liberal Frank Raffety 11,100 38.0 New
Majority 7,024 24.0 N/A
Turnout 29,224 76.9 N/A
Registered electors 38,013
Unionist hold Swing N/A
By-election, 1921: Bristol West[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C Unionist George Gibbs Unopposed
Unionist hold
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

Elections in the 1910s

General election 1918: Bristol West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C Unionist George Gibbs Unopposed
Unionist hold
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

Election results 1885–1918

Elections in the 1880s

Hicks Beach
General election 1885: Bristol West[19][20][21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Hicks Beach 3,876 61.1
Liberal Brinsley de Courcy Nixon 2,463 38.9
Majority 1,413 22.2
Turnout 6,339 82.8
Registered electors 7,657
Conservative win (new seat)
General election 1886: Bristol West[19][20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Hicks Beach 3,819 68.0 Increase 6.9
Liberal James Judd 1,801 32.0 Decrease 6.9
Majority 2,018 36.0 Increase 13.8
Turnout 5,620 73.4 Decrease 9.4
Registered electors 7,657
Conservative hold Swing Increase 6.9

Hicks Beach was appointed Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 11 Aug 1886: Bristol West[19][20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Hicks Beach Unopposed
Conservative hold

Hicks Beach was appointed President of the Board of Trade, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 20 Feb 1888: Bristol West[19][20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Hicks Beach Unopposed
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1890s

General election 1892: Bristol West[19][20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Hicks Beach Unopposed
Conservative hold
By-election, 1895: Bristol West[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Hicks Beach Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 1895: Bristol West[19][20][22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Hicks Beach 3,815 67.4 N/A
Liberal Henry Hamilton Lawless 1,842 32.6 New
Majority 1,973 34.8 N/A
Turnout 5,657 69.5 N/A
Registered electors 8,144
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1900s

General election 1900: Bristol West[19][20][22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Hicks Beach Unopposed
Conservative hold
George Gibbs
General election 1906: Bristol West[19][20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Gibbs 4,267 52.2 N/A
Liberal Thomas Lennard 3,902 47.8 New
Majority 365 4.4 N/A
Turnout 8,169 86.7 N/A
Registered electors 9,423
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1910s

General election January 1910: Bristol West[19][23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Gibbs 5,159 57.1 Increase 4.9
Liberal Walter Saise 3,881 42.9 Decrease 4.9
Majority 1,278 14.2 Increase 9.8
Turnout 9,040 89.3 Increase 2.6
Registered electors 10,127
Conservative hold Swing Increase 4.9
General election December 1910: Bristol West[19][23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Gibbs 4,871 57.5 Increase 0.4
Liberal Joseph Weston Stevens 3,595 42.5 Decrease 0.4
Majority 1,276 15.0 Increase 0.8
Turnout 8,466 83.6 Decrease 5.7
Registered electors 10,127
Conservative hold Swing Increase 0.4

General Election 1914–15:

Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by the July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;

See also

References

  1. ↑ "England Parliamentary electorates 2010-2018". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  2. ↑ "New 'Bristol Central' election contest confirmed - and the Greens already say they can win it". BristolLive. 30 June 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  3. ↑ "How Bristol constituency boundaries could change". BBC News. 8 November 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  4. ↑ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume one: Report – South West | Boundary Commission for England". boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  5. 1 2 "Fifth Periodical Report" (PDF). Boundary Commission for England. 26 February 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2010.
  6. 1 2 "Election 2010: Bristol West". BBC News. 7 May 2010. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  7. ↑ "UK ELECTION RESULTS". electionresults.blogspot.co.uk.
  8. ↑ "Bristol West". BBC News. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  9. ↑ "Revised estimates of leave vote in Westminster constituencies". Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  10. ↑ "Unite to Remain Agreement". Liberal Democrats. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  11. ↑ Bristol World. By-election victory "paves the way" for Bristol’s first Green Party MP. Retrieved 9 May 2023
  12. ↑ "Bristol West 1885-". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Retrieved 12 December 2015.
  13. ↑ "Members 1979-2010" (PDF). House of Commons Library. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
  14. ↑ "Statement of Persons Nominated".
  15. ↑ "BBC Election Results". 9 June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  16. ↑ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  17. ↑ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  18. ↑ Craig, F.W.S., ed. (1969). British parliamentary election results 1918-1949. Glasgow: Political Reference Publications. p. 109. ISBN 0-900178-01-9.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918, FWS Craig
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 The Liberal Year Book, 1907
  21. ↑ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886
  22. 1 2 Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901
  23. 1 2 Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916

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