Bristol Central: Candidates, issues and information (2024)

Published

24 June 2024

With election campaigning now in full swing, we've been taking a closer look at some of the key battlegrounds in the region. The city of Bristol has two new constituencies, including the fascinating seat of Bristol Central.

It's a priority target for the Green Party, who won big here during local elections earlier this year.

However overcoming the Labour Party, which has dominated parliamentary elections in the city in recent times, is a tough challenge.

Bristol has a reputation for political rebellion, what chance is there there of a new West Country shock this time around?

As the name suggests, Bristol Central encompasses the city centre including the areas around the Harbour and Hotwells.

Its residential wards include affluent areas such as Clifton and Bishopston, as well as the diverse communities of St Pauls and St Werburghs.

Much of Bristol University is based here, as is the Bristol Royal Infirmary Hospital (BRI).

The constituency used to be part of Bristol West, which has now been abolished.

It depends on who you ask, but with a large student population and residents who are generally on the left of the political spectrum, there are issues that come up often when you chat to voters.

Housing, in particular high rents and a lack of genuinely affordable homes is a huge concern for a constituency where 54% of it's population are between the ages of 16-35.

The area ranks amongst the most pro-EU in the entire UK, and whilst Brexit appears to be something the main parties are keen to avoid talking about this election campaign, the issue still rankles with many.

Another key issue here is the ongoing conflict involving Israel and Gaza.

The ongoing conflict involving Israel and Gaza has been thrust back into the spotlight since the events of October 7, and has played a key role in elections in some parts of the country.

Whilst the city's larger Muslim communities don't tend to live in the Bristol Central constituency, the issue is still clearly of great importance to many here.

Next to the University of Bristol's Royal Fort Gardens, students are taking part in an encampment in support of Gaza and Palestine, one of several taking place in campuses across the UK.

Amongst the students demands is for the university to, "call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Palestine and for an immediate cessation of arms exports to Israel".

Meanwhile, Sophie, a Jewish voter from St Werburghs told the BBC: "It's really complicated to say 'the war has to end immediately,' the world is focussed on Israel and I don't love the fact that it's being made part of the campaign here locally."

She wants whoever is in government next to, "focus on climate change, focus on greener issues, the housing situation, all the stuff that hasn't had any attention paid to it these past 14 years."

There's no doubt the Green Party had an excellent set of local election results here in May, winning every councillor seat available.

The party has made winning a parliamentary seat here a top priority and are putting huge amounts of resources into doing so.

However more people tend to vote in general elections, and in Bristol Central voters may also be more savvy about switching.

Labour's candidate held a truly humongous majority in the old seat of Bristol West of 28,000. Even with the boundary changes, overcoming this for any other candidate else is a huge task.

Use the tool below to look up who is standing in your area, including Bristol Central.

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