Bristol could get extra MP in boundary shakeup

A radical shakeup of Bristol’s constituency boundaries is likely to take place within the next two years.

Bristol West, by far the largest of the city’s four constituencies by voter numbers, is set to face the biggest changes.

Among the 650 parliamentary constituencies across the UK, Bristol West has the second largest number of electoral registrations of almost 100,000 voters.

Currently, Bristol is split into four parliamentary constituencies, meaning that the city sends four MPs to the House of Commons.

All four of our current MPs represent the Labour Party, but Bristol West voted Tory from 1931 to 1997 and had a Lib Dem MP from 2005 until 2015; while Bristol North West was held by the Tories between 2010 and 2017.

Labour celebrations have become a familiar sight in Bristol in recent years – photo: Bristol24/7

The Boundary Commission for England (BCE) is recommending that each constituency must contain no less than 69,724 parliamentary electors and no more than 77,062.

These are the current number of people registered to vote in Bristol’s four constituencies:

• Bristol East: 74,322
• Bristol North West: 76,823
• Bristol South: 84,564
• Bristol West: 99,859
• UK average: 73,166

It seems likely that at least one Bristol constituency will also encompass part of a neighbouring authority, which Bristol24/7 understands is likely to be North Somerset just the other side of the Suspension Bridge.

The BCE’s initial proposals for new boundaries are expected to be published in early summer 2021, with its final report and recommendations submitted to the speaker of the House of Commons by July 2023.

BCE secretary, Tim Bowden, said: “Parliament has set strict rules on greater equality of electorate size between the new constituencies -­ these rules and the increase in total number of constituencies in England mean that there is likely to be a large degree of change across the country.”

Bristol North West MP Darren Jones claimed the sixth highest amount in accommodation costs of any UK MP between 2019 and 2020, and is ranked 16th in all expenses claims.

As recently as 2010, the inner city wards of Easton and Lawrence Hill were transferred to the Bristol West constituency from Bristol East; while the affluent Henleaze, Stoke Bishop and Westbury-on-Trym wards which had belonged to Bristol West became part of Bristol North West.

Bristol East had been a historic constituency which was abolished before being reinstated for the 1983 general election, with Bristol South returning a Labour MP since that same year and Bristol East remaining red since 1992.

The Green Party had high hopes to take Bristol West in 2017 after coming second in 2015, but instead incumbent Thangam Debbonaire increased her share of the vote by a thumping 30.3 per cent.

After the review, a new constituency of Bristol Central could be created, with much of the current Bristol West constituency encompassing the city centre and its growing population.

Main photo: Martin Booth

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