Why every vote counts in Bristol’s key seats

Bristol24/7 took a whistle-stop tour through Bristol’s two marginal constituencies which could prove key on the eve of the General Election

On the final day of a wholly forgettable general election campaign where the monotony of flat-lining polls was only briefly interrupted once by a man eating a bacon sandwich, it’s no wonder voters are feeling a little fatigued.

“We are all getting a bit tired of it now,” says Marjorie Cook, 95, on her way to do her shopping in Clifton Village, which sits in the key marginal seat of Bristol West – a three-way battleground between the Lib Dems, Labour and Greens. “We will be jolly relieved when it’s all over,” she adds.

Marjorie, a Conservative voter, has made her way over from her home in Stoke Bishop, which actually sits in Bristol North West, Bristol’s other key marginal constituency – this time being fought over fiercely by Tory incumbent Charlotte Leslie and her closest challenger, Labour.

Given that the race is so close in these two key seats, it turns out that voters in Bristol may have a huge impact on the overall outcome of Thursday’s election, predicted to be the tightest for decades. That’s if what is being seen as a lacklustre campaign – sanitised by heavily choreographed public appearances – succeeds in mobilising them.

On arrival in the most easterly corner of Bristol West, where we begin a pre-polling day tour, it seems one party may have already succeeded. Or at least that’s what the placards will lead you to believe.

Under swirling rain, Easton is decorated with green signs jutting out of tiny Victorian front gardens, with stickers and posters filling bay windows all around in support of candidate Darren Hall. The green wash is only punctuated sporadically by the odd red of a Labour sign backing the extravagantly-named Thangam Debbonaire.

Doing a @bristolgreen ‘street stall tour’ of #BristolWest today. 3 down, 4 to go. This one in Redland. 😉 pic.twitter.com/MYA2Yh3QN7

— Darren Hall (@DarrenHall2015) May 6, 2015

Both candidates are strong and the latest poll in this constituency puts Labour ahead on 38 per cent, Greens in second on 25 per cent and the Lib Dems in third with 20 per cent. But the Greens are surging and have targeted this as their best chance of a second Westminster seat in the UK, sending their leader Natalie Bennett to Bristol no less than four times in the last two weeks to bolster support.

If the Green Party is going to succeed, they will have to break some strong Labour traditions in the area. Omar Farooq, 19, a plumbing student sitting with friends at a car wash on Chelsea Road, is voting Labour – he thinks. “It’s what my family do. They’ve always done it. All of them.”

David Cameron is “alright”, says Omar, who says he keeps a keen eye on the campaign. “Miliband though, he’s the Lib Dem guy, right?” He concedes: “It’s all a bit boring to be honest. They all just try and get people excited but still we end up with the same shit.”

Is that Abbey Road or Lockleaze? Great day at Bristol West rally w/ @Ed_Miliband & doorknocking in Bristol North West pic.twitter.com/Nhpgu8YOKD

— Clare Moody MEP (@ClareMoodyMEP) May 1, 2015

In the search for a green sympathiser, the Thali Café on St Mark’s Road in Easton seems to fit the bill. But Sam, 36, beavering away on his laptop, isn’t ready to show his colours.

“I won’t tell you who I’m voting but I think the Greens have very good support on the area. It feels like it is turning into a bit of a strong-hold for them.” Sam too is not impressed with what’s on offer at the top of the main parties. “They lack charisma. I know that’s a shallow thing to say, but it’s true.”

A conveniently-placed railway line (especially convenient in the hammering rain with only a bicycle) takes us all the way to Redland at the other end of the Bristol West boundary, where solid Lib Dem support helped deliver Stephen Williams a whopping 11,366 majority at the last election.

A short walk through leafy residential streets towards Clifton reveals a few yellow window displays which will give Williams hope again, but there is no sign of Lib Dem voters. Maybe they’re busy.

Paddy drops in to Bristol West for final push in Bristol West #winninghere @LibDems @swilliamsmp @BristolLibDems pic.twitter.com/S6s54rConN

— christian martin (@CllrChrisMartin) May 5, 2015

Up at the western fringes of the constituency outside Clifton Down station, Marjorie, whose vote won’t count here, says she “doesn’t make much of Nick Clegg”. A Tory vote in her Bristol North West home will be a vote for Charlotte Leslie. “I think she’s been excellent,” she adds.

A poll in April put Leslie out in front with 43 per cent, with Labour’s candidate Darren Jones trailing on 34 per cent. But given her small margin last time around (6.5 per cent, or 3,274 votes), some analysts believe it could be a lot closer.

A short walk up from Leslie’s constituency office on Henleaze Road, Peter Mohammad, barber at The Modern Man, says she has his support – and the support of most of his clients.

That is except for the man in the chair, Mike, 55, a carer from Shirehampton (also in Bristol North West) who is voting Ukip for the first time in his life. “I met Charlotte and she’s lovely, so I kind feel a bit guilty. But mine’s a protest vote,” Mike says.

He feels modern politics is dominated by political correctness where candidates can’t speak their mind. “This time round has also been very image-focussed. People look at the candidates and make a decision if they think they can run the country.”

Outside the barber shop, a 74-year-old retiree living in Henleaze is supportive of Leslie, but less complimentary of the national campaigns run by her party. “It’s all too scripted,’ she says. “I remember the hustings of old, now they were interesting.”

The final stop on our tour is Avonmouth, on the less affluent side of the Bristol North West constituency, where Labour have some of their best chance of picking up votes. But Valorie, 70, a retired nurse from Sea Mills, isn’t interested.

Reflecting the apathy found on the streets throughout the campaign by Bristol24/7, she says all the parties are the same come election time. “It just depends on how gullible you are at the end of the day and whether you do what you’re told,” she concludes. Time for a bacon sandwich.

Take a look at who is standing in the general election and local elections in the Bristol area, and follow our live coverage here from Thursday.