In the third of our constituency profiles we look at Bristol East and ask voters from across the constituency what they think of politics, politicians and promises.
Bristol East is one of a key handful of Labour seats in the West Country.
The constituency has gone through various boundary changes since its creation in 1885.
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In 1983 the Bristol East constituency was reinstated. The sitting MP for Bristol South East, Tony Benn, famously lost the seat to the Conservative Jonathan Sayeed. Labour won it back in 1992 and Kerry McCarthy has held the seat since 2005.
At the 2010 election she had a 3,700 majority – this time round, Lib Dem candidate and local businessman, Adbul Malik may reduce her majority somewhat.
As soon as polls close on May 7, Bristol24/7 will be bringing you all the latest general election news, views and results as it happens throughout the night.
More information on voting and constituencies.
General Election 2010 Results
General Election Candidates
Theo Clarke – Conservative
Lorraine Francis – Green
Matt Gordon – Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
Abdul Malik – Liberal Democrats
Kerry McCarthy – Labour
James McMurray – UKIP
Full list of candidates and polling stations
Voxes
Mark Dehaney, 50, lettings manager
1. Do you know who your local candidates are?
I know who one of them is, Theo Clarke, and I know what she stands for. She’s for the local people and she wants to save Wick Road Library.
2. Have you decided who to vote for yet and, if not, what can they do to change your mind?
I have!
3. Do you trust election promises?
No.
4. What are the main issues for you in your constituency?
I’m one of those people that if it doesn’t affect me directly I let everyone else get on with their lives, in a nutshell.
Diane Wright, 55, housewife
1. Do you know who your local candidates are and what they stand for?
No.
2. Have you decided who to vote for yet and, if not, what could somebody do to change your mind?
I’m kind of thinking I don’t know who to vote for. I just feel that you can’t believe anything they say on the run up to an election because they just say what they think we want to hear.
3. Do you trust election promises?
No!
4. What are the main issues for you in your constituency?
Health and education.
Natalie Wright, 26, unemployed, looking after a baby
1. Do you know who your local candidates are and what they stand for?
No.
2. Have you decided who to vote for yet and, if not, what could somebody do to change your mind?
Not a lot really.
3. Do you trust election promises?
No.
4. What are the main issues for you in your constituency?
The local area, the parks, young children and education and health.
Patricia Dennison, 53, unemployed
1. Do you know who your local candidates are and what they stand for?
Yes and I don’t think much of any of them.
2. Have you decided who to vote for yet and, if not, what could somebody do to change your mind?
Absolutely nothing as I probably haven’t voted for the last four or five elections.
3. Do you trust election promises?
Nope.
4. What are the main issues for you in your constituency?
I haven’t really got any.
Eleanor Fewings, 80, retired, Brislington
1. Do you know who your local candidates are and what they stand for?
Yes, Kerry McCarthy Labour, Theo Clarke I think is Conservative and I know James McMurray is UKIP… I’m not sure LibDem, somebody ‘Malik’?
2. Have you decided who to vote for yet and, if not, what could somebody do to change your mind?
No, I haven’t decided yet. Can I say this? As far as I’m concerned, all MPs are bad… They’re work shy, they’re thieves and they tell lies.
3. Do you trust election promises?
No I don’t. Because they don’t keep any of them. Where are they going to get 1000 nurses? They can’t grab 1000 nurses off the street can they? I mean it takes years to train good nurses… You know, they make all of these promises and I don’t think they look far enough into what they’re talking about. I think it all comes off the top of their head!
4. What are the main issues for you in your constituency?
Traffic. I’d be interested in when they’re going to actually bring the 20 mile an hour limit into operation.
Gerald Fewings, 80, retired, Brislington
1. Do you know who your local candidates are and what they stand for?
No, not really.
2. Have you decided who to vote for yet and, if not, what could somebody do to change your mind?
No and I don’t think anything really.
3. Do you trust election promises?
No.
4. What are the main issues for you in your constituency?
Mainly traffic and rubbish.
Zahad Voladri, 27, works in a restaurant, Brislington
1. Do you know who your local candidates are and what they stand for?
No.
2. Have you decided who to vote for yet and, if not, what could somebody do to change your mind?
I haven’t decided yet.
3. Do you trust election promises?
Not really.
4. What are the main issues for you in your constituency?
Better bus services and schools.
Tony Ticktum, 80, retired, St George
1. Do you know who your local candidates are and what they stand for?
Yes, I do.
2. Have you decided who to vote for yet and, if not, what could somebody do to change your mind?
I’ve already decided, I shall vote Labour.
3. Do you trust election promises?
Some, perhaps 25%.
4. What are the main issues for you in your constituency?
The National Health Service is the main. I think the NHS is more important than anything.
Gosia Oskina, 27, beauty therapist, St George
1. Do you know who your local candidates are and what they stand for?
No.
2. Have you decided who to vote for yet and, if not, what could somebody do to change your mind?
Not yet, I have to do some research first. I will probably vote for whoever my boyfriend votes for.
3. Do you trust election promises?
No.
4. What are the main issues for you in your constituency?
I haven’t really got any.
Deborah Miles, 37, teacher, Brislington
1. Do you know who your local candidates are and what they stand for?
Nope.
2. Have you decided who to vote for yet and, if not, what could somebody do to change your mind?
I haven’t decided who I’m going to vote for and actually if there was a little bit more pro-activeness within Brislington and I knew who my candidates were – I don’t mean knock on my door – but just do something so that they can actually show who they are.
3. Do you trust election promises?
Absolutely not and that’s probably why I’m not that interested in it either.
4. What are the main issues for you in your constituency?
Jobs and money going into education.
Richard Nielson, 32, events manager
1. Do you know who your local candidates are and what they stand for?
I’ve got an idea of some of them, I’ve got leaflets and I’ve read about each one but I’m useless at names at the best of times.
2. Have you decided who to vote for yet and, if not, what could somebody do to change your mind?
Yeah, I’ve decided, I think; Green.
3. Do you trust election promises?
No, voting has always been like the lesser of two evils. Even though some of Green’s policies are fairly off the wall, at least it’s a step in the right direction.
4. What are the main issues for you in your constituency?
I don’t know really. In general making things better is always the way and looking for candidates who actually do make things better rather than doing things for their own ambition.
Abbie Townsend, 37, landscape and horticulture student, St George
1. Do you know who your local candidates are and what they stand for?
Not really.
2. Have you decided who to vote for yet and, if not, what could somebody do to change your mind?
I haven’t 100% decided.
3. Do you trust election promises?
No.
4. What are the main issues for you in your constituency?
Family and location, things going on in the surrounding area.
Cynthia Sox, 25, law student, St George
1. Do you know who your local candidates are and what they stand for?
No idea.
2. Have you decided who to vote for yet and, if not, what could somebody do to change your mind?
Probably Labour.
3. Do you trust election promises?
No, they never keep them, it’s all lies.
4. What are the main issues for you in your constituency?
Immigration is a big issue, for me anyway.
Amy Chard, 20, creative arts therapy student, St George
1. Do you know who your local candidates are and what they stand for?
Not particularly.
2. Have you decided who to vote for yet and, if not, what could somebody do to change your mind?
I’m thinking of voting for Green Party because their opinions match mine.
3. Do you trust election promises?
Not entirely.
4. What are the main issues for you in your constituency?
I’d like to see them make a difference with the NHS and continue funding that and I’d really like to see them reduce tuition fees for university.
