What voters in Bristol Central are making of the Greens vs Labor general election battle

Carla Denyer gives Thangam Debbonaire a close race for a seat in politically rebellious Bristol.

The politically charged city of Bristol is abuzz with activists as the Green Party and Labor battle it out to win the seat on Thursday, July 4.

Shadow Culture Secretary Thangam Debbonaire faces a close contest with Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer, with two polls predicting a Denyer win and one saying Labor could hold on.

Denyer has been a councilor in Clifton Down in Bristol since 2015, while Debbonaire has enjoyed huge majorities in recent years as a Labor MP in the former Bristol West constituency, which he has held since 2015.

In May, the Greens took control of Bristol City Council for the first time and capitalized on appealing to disillusioned Labor voters on the left of the party.

Turning to voters, poll projections putting Labor on course for a big win have left traditional Labor supporters now more inclined to give the Greens a chance in Bristol. Although equally, others felt likely to stick with what they knew in Thangam.

The Green hopeful has been helped by the backing of some famous names including Massive Attack, actor Hugh Grant and celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. On the other hand, Labor donor and green energy chief Dale Vince shared his support for Thangam, including writing about it in the local paper.

The issues that stood out, especially among young voters in the area that has a large university population, were housing, the environment and Palestine.

For Natalie, a 30-year-old mental health practitioner, Labour’s delay in calling for a ceasefire in Gaza was a big influence in the Green vote, as she added: “It looks like there’s a good chance the Greens will between”. Musician Oliver, 29, also cited the Greens’ support for a ceasefire and the party’s emphasis on housing and rent control as issues that will influence his vote.

Another traditional Labor voter, youth worker Orla, thought Debbonaire could have been more vocal about the ceasefire. But she added that her vote was still undecided as she was keen for “anything to get the Tories out”.

Walking through Bristol Central and you are struck by the sheer number of political party signs outside houses. Every street has either green or red posters and during a very short visit I encountered both Green and Labor campaigners pounding the pavements to talk to voters.

However, the level of campaigning has not left everyone excited for the general election. One Bristol voter, university employee Damien, said the amount of election material from the Greens was “exaggerated” and even “depressing”.

For Damien, his mind has not changed as he stated that he will stick with “familiarity”, adding that Thangam “seems pretty good” and will keep his vote.

Artist Jo, 58, said she felt sorry for Thangam and thought he was a good MP, stressing her support for drug and rehab facilities in the city. However, she continued, “but politics is politics” and that “we’d better have some Green MPs focusing on the climate crisis”.

“I think the Greens could put pressure on Labour,” said Jo. “It would be different if it felt like it was going to be really difficult and Labor wasn’t going to win. But the Tories ran such a campaign out of touch with the electorate.”

This sentiment was echoed by social worker Zoe, who felt she did not seem a risk in voting for the Greens and that she “likes what they stand for”.

Polls that put Labor on course for a big majority could play a significant role in swaying former Labor supporters to go green, along with a disenchantment with Keir Starmer’s work, but it will be enough to wipe out the huge 62% share of votes thangam enjoyed in 2019?

Hannah Davenport is a news reporter at Left Foot Forward