Bristol Central voters share their thoughts on the general election

Bristol Central has gained national attention thanks to polls predicting the Green Party is likely to win the seat. The new constituency, which replaces most of what was formerly Bristol West, has a much lower number of Tory voters than the national average.

Labour’s shadow secretary for culture, media and sport, Thangam Debbonaire is the parliamentary candidate for Bristol Central and was the sitting MP for Bristol West. But if she loses on July 4, she could be replaced by the Green Party’s Carla Denyer.

The first major YouGov poll ahead of the 2024 general election suggests a massive national victory for Labour. But he predicts national Greens co-leader Ms Denyer is “likely” to become only the party’s second MP in Bristol Central.

READ MORE: General Election 2024 mega-poll predicts Dan Norris to beat Jacob Rees-Mogg and Greens to win Bristol Central

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The Green Party, which has only ever had one MP, said it hoped to have four MPs after the election. In 2015, when Ms Debbonaire first took Bristol West from the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party came second with just over 3,000 votes between the candidates.

In the last two elections, when Jeremy Corbyn was Labor leader, Ms Debbonaire recorded two landslide victories. But many of those voters returned or switched to the Greens, who now hold all council seats in Bristol Central and have a majority in the city.

Bristol Live spoke to several voters in Bristol Central and asked them what their priorities are for the upcoming election. Although some have already decided they are voting Green, others are still undecided.

Maisy Syratt, who previously voted Labour, said she would vote Green because of Labour’s stance on Gaza. The 23-year-old said: “I am very disappointed with Labour’s position on Gaza and that Keir Starmer has taken very little action.”

Maisy, who lives in Montpellier, added that as there was no danger of the Tories getting in, she felt there was no reason to vote tactically this time.

Lowri Campbell is still undecided about how she will vote and admits she didn’t vote in the last two elections when she lived in Wales. She said that in her old constituency the most popular parties were Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats.

“If there had been any chance of the Tories getting in, I would have made an effort to vote. I know a lot of my friends vote green, but I’m still undecided.

The private renter said the housing crisis and the cost of living were the two most important issues for her, but said she wanted to read more about Labor and Greens policies before making a final decision. “I think you have to look outside yourself and how (policies) will affect everyone in the UK,” Lowri added.

Kaina-Kaine Sonsiama, who lives in St Pauls, did not want to say who she was voting for, but said more support was needed for single parents to break the cycle of poverty. “When their children go to university, there is often a need to support them financially and when parents cannot afford this, children are prevented from gaining qualifications.

“But if single parents are supported, then they can support their own children.” She also added that there should be more support for small businesses so they can stay open while keeping costs down.

Tom Parfitt from St Werburghs said he had always voted Green, with climate change a big issue for him, along with the cost of living and the housing crisis. “I was definitely a Corbyn fan but I was living in Bath at the time and the Labs had no chance there.

“I guess the Greens have always been the party I’ve sided with politically,” added the 25-year-old, who has lived in the area for the past three years.