Post by froome on Feb 13, 2024 11:34:16 GMT
The river Avon divides Bristol into two quite separate communities, with south Bristol having a different culture and feel than the greater part of the city to its north. However, the population living in the south of the city is too large for one constituency, so one of Bristol's constituencies inevitably ends up crossing the river. This has always been the eastern Bristol constituency, despite the communities here having very little shared history or connectivity.
There was a Bristol East constituency up to 1950, and it was reinstated in 1983 and has remained a constituency since then. However, it has altered several times since then, and the only area that has remained within the constituency throughout this period has been Brislington, in the south-east of the city. This newer version of Bristol East is probably a more sensible version than the one that existed up till now, as it is a more compact area which brings back areas that are normally considered to be the east of the city, and is well balanced between the areas south and north of the river. However, any eastern constituency will be controversial in what is included, and this is no different in that respect.
Compared to the constituency fought at the last election, the three northern wards - Eastville, Frome Vale and Hillfields - have all been lost to the new Bristol North East constituency. To compensate for this, it has gained Lawrence Hill and Easton wards from Bristol West constituency and Knowle ward from Bristol South constituency, and the constituency now covers the following wards - Lawrence Hill, Easton, St George West, St George Central and St George Troopers Hill, which are all north of the river, and Brislington East, Brislington West, Knowle and Stockwood south of the river. Two of the St George wards are single member wards, while all the others elect two councillors, so in local election terms there are 16 councillors covering the constituency, 8 in the north and 8 in the south.
This is a fairly diverse area, with the areas to the north and south of the river being quite different in many ways, but it is overwhelmingly a working-class demographic, and much poorer than the other Bristol constituencies north of the river. Consequently, during the 2010s it became a safe Labour seat, and the changes to the constituency probably make it a little more safe for them, as the 3 wards lost from the constituency were more middle-class than most of the new constituency (though in Bristol that demographic is quite strongly Labour voting). However, at local election level, the diversity of the constituency is better reflected, and in the most recent local elections in 2021, the councillors elected were 7 Labour, 4 Liberal Democrat, 3 Green and 2 Conservatives.
North of the river, St George is a working-class community that developed early in the 19th century due to the exploitation of the east Bristol coalfield, and has a relatively stable population, though with some gentrification recently taking place, especially along the river, where the old industrial base has been partly replaced by new housing. In the local elections, all 4 councillors elected were Labour, with the Greens second in two of the wards. The Easton area, which also includes much of Lawrence Hill ward, had similar origins to St George, but while St George has seen relatively little redevelopment, much of the Easton area was redeveloped after the war, and contains many large blocks of flats. This is one of the most multi-cultural areas of the city, and Lawrence Hill ward also contains the eastern end of the city centre, which has newer and more upmarket developments. In the local elections these wards elected 3 Greens and 1 Labour councillor.
South of the river, Brislington is another relatively stable working-class community, though the housing here is larger and much of the area has a more suburban feel. At the last local elections, Brislington East elected 2 Labour councillors, while Brislington West elected 2 Liberal Democrats. To its west is Knowle ward, which sits high on a hill overlooking the city, and consequently has some quite large houses, though otherwise is similar in many respects to Brislington. However, it is probably more connected with areas in Bristol South constituency and its inclusion within this constituency has caused some upset. In the local elections, it elected 2 Liberal Democrat councillors. Finally, Stockwood is a fairly isolated ward, covering an area south of Brislington but mostly separated from it by open spaces, and containing some suburban housing and what was built as a large and quite remote council estate. This area abuts open countryside, and the potential threats of developing this for housing undoubtedly helps to keep it as a reliable Conservative ward.
Despite the local election diversity, this constituency will certainly remain as a safe Labour seat, with the Conservatives as the only other party remotely competitive. However, previous reincarnations of Bristol East saw the Conservatives win the seat in 1983, defeating Tony Benn, with Labour gaining it in 1992. During the early noughties, the Liberal Democrats did become competitive here, and south-east Bristol is now where all their local councillors are elected, but they have fallen badly away in general elections and most recently polled under 7% in the 2019 election.
There was a Bristol East constituency up to 1950, and it was reinstated in 1983 and has remained a constituency since then. However, it has altered several times since then, and the only area that has remained within the constituency throughout this period has been Brislington, in the south-east of the city. This newer version of Bristol East is probably a more sensible version than the one that existed up till now, as it is a more compact area which brings back areas that are normally considered to be the east of the city, and is well balanced between the areas south and north of the river. However, any eastern constituency will be controversial in what is included, and this is no different in that respect.
Compared to the constituency fought at the last election, the three northern wards - Eastville, Frome Vale and Hillfields - have all been lost to the new Bristol North East constituency. To compensate for this, it has gained Lawrence Hill and Easton wards from Bristol West constituency and Knowle ward from Bristol South constituency, and the constituency now covers the following wards - Lawrence Hill, Easton, St George West, St George Central and St George Troopers Hill, which are all north of the river, and Brislington East, Brislington West, Knowle and Stockwood south of the river. Two of the St George wards are single member wards, while all the others elect two councillors, so in local election terms there are 16 councillors covering the constituency, 8 in the north and 8 in the south.
This is a fairly diverse area, with the areas to the north and south of the river being quite different in many ways, but it is overwhelmingly a working-class demographic, and much poorer than the other Bristol constituencies north of the river. Consequently, during the 2010s it became a safe Labour seat, and the changes to the constituency probably make it a little more safe for them, as the 3 wards lost from the constituency were more middle-class than most of the new constituency (though in Bristol that demographic is quite strongly Labour voting). However, at local election level, the diversity of the constituency is better reflected, and in the most recent local elections in 2021, the councillors elected were 7 Labour, 4 Liberal Democrat, 3 Green and 2 Conservatives.
North of the river, St George is a working-class community that developed early in the 19th century due to the exploitation of the east Bristol coalfield, and has a relatively stable population, though with some gentrification recently taking place, especially along the river, where the old industrial base has been partly replaced by new housing. In the local elections, all 4 councillors elected were Labour, with the Greens second in two of the wards. The Easton area, which also includes much of Lawrence Hill ward, had similar origins to St George, but while St George has seen relatively little redevelopment, much of the Easton area was redeveloped after the war, and contains many large blocks of flats. This is one of the most multi-cultural areas of the city, and Lawrence Hill ward also contains the eastern end of the city centre, which has newer and more upmarket developments. In the local elections these wards elected 3 Greens and 1 Labour councillor.
South of the river, Brislington is another relatively stable working-class community, though the housing here is larger and much of the area has a more suburban feel. At the last local elections, Brislington East elected 2 Labour councillors, while Brislington West elected 2 Liberal Democrats. To its west is Knowle ward, which sits high on a hill overlooking the city, and consequently has some quite large houses, though otherwise is similar in many respects to Brislington. However, it is probably more connected with areas in Bristol South constituency and its inclusion within this constituency has caused some upset. In the local elections, it elected 2 Liberal Democrat councillors. Finally, Stockwood is a fairly isolated ward, covering an area south of Brislington but mostly separated from it by open spaces, and containing some suburban housing and what was built as a large and quite remote council estate. This area abuts open countryside, and the potential threats of developing this for housing undoubtedly helps to keep it as a reliable Conservative ward.
Despite the local election diversity, this constituency will certainly remain as a safe Labour seat, with the Conservatives as the only other party remotely competitive. However, previous reincarnations of Bristol East saw the Conservatives win the seat in 1983, defeating Tony Benn, with Labour gaining it in 1992. During the early noughties, the Liberal Democrats did become competitive here, and south-east Bristol is now where all their local councillors are elected, but they have fallen badly away in general elections and most recently polled under 7% in the 2019 election.
