Bristol West: Up For Grabs

As part of our coverage of 100 seats in the 100 days before the election, Jon Kay has been to Bristol West where the Green Party have high hopes of taking the seat.

Following last year’s local elections the Green Party’s Darren Hall is hopeful about his party’s prospects.

“We got more votes in one ward, than we did in the whole constituency in 2010,” he said.

Labour candidate Thangam Debbonaire described Bristol West as “a microcosm of the country; a multi ethnic, multi-religious, mixture of people, all trying to work out how we do this business called living a good life”.

The Liberal Democrats currently hold the seat and candidate Stephen Williams isn’t worried the Green Party will overhaul him, but concedes Green votes could dent his majority in favour of another party.

“No one expects them to bridge that 24,000 (votes) gap...they may hand the seat on a plate to the Labour party,” he said.

Bristol West also has 10,000 students who could swing votes away from Liberal Democrats – in part because of their record on tuition fees.

“What’s the point in voting for them because if they go into a coalition with the Tories again, it’s going to be more Tory policies,” one said.

Claire Hiscott, the Conservative hopeful, is aware anyone could win the seat.

“It’s up for grabs this time. Nobody can call it,” she said.