The constituency covers the south-west ofBristol, bounded by theAvon New Cut to the north, theA37 Wells Road to the east, and the city boundaries to the south and west.
1885–1918: The Borough of Bristol wards of Bedminster East, Bedminster West, Bristol, and Redcliffe, and part of the civil parish of Bedminster.
1918–1950: The County Borough of Bristol wards of Bedminster East, Bedminster West, and Southville, and part of Somerset ward.
1950–1955: The County Borough of Bristol wards of Bedminster, Somerset, Southville, and Windmill Hill.
1955–1983: The County Borough of Bristol wards of Bedminster, Bishopsworth, Hengrove, Somerset, and Southville.
1983–1997: The City of Bristol wards of Bedminster, Bishopsworth, Filwood, Hartcliffe, Knowle, Southville, Whitchurch Park, and Windmill Hill.
1997–2024: The City of Bristol wards of Bedminster, Bishopsworth, Filwood, Hartcliffe, Hengrove, Knowle, Southville, Whitchurch Park, and Windmill Hill.
2024–present: The City of Bristol wards of Bedminster; Bishopsworth; Filwood; Hartcliffe & Withywood; Hengrove & Whitchurch Park; Southville; and Windmill Hill.[4]
To bring the electorate within the permitted range, theKnowle ward was moved toBristol East.[5][6]
The seat has elected Labour MPs at every election since 1935, the only seat in the south of England outsideGreater London with such a record. The closest result, giving a marginal majority, was the 1987 election whereDawn Primarolo won a majority of 2.7% of the vote — in that election theSocial Democratic Party, a 'moderate' breakaway party from the Labour Party,[n 3] won 19.6% of the vote.