The seat covers northwest parts of Bristol, extending to the Severn Estuary.[3] It includes deprived areas such as Lawrence Weston and Southmead, as well as wealthier areas including Westbury-on-Trym and Stoke Bishop.[4]
Bristol North West has traditionally been a Conservative–Labour swing seat. Party positions altered completely in 2010 with the Liberal Democrat candidate, Paul Harrod achieving second place with a slightly larger one party swing, of 11.4%, than winning candidate Charlotte Leslie and saw a fresh Labour Party candidate suffer a large decrease in percentage of the Labour vote of 20.8%.[c] This changed in 2015 with the Conservatives winning the seat with an increased majority of 9.5%, and Labour moving back into second place. In the snap 2017 general election, the seat was lost to the Labour Party on a swing of 9%.[5]
The 2017 win was a surprise to the successful Labour candidate Darren Jones. He attributed his win to three factors: Jeremy Corbyn and a well-received Labour manifesto, the youth vote, and Europe (the constituency had voted 61% remain in the Brexit referendum).[6] Jones was re-elected as MP for the constituency in 2019 with an increased majority.
1950–1955: The County Borough of Bristol wards of Avon, Durdham, Horfield, and Westbury-on-Trym.
1955–1983: The County Borough of Bristol wards of Avon, Henbury, Horfield, Southmead, and Westbury-on-Trym.
1983–1997: The City of Bristol wards of Avonmouth, Henbury, Horfield, Kingsweston, Lockleaze, Southmead, and Westbury-on-Trym, and the District of Northavon wards of Filton Charborough, Filton Conygre, Filton Northville, Stoke Gifford North, and Stoke Gifford South.
1997–2010: The City of Bristol wards of Avonmouth, Henbury, Horfield, Kingsweston, Lockleaze, and Southmead, and the South Gloucestershire wards of Filton Charborough, Filton Conygre, Filton Northville, Patchway Callicroft, Patchway Coniston, Patchway Stoke Lodge, Stoke Gifford North, and Stoke Gifford South.
2010–2024: The City of Bristol wards of Avonmouth, Henbury, Henleaze, Horfield, Kingsweston, Lockleaze, Southmead, Stoke Bishop, and Westbury-on-Trym.