Portsmouth South
Boundaries
1918–1950: The County Borough of Portsmouth wards of Havelock, Highland, St Paul, St Simon, and St Thomas.
1950–1955: The County Borough of Portsmouth wards of Havelock, Highland, Kingston, St Paul, St Simon, and St Thomas.
1955–1974: The County Borough of Portsmouth wards of Havelock, Highland, Kingston, St Jude, St Simon, and St Thomas.
1974–1983: The County Borough of Portsmouth wards of Buckland, Fratton, Havelock, Highland, Kingston, St Jude, St Simon, and St Thomas.
1983–2010: The City of Portsmouth wards of Charles Dickens, Fratton, Havelock, Highland, Milton, St Jude, and St Thomas.
2010–present: The City of Portsmouth wards of Central Southsea, Charles Dickens, Eastney and Craneswater, Fratton, Milton, St Jude, and St Thomas.
The boundaries were unchanged by the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies (which was based on the ward structure in place on 1 December 2020).
Constituency profile
The constituency covers the southern part of the city of Portsmouth in Hampshire, including Fratton, the seaside resort of Southsea and HMNB Portsmouth (Portsmouth Naval Dockyard) within the city bounds. The University of Portsmouth is within the constituency. The northern part is represented by Portsmouth North.
This constituency is marginally less affluent than its neighbour, with in December 2012 slightly higher unemployment, but considerably below the national average of all constituencies in terms of the claimant count. Notwithstanding this, following the Second World War the city has a large proportion of flats, increasingly in a more aesthetic apartment style, some being affordable social housing and brutalist tower blocks; however, the majority of the city is of semi-detached and terraced nature with a mixture of incomes centred around the national average and excellent amenities.
History
The constituency was created in 1918 when the larger Portsmouth constituency was split into three divisions: Central, North and South. The Portsmouth Central constituency was abolished in 1950.
During the 2010 general election campaign, independent candidate Les Cummings distributed a leaflet claiming that sitting MP Mike Hancock was a paedophile, which was later proven in court to be false. Cummings was subsequently convicted under the Representation of the People Act 1983 for distributing material which was known to be false with the intention of smearing or defaming to affect the return of a Member of Parliament, and was fined £500 as a result.
Stephen Morgan won the seat at the 2017 general election, the first time ever that the Labour Party have held the seat. Morgan's win was one of 30 net gains made by Labour at that election. At the 2019 general election Labour increased its vote share by 7.6%. This was the second-highest increase in Labour vote share in any seat in the United Kingdom (after Bradford West) in an election where Labour's vote share fell in all but 13 constituencies.
Morgan's vote share remained steady in the 2024 election, with the Conservatives falling significantly behind both Labour and Reform. Portsmouth South can be considered a safe Labour seat. From a high of 45.9% in 2010, the Lib Dems are now in fourth position in a seat they held between 1997 and 2015, despite holding the majority of councillors in this constituency.
Members of Parliament
Portsmouth prior to 1918
Elections
Elections in the 2020s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Stephen Morgan | 18,857 | 48.4 | −0.2 | |
Reform UK | Mark Zimmer | 5,702 | 14.6 | +12.5 | |
Conservative | Signe Biddle | 5,643 | 14.5 | −22.8 | |
Liberal Democrats | Charlie Murphy | 4,886 | 12.6 | +1.2 | |
Green | Elliott Lee | 3,107 | 8.0 | N/A | |
PIP | Jacob Short | 733 | 1.9 | N/A | |
Majority | 13,155 | 33.8 | +22.5 | ||
Turnout | 38,928 | 52.8 | −11.1 | ||
Registered electors | 73,711 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing | 6.4 |
Elections in the 2010s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Stephen Morgan | 23,068 | 48.6 | +7.6 | |
Conservative | Donna Jones | 17,705 | 37.3 | −0.3 | |
Liberal Democrats | Gerald Vernon-Jackson | 5,418 | 11.4 | −5.9 | |
Brexit Party | John Kennedy | 994 | 2.1 | N/A | |
JAC | Steven George | 240 | 0.5 | N/A | |
Majority | 5,363 | 11.3 | +7.9 | ||
Turnout | 47,425 | 63.9 | 0.0 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | +3.9 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Stephen Morgan | 18,290 | 41.0 | +21.5 | |
Conservative | Flick Drummond | 16,736 | 37.6 | +2.8 | |
Liberal Democrats | Gerald Vernon-Jackson | 7,699 | 17.3 | ―5.0 | |
UKIP | Kevan Chippindall-Higgin | 1,129 | 2.5 | ―10.9 | |
Green | Ian McCulloch | 712 | 1.6 | ―5.9 | |
Majority | 1,554 | 3.4 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 44,566 | 63.9 | +5.4 | ||
Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +9.4 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Flick Drummond | 14,585 | 34.8 | +1.5 | |
Liberal Democrats | Gerald Vernon-Jackson | 9,344 | 22.3 | ―23.6 | |
Labour | Sue Castillon | 8,184 | 19.5 | +5.8 | |
UKIP | Steve Harris | 5,595 | 13.4 | +11.3 | |
Green | Ian McCulloch | 3,145 | 7.5 | +5.8 | |
Independent | Mike Hancock | 716 | 1.7 | N/A | |
TUSC | Sean Hoyle | 235 | 0.6 | N/A | |
JAC | Don Jerrard | 99 | 0.2 | 0.0 | |
Majority | 5,241 | 12.5 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 41,903 | 58.5 | −0.2 | ||
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | +12.6 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Mike Hancock | 18,921 | 45.9 | +4.2 | |
Conservative | Flick Drummond | 13,721 | 33.3 | ―0.4 | |
Labour | John Ferrett | 5,640 | 13.7 | −8.7 | |
UKIP | Robert Robinson | 876 | 2.1 | −0.2 | |
BNP | Geoff Crompton | 873 | 2.1 | N/A | |
Green | Tim Dawes | 716 | 1.7 | N/A | |
English Democrat | Ian Ducain | 400 | 1.0 | N/A | |
JAC | Les Cummings | 117 | 0.3 | N/A | |
Majority | 5,200 | 12.6 | +4.6 | ||
Turnout | 41,264 | 58.7 | +1.3 | ||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | +2.3 |
Elections in the 2000s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Mike Hancock | 17,047 | 42.2 | ―2.4 | |
Conservative | Caroline Dinenage | 13,685 | 33.9 | +4.8 | |
Labour | Mark Button | 8,714 | 21.6 | ―2.3 | |
UKIP | Dennis Pierson | 928 | 2.3 | +1.5 | |
Majority | 3,362 | 8.3 | ―7.2 | ||
Turnout | 40,374 | 56.9 | +6.0 | ||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | ―3.6 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Mike Hancock | 17,490 | 44.6 | +5.1 | |
Conservative | Philip Warr | 11,396 | 29.1 | ―2.0 | |
Labour | Graham Heaney | 9,361 | 23.9 | ―1.4 | |
Socialist Alliance | Jonathan Molyneux | 647 | 1.6 | N/A | |
UKIP | Michael Tarrant | 321 | 0.8 | +0.5 | |
Majority | 6,094 | 15.5 | +7.1 | ||
Turnout | 39,216 | 50.9 | ―13.3 | ||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | +3.2 |
Elections in the 1990s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Mike Hancock | 20,421 | 39.5 | ―2.5 | |
Conservative | David Martin | 16,094 | 31.1 | ―11.4 | |
Labour | Alan Burnett | 13,086 | 25.3 | +10.7 | |
Referendum | Christopher Trim | 1,629 | 3.2 | N/A | |
Liberal | John Thompson | 184 | 0.4 | N/A | |
UKIP | Jill Evans | 141 | 0.3 | N/A | |
Natural Law | William Trend | 140 | 0.3 | N/A | |
Majority | 4,327 | 8.4 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 51,695 | 64.2 | ―4.9 | ||
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | +4.5 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | David Martin | 22,798 | 42.5 | ―0.8 | |
Liberal Democrats | Mike Hancock | 22,556 | 42.0 | ―0.9 | |
Labour | Syd Rapson | 7,857 | 14.6 | +1.6 | |
Green | Aleksander Zivkovic | 349 | 0.7 | N/A | |
Natural Law | William Trend | 91 | 0.2 | N/A | |
Majority | 242 | 0.5 | +0.1 | ||
Turnout | 53,651 | 69.1 | ―2.2 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | ±0.0 |
Elections in the 1980s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | David Martin | 23,534 | 43.3 | ―6.7 | |
SDP | Mike Hancock | 23,329 | 42.9 | +17.5 | |
Labour | Keith Gardiner | 7,047 | 13.0 | ―9.6 | |
657 Party | Martyn Hughes | 455 | 0.8 | N/A | |
Majority | 205 | 0.4 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 76,292 | 71.3 | +4.0 | ||
Conservative gain from SDP | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
SDP | Mike Hancock | 15,358 | 37.6 | +12.2 | |
Conservative | Patrick Rock | 14,017 | 34.3 | ―15.7 | |
Labour | Sally Thomas | 10,846 | 26.5 | +3.9 | |
National Front | Gordon Knight | 226 | 0.5 | ―0.1 | |
Ecology | Terry Mitchell | 190 | 0.5 | N/A | |
Independent Liberal | Alan Evens | 113 | 0.3 | ―0.8 | |
Independent Ecology | Thomas Layton | 50 | 0.1 | N/A | |
Independent | Anthony Andrews | 42 | 0.1 | N/A | |
New National Party | Peter Smith | 41 | 0.1 | N/A | |
Majority | 1,341 | 3.3 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 40,523 | 54.5 | ―12.8 | ||
SDP gain from Conservative | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Bonner Pink | 25,101 | 50.0 | ||
SDP | Mike Hancock | 12,766 | 25.4 | ||
Labour | Sally T. Thomas | 11,324 | 22.6 | ||
Independent Liberal | Alan J. Evens | 554 | 1.1 | N/A | |
National Front | Gordon A. Knight | 279 | 0.6 | ||
Traditional English Food | D. W. Fry | 172 | 0.3 | N/A | |
Majority | 12,335 | 24.6 | |||
Turnout | 50,196 | 67.3 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Elections in the 1970s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Bonner Pink | 26,835 | 54.67 | ||
Labour | Sally T. Thomas | 15,306 | 31.18 | ||
Liberal | Jack Raphael Wallis | 6,487 | 13.22 | ||
National Front | W. Donkin | 457 | 0.93 | N/A | |
Majority | 11,529 | 23.49 | |||
Turnout | 49,085 | 72.88 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Bonner Pink | 23,379 | 47.61 | ||
Labour | A. M. Halmos | 15,308 | 31.17 | ||
Liberal | M. Tribe | 9,807 | 19.97 | ||
Marxist-Leninist (England) | A. D. Rifkin | 612 | 1.25 | ||
Majority | 8,071 | 16.44 | |||
Turnout | 49,106 | 69.39 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Bonner Pink | 26,824 | 50.26 | ||
Labour | S. Lloyd | 15,842 | 29.69 | ||
Liberal | J. Williams | 10,307 | 19.31 | N/A | |
Marxist-Leninist (England) | A. D. Rifkin | 394 | 0.74 | N/A | |
Majority | 10,982 | 20.57 | |||
Turnout | 58,367 | 75.86 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Bonner Pink | 23,962 | 63.38 | ||
Labour | John White | 13,847 | 36.62 | ||
Majority | 10,115 | 26.76 | |||
Turnout | 37,809 | 67.36 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Elections in the 1960s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Bonner Pink | 22,713 | 60.65 | ||
Labour | Patten Bridge Smith | 14,738 | 39.35 | ||
Majority | 7,975 | 21.30 | |||
Turnout | 37,451 | 70.74 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Jocelyn Lucas | 24,387 | 63.69 | ||
Labour | Richard W. S. Pryke | 13,904 | 36.31 | ||
Majority | 10,483 | 27.38 | |||
Turnout | 38,291 | 71.02 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Elections in the 1950s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Jocelyn Lucas | 27,892 | 69.96 | ||
Labour | Frank Towell | 11,979 | 30.04 | ||
Majority | 15,913 | 39.92 | |||
Turnout | 39,871 | 72.33 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Jocelyn Lucas | 27,887 | 67.22 | ||
Labour | Lawrence W. Carroll | 13,600 | 32.78 | ||
Majority | 14,287 | 34.44 | |||
Turnout | 41,487 | 72.39 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Jocelyn Lucas | 30,548 | 63.78 | ||
Labour | Douglas S. Wallace | 17,350 | 36.22 | ||
Majority | 13,198 | 27.56 | |||
Turnout | 47,898 | 80.76 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Jocelyn Lucas | 31,124 | 63.95 | ||
Labour | Leslie Merrion | 17,545 | 36.05 | ||
Majority | 13,579 | 27.90 | |||
Turnout | 48,669 | 83.50 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Elections in the 1940s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Jocelyn Lucas | 15,810 | 55.29 | −19.91 | |
Labour | J. F. Blitz | 12,783 | 44.71 | +19.91 | |
Majority | 3,027 | 10.58 | −39.82 | ||
Turnout | 28,593 | 74.95 | +8.01 | ||
Registered electors | 38,150 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | −19.91 |
Elections in the 1930s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Jocelyn Lucas | Unopposed | |||
Conservative hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Herbert Cayzer | 27,416 | 75.20 | −5.68 | |
Labour | John W. Fawcett | 9,043 | 24.80 | +5.68 | |
Majority | 18,373 | 50.40 | −11.36 | ||
Turnout | 36,459 | 66.94 | −5.78 | ||
Registered electors | 54,463 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | −5.68 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Herbert Cayzer | 32,634 | 80.88 | +44.06 | |
Labour | W. J. Beck | 7,715 | 19.12 | −5.63 | |
Majority | 24,919 | 61.76 | +49.68 | ||
Turnout | 40,349 | 72.72 | −2.42 | ||
Registered electors | 55,488 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | +24.85 |
Elections in the 1920s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Herbert Cayzer | 15,068 | 36.82 | −36.14 | |
Labour | Jessie Stephen | 10,127 | 24.75 | −2.29 | |
Ind. Conservative | Frank Privett | 9,505 | 23.23 | N/A | |
Liberal | Charles Rudkin | 6,214 | 15.19 | N/A | |
Majority | 4,941 | 12.07 | −33.84 | ||
Turnout | 40,914 | 75.14 | +0.94 | ||
Registered electors | 54,449 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Herbert Cayzer | 22,423 | 72.96 | +17.00 | |
Labour | Jessie Stephen | 8,310 | 27.04 | +2.17 | |
Majority | 14,113 | 45.92 | +14.83 | ||
Turnout | 30,733 | 74.20 | +1.48 | ||
Registered electors | 41,417 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | +7.42 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Herbert Cayzer | 16,625 | 55.96 | −12.77 | |
Labour | Jessie Stephen | 7,388 | 24.87 | N/A | |
Liberal | Sidney Robert Drury-Lowe | 5,698 | 19.18 | −12.09 | |
Majority | 9,237 | 31.09 | −6.38 | ||
Turnout | 29,711 | 72.72 | −1.94 | ||
Registered electors | 40,854 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | −18.82 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Herbert Cayzer | 11,884 | 54.90 | −13.83 | |
Liberal | Henry Merrick Lawson | 9,763 | 45.10 | N/A | |
Majority | 2,121 | 9.80 | −17.66 | ||
Turnout | 21,647 | 54.90 | −18.76 | ||
Registered electors | 39,426 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Leslie Wilson | 14,301 | 62.90 | −5.83 | |
Ind. Conservative | G. C. Thomas | 8,434 | 37.10 | N/A | |
Majority | 5,867 | 25.80 | −11.66 | ||
Turnout | 22,735 | 57.66 | −16.00 | ||
Registered electors | 39,426 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Herbert Cayzer | 19,960 | 68.73 | +0.43 | |
Liberal | Henry Merrick Lawson | 9,080 | 31.27 | +12.80 | |
Majority | 10,880 | 37.46 | −12.37 | ||
Turnout | 29,040 | 73.66 | +11.69 | ||
Registered electors | 39,426 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | −6.19 |
Elections in the 1910s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
C | Unionist | Herbert Cayzer | 15,842 | 68.30 | |
Liberal | Alison Vickers Garland | 4,283 | 18.47 | ||
Labour | James Lacey | 3,070 | 13.24 | ||
Majority | 11,559 | 49.83 | |||
Turnout | 23,195 | 61.97 | |||
Registered electors | 37,427 | ||||
Unionist win (new seat) | |||||
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. |
See also
- List of parliamentary constituencies in Hampshire
- List of parliamentary constituencies in the South East England (region)
Notes
- ^ A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
- ^ Results compared to the 1935 general election, not the 1939 by-election
- ^ Results compared to the 1922 general election, not the 1922 or the 1923 by-elections
- ^ Results compared to the 1922 general election, not the 1922 by-election
References
- ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 6 South East region.
- ^ Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
- ^ "Local statistics – Office for National Statistics". neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk.
- ^ "2011 census interactive maps". ons.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 29 January 2016.
- ^ The Times Guide to the House of Commons 2019. Glasgow: Times Books. 2020. p. 54. ISBN 978-0-00-839258-1.
- ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "P" (part 2)
- ^ "Election results for Portsmouth South". Portsmouth City council. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ "Portsmouth South results". BBC News. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "Portsmouth South". BBC News. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
- ^ "Portsmouth South parliamentary constituency – Election 2019 – BBC News". Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ "Portsmouth South parliamentary constituency – Election 2019 – BBC News". Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- ^ "Politics". the Guardian.
- ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
- ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
- ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ Craig, F.W.S., ed. (1969). British parliamentary election results 1918–1949. Glasgow: Political Reference Publications. ISBN 0-900178-01-9.
External links
- Portsmouth South UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK
- Portsmouth South UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK
- Portsmouth South UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK