Southampton Test
History
The constituency was created for the 1950 general election, when the previous two-member Southampton constituency was abolished. The boundaries of the seat have changed at most of the Boundary Commissions' periodic reviews.
Horace King, the MP between 1950 and 1955, before switching to the neighbouring seat of Southampton Itchen, would later become the first Speaker of the House of Commons from the Labour Party. The seat was contested unsuccessfully in 1955 and 1959 respectively by Anthony Crosland and Shirley Williams, who would both later be elected for other seats and become prominent ministers in the Labour governments of the 1960s and 1970s.
Southampton Test proved to be a bellwether (mirroring the national result) from 1966 until 2010, with the exception of the minority government of Harold Wilson from February to October 1974 .
In the 2010 general election, Alan Whitehead for Labour performed better here than John Denham in Southampton Itchen, the other Southampton seat, which the party also held that year. The area from 2010 to 2015 was one of four Labour seats in South East England and from 2017 to 2019 among two of eighteen in Hampshire won by Labour candidates. Whitehead was re-elected in 2017 with a majority of over 10,000 votes, and in 2019 over 6,000, making Southampton Test a relatively comfortable Labour seat. Whitehead did not stand at the 2024 general election; he was succeeded by fellow Labour Party member, Satvir Kaur, with a majority of over 9,000.
Constituency profile
The seat covers the western part of the City of Southampton and is named after the River Test, one of the city's two rivers. It covers some of the leafy northern suburbs (though the northernmost Bassett Ward ceased to form part of the constituency in 1997) and the western port areas as well as the social housing estates of the western fringes. It is traditionally the marginally more affluent of the two constituencies in the city, before 2010 having a higher number of Tory representatives than its neighbour Southampton Itchen – named after the other major river. The area includes the University of Southampton, though its halls of residence fall almost entirely within Romsey and Southampton North or Southampton Itchen. Workless claimants, registered jobseekers, were in November 2012 close to but slightly below than the national average of 3.8%, at 3.4% of the population based on a statistical compilation by The Guardian, above the average for the South East seats of 2.5% but below, for example, five seats in East Kent.
The seat is home to Southampton's football ground at St Mary's.
Boundaries
Historic
1950–1955: The County Borough of Southampton wards of All Saints, Banister, Freemantle, Millbrook, St Nicholas, Shirley, and Town; and the (civil) Parish of Millbrook (which was then in the Romsey and Stockbridge Rural District).
1955–1983: The County Borough of Southampton wards of Banister, Bargate, Bassett, Coxford, Freemantle, Millbrook, Portswood, Redbridge, and Shirley.
1983–1997: The City of Southampton wards of Bassett, Coxford, Freemantle, Millbrook, Portswood, Redbridge, and Shirley.
1997–2010: The City of Southampton wards of Coxford, Freemantle, Millbrook, Portswood, Redbridge, St Luke's, and Shirley.
2010–2023 The City of Southampton wards of Bevois, Coxford, Freemantle, Millbrook, Portswood, Redbridge, and Shirley.
Current
Following a review of local authority ward boundaries, which became effective in May 2023, the constituency now comprises the following:
- The City of Southampton wards of: Banister & Polygon (majority); Bevois; Coxford; Freemantle; Millbrook; Portswood; Redbridge; Shirley; Swaythling (small part).
The 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which was based on the ward structure in place at 1 December 2020, left the boundaries unchanged.
The constituency is bounded to the east by Southampton Itchen, to the north by Romsey and Southampton North and to the west by New Forest East.
Members of Parliament
Southampton prior to 1950
Elections
Elections in the 2020s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Satvir Kaur | 15,945 | 44.5 | −5.0 | |
Conservative | Ben Burcombe-Filer | 6,612 | 18.5 | −17.2 | |
Reform UK | John Edwards | 5,261 | 14.7 | +11.2 | |
Green | Katherine Barbour | 3,594 | 10.0 | +6.8 | |
Liberal Democrats | Thomas Gravatt | 3,252 | 9.1 | +1.4 | |
Workers Party | Wajahat Shaukat | 775 | 2.2 | N/A | |
TUSC | Maggie Fricker | 366 | 1.0 | N/A | |
Majority | 9,333 | 26.0 | +12.2 | ||
Turnout | 35,805 | 54.7 | –9.6 | ||
Registered electors | 65,520 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing | 6.1 |
Elections in the 2010s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Alan Whitehead | 22,256 | 49.5 | −9.2 | |
Conservative | Steven Galton | 16,043 | 35.7 | +1.6 | |
Liberal Democrats | Joe Richards | 3,449 | 7.7 | +3.7 | |
Brexit Party | Philip Crook | 1,591 | 3.5 | N/A | |
Green | Katherine Barbour | 1,433 | 3.2 | N/A | |
Independent | Kev Barry | 222 | 0.5 | N/A | |
Majority | 6,213 | 13.8 | −10.8 | ||
Turnout | 44,994 | 64.2 | −2.6 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | -5.4 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Alan Whitehead | 27,509 | 58.7 | +17.4 | |
Conservative | Paul Holmes | 16,006 | 34.1 | +1.6 | |
Liberal Democrats | Thomas Gravatt | 1,892 | 4.0 | −0.9 | |
Southampton Independents | Andrew Pope | 816 | 1.7 | N/A | |
Independent | Keith Morrell | 680 | 1.4 | N/A | |
Majority | 11,508 | 24.6 | +15.8 | ||
Turnout | 46,908 | 66.8 | +4.7 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | +7.9 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Alan Whitehead | 18,017 | 41.3 | +2.8 | |
Conservative | Jeremy Moulton | 14,207 | 32.5 | −0.5 | |
UKIP | Pearline Hingston | 5,566 | 12.8 | +8.9 | |
Green | Angela Mawle | 2,568 | 5.9 | +3.9 | |
Liberal Democrats | Adrian Ford | 2,121 | 4.9 | −17.4 | |
Independent | Chris Davis | 770 | 1.8 | N/A | |
TUSC | Nick Chaffey | 403 | 0.9 | N/A | |
Majority | 3,810 | 8.8 | +3.3 | ||
Turnout | 43,652 | 62.1 | +0.7 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | +1.7 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Alan Whitehead | 17,001 | 38.5 | −5.7 | |
Conservative | Jeremy Moulton | 14,588 | 33.0 | +8.0 | |
Liberal Democrats | Dave Callaghan | 9,865 | 22.3 | −1.8 | |
UKIP | Pearline Hingston | 1,726 | 3.9 | +0.9 | |
Green | Chris Bluemel | 881 | 2.0 | −1.6 | |
Majority | 2,413 | 5.5 | −11.3 | ||
Turnout | 44,187 | 61.4 | +5.4 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | −6.9 |
Elections in the 2000s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Alan Whitehead | 17,845 | 42.7 | −9.8 | |
Conservative | Stephen MacLoughlin | 10,827 | 25.9 | +0.4 | |
Liberal Democrats | Steve Sollitt | 10,368 | 24.8 | +6.7 | |
Green | John Spottiswoode | 1,482 | 3.5 | N/A | |
UKIP | Peter Day | 1,261 | 3.0 | +1.1 | |
Majority | 7,018 | 16.8 | −10.2 | ||
Turnout | 41,783 | 53.7 | −2.6 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | −5.1 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Alan Whitehead | 21,824 | 52.5 | −1.6 | |
Conservative | Richard Gueterbock | 10,617 | 25.5 | −2.6 | |
Liberal Democrats | John Shaw | 7,522 | 18.1 | +4.4 | |
UKIP | Garry Rankin-Moore | 792 | 1.9 | +1.5 | |
Socialist Alliance | Mark Abel | 442 | 1.1 | N/A | |
Socialist Labour | Paramjit Bahia | 378 | 0.9 | N/A | |
Majority | 11,207 | 27.0 | +1.0 | ||
Turnout | 41,575 | 56.3 | −15.6 | ||
Labour hold | Swing |
Elections in the 1990s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Alan Whitehead | 28,396 | 54.1 | +11.7 | |
Conservative | James Hill | 14,712 | 28.1 | −15.3 | |
Liberal Democrats | Alan Dowden | 7,171 | 13.7 | +0.6 | |
Referendum | Peter Day | 1,397 | 2.7 | N/A | |
Legalise Cannabis | Howard Marks | 388 | 0.7 | N/A | |
UKIP | Anthony McCabe | 219 | 0.4 | N/A | |
Independent | Paul Taylor | 81 | 0.2 | N/A | |
Natural Law | John Sinel | 77 | 0.1 | N/A | |
Majority | 13,684 | 26.0 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 52,441 | 71.9 | −5.5 | ||
Labour gain from Conservative | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | James Hill | 24,504 | 43.4 | −2.2 | |
Labour | Alan Whitehead | 23,919 | 42.4 | +9.1 | |
Liberal Democrats | Diana Maddock | 7,391 | 13.1 | −8.1 | |
Green | Jonathan M. Michaelis | 535 | 0.9 | N/A | |
Natural Law | David Plummer | 101 | 0.2 | N/A | |
Majority | 585 | 1.0 | −11.3 | ||
Turnout | 56,450 | 77.4 | +1.0 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | −5.6 |
Elections in the 1980s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | James Hill | 25,722 | 45.6 | +0.4 | |
Labour | Alan Whitehead | 18,768 | 33.3 | +5.2 | |
Liberal | Vivienne Rayner | 11,950 | 21.2 | −5.5 | |
Majority | 6,954 | 12.3 | −4.8 | ||
Turnout | 56,440 | 76.4 | +3.3 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | -2.4 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | James Hill | 24,657 | 45.2 | ||
Labour | Alan Whitehead | 15,311 | 28.1 | ||
SDP | Adrian Vinson | 14,592 | 26.7 | ||
Majority | 9,346 | 17.1 | |||
Turnout | 54,560 | 73.1 | −3.2 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Elections in the 1970s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | James Hill | 27,198 | 46.36 | ||
Labour | Bryan Gould | 25,075 | 42.74 | ||
Liberal | D. Hughes | 6,393 | 10.90 | ||
Majority | 2,123 | 3.62 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 58,666 | 76.30 | |||
Conservative gain from Labour | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Bryan Gould | 22,780 | 42.17 | ||
Conservative | James Hill | 22,250 | 41.19 | ||
Liberal | J.R. Wallis | 8,994 | 16.65 | ||
Majority | 530 | 0.98 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 54,024 | 73.11 | |||
Labour gain from Conservative | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | James Hill | 23,742 | 40.88 | ||
Labour | Bryan Gould | 22,339 | 38.46 | ||
Liberal | J.R. Wallis | 12,000 | 20.66 | ||
Majority | 1,403 | 2.42 | |||
Turnout | 58,081 | 79.21 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | James Hill | 24,660 | 47.54 | ||
Labour | Bob Mitchell | 22,858 | 44.07 | ||
Liberal | Jack Wallis | 4,349 | 8.38 | ||
Majority | 1,802 | 3.47 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 51,867 | 73.33 | |||
Conservative gain from Labour | Swing |
Elections in the 1960s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Bob Mitchell | 24,628 | 48.37 | ||
Conservative | John Fletcher-Cooke | 22,188 | 43.58 | ||
Liberal | Graham Cleverley | 4,102 | 8.06 | N/A | |
Majority | 2,440 | 4.79 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 51,918 | 78.13 | |||
Labour gain from Conservative | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Fletcher-Cooke | 25,700 | 50.34 | ||
Labour | Bob Mitchell | 25,352 | 49.66 | ||
Majority | 348 | 0.68 | |||
Turnout | 51,052 | 76.69 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Elections in the 1950s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Howard | 30,176 | 56.31 | ||
Labour | Shirley Williams | 23,410 | 43.69 | ||
Majority | 6,766 | 12.62 | |||
Turnout | 53,586 | 79.88 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Howard | 26,707 | 51.21 | ||
Labour | Anthony Crosland | 22,865 | 43.84 | ||
Liberal | Stanley Little | 2,583 | 4.95 | N/A | |
Majority | 3,842 | 7.37 | |||
Turnout | 52,155 | 78.72 | |||
Conservative gain from Labour | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Horace King | 26,430 | 50.44 | ||
National Liberal | John Paul | 25,965 | 49.56 | ||
Majority | 465 | 0.88 | |||
Turnout | 52,395 | 83.52 | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Horace King | 25,052 | 47.08 | ||
National Liberal | P. Brembridge | 23,663 | 45.15 | ||
Liberal | Stephen Fry | 3,697 | 7.05 | ||
Majority | 1,389 | 1.93 | |||
Turnout | 52,412 | 84.39 | |||
Labour win (new seat) |
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)
- ^ As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.
References
- ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – South East". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
- ^ "South East Results after 84 of 84". BBC News.
- ^ "Southampton Test Labour MP Alan Whitehead to step down". BBC News. 14 January 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
- ^ Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
- ^ Representation of the People Act 1948, Sch. 1.
- ^ The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995, SI 1995 No 1626
- ^ LGBCE. "Southampton | LGBCE". lgbce.org.uk. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ "The Southampton (Electoral Changes) Order 2023".
- ^ "New Seat Details – Southampton Test". electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 6 South East region.
- ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "T" (part 1)
- ^ Southampton Test
- ^ "Council leader to fight Southampton Test seat at next general election". 10 July 2022.
- ^ "Southampton Test – UK General election 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ "Reform UK reveal candidates in city for next general election". 26 September 2023.
- ^ "Southampton Test Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
- ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- ^ "BBC NEWS – Election 2015 – Southampton Test". BBC News.
- ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- ^ "BBC NEWS – Election 2010 – Southampton Test". BBC News.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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. 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.
- ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1970.
- ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1966.
- ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1964.
- ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1959.
- ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1955.
- ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1951.
- ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1950.
External links
- Southampton, Test UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK
- Southampton, Test UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK
- Southampton Test UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK