Portsmouth South
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Portsmouth South in Hampshire
Outline map
Location of Hampshire within England
CountyHampshire
Electorate71,947 (December 2010)[1]
Major settlementsSouthsea, Fratton, HMNB Portsmouth
Current constituency
Created1918
Member of ParliamentStephen Morgan (Labour)
SeatsOne
Created fromPortsmouth

Portsmouth South is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2017 by Stephen Morgan of the Labour Party. Morgan is the first Labour MP to represent the seat.

Boundaries

Map
Map of current 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.

Proposed

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, enacted by the Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023, the composition of the constituency from the next general election, due by January 2025, will be unchanged.[2]

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 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.[3] 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[4] and excellent amenities.[5]

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.[6]

Members of Parliament

Election Member[7] Party
1918 Herbert Cayzer Conservative
1922 by-election Leslie Wilson Conservative
1923 by-election Herbert Cayzer Conservative
1939 by-election Jocelyn Lucas Conservative
1966 Bonner Pink Conservative
1984 by-election Mike Hancock SDP
1987 David Martin Conservative
1997 Mike Hancock Liberal Democrat
2013 Independent
2015 Flick Drummond Conservative
2017 Stephen Morgan Labour

Elections

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Portsmouth South[8]
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 New
Justice & Anti-Corruption Steven George 240 0.5 New
Majority 5,363 11.3 +7.9
Turnout 47,425 63.9 0.0
Labour hold Swing +3.9
General election 2017: Portsmouth South[8]
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
General election 2015: Portsmouth South[8]
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 New
TUSC Sean Hoyle 235 0.6 New
Justice & Anti-Corruption 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
General election 2010: Portsmouth South[9][10]
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 New
Green Tim Dawes 716 1.7 New
English Democrat Ian Ducain 400 1.0 New
Justice & Anti-Corruption Les Cummings 117 0.3 New
Majority 5,200 12.6 +4.6
Turnout 41,264 58.7 +1.3
Liberal Democrats hold Swing +2.3

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Portsmouth South[11]
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
General election 2001: Portsmouth South[12]
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 New
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

General election 1997: Portsmouth South[13][14]
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 New
Liberal John Thompson 184 0.4 New
UKIP Jill Evans 141 0.3 New
Natural Law William Trend 140 0.3 New
Majority 4,327 8.4 N/A
Turnout 51,695 64.2 ―4.9
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing +0.4
General election 1992: Portsmouth South[15][16]
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 New
Natural Law William Trend 91 0.2 New
Majority 242 0.5 +0.1
Turnout 53,651 69.1 ―2.2
Conservative hold Swing ±0.0

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Portsmouth South[17]
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 New
Majority 205 0.4 N/A
Turnout 76,292 71.3 +4.0
Conservative gain from SDP Swing
By-election 1984: Portsmouth South
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 New
Independent Liberal Alan Evens 113 0.3 ―0.8
Independent Ecology Thomas Layton 50 0.1 New
Independent Anthony Andrews 42 0.1 New
New National Party Peter Smith 41 0.1 New
Majority 1,341 3.3 N/A
Turnout 40,523 54.5 ―12.8
SDP gain from Conservative Swing
General election 1983: Portsmouth South[18]
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 New
National Front Gordon A. Knight 279 0.6
Traditional English Food D. W. Fry 172 0.3 New
Majority 12,335 24.6
Turnout 50,196 67.3
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Portsmouth South
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 New
Majority 11,529 23.49
Turnout 49,085 72.88
Conservative hold Swing
General election October 1974: Portsmouth South
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
General election February 1974: Portsmouth South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Bonner Pink 26,824 50.26
Labour S. Lloyd 15,842 29.69
Liberal J. Williams 10,307 19.31 New
Marxist-Leninist (England) A. D. Rifkin 394 0.74 New
Majority 10,982 20.57
Turnout 58,367 75.86
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1970: Portsmouth South
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

General election 1966: Portsmouth South
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
General election 1964: Portsmouth South
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

General election 1959: Portsmouth South
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
General election 1955: Portsmouth South
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
General election 1951: Portsmouth South
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
General election 1950: Portsmouth South
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

General election 1945: Portsmouth South[19][n 2]
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

By-election 1939: Portsmouth South[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jocelyn Lucas Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 1935: Portsmouth South[19]
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
General election 1931: Portsmouth South[19]
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

General election 1929: Portsmouth South[19]
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 New
Liberal Charles Rudkin 6,214 15.19 New
Majority 4,941 12.07 −33.84
Turnout 40,914 75.14 +0.94
Registered electors 54,449
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1924: Portsmouth South[19]
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
General election 1923: Portsmouth South[19][n 3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Herbert Cayzer 16,625 55.96 −12.77
Labour Jessie Stephen 7,388 24.87 New
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
By-election 1923: Portsmouth South[19][n 4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Herbert Cayzer 11,884 54.90 −13.83
Liberal Henry Merrick Lawson 9,763 45.10 New
Majority 2,121 9.80 −17.66
Turnout 21,647 54.90 −18.76
Registered electors 39,426
Conservative hold Swing N/A
By-election 1922: Portsmouth South[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Leslie Wilson 14,301 62.90 −5.83
Ind. Conservative G. C. Thomas 8,434 37.10 New
Majority 5,867 25.80 −11.66
Turnout 22,735 57.66 −16.00
Registered electors 39,426
Conservative hold Swing N/A
General election 1922: Portsmouth South[19]
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

General election 1918: Portsmouth South[19]
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

Notes

  1. ^ A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
  2. ^ Results compared to the 1935 general election, not the 1939 by-election
  3. ^ Results compared to the 1922 general election, not the 1922 or the 1923 by-elections
  4. ^ Results compared to the 1922 general election, not the 1922 by-election

References

  1. ^ "Electorate Figures – Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Archived from the original on 6 November 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  2. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 6 South East region.
  3. ^ Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
  4. ^ "Local statistics - Office for National Statistics". neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk.
  5. ^ "2011 census interactive maps". ons.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 29 January 2016.
  6. ^ The Times Guide to the House of Commons 2019. Glasgow: Times Books. 2020. p. 54. ISBN 978-0-00-839258-1.
  7. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "P" (part 2)
  8. ^ a b c "Portsmouth South". BBC News. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  9. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  10. ^ "Politics". the Guardian.
  11. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  12. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  13. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  14. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. Retrieved 6 December 2010.[permanent dead link]
  15. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  16. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  17. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  18. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Craig, F.W.S., ed. (1969). British parliamentary election results 1918–1949. Glasgow: Political Reference Publications. ISBN 0-900178-01-9.

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