Portsmouth North (UK Parliament constituency)

Today we want to talk about Portsmouth North (UK Parliament constituency), a topic that has gained relevance in recent years and that has generated great interest in society. Portsmouth North (UK Parliament constituency) is an issue that affects people of all ages, genders and social classes, and its importance lies in the multiple aspects it covers. From its impact on the economy to its influence on culture and everyday life, Portsmouth North (UK Parliament constituency) has become a central topic today. In this article, we will analyze different aspects related to Portsmouth North (UK Parliament constituency), from its origin to its possible solutions, with the aim of offering a comprehensive and in-depth vision of this topic.

Portsmouth North
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Map
Boundaries since 2010
Map of constituency
Boundary of Portsmouth North in South East England
CountyHampshire
Electorate71,844 (2023)[1]
Major settlements
Current constituency
Created1974 (1974)
Member of ParliamentAmanda Martin (Labour)
SeatsOne
Created from
1918–1950
SeatsOne
Type of constituencyBorough constituency
Created fromPortsmouth
Replaced byPortsmouth West

Portsmouth North is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament by Amanda Martin of the Labour Party since 2024.[n 2]

Boundaries

  • 1918–1950: The County Borough of Portsmouth wards of Charles Dickens, Mile End, North End, and Portsea.
  • 1974–1983: The County Borough of Portsmouth wards of Cosham, Farlington, Meredith, Nelson, North End, Paulsgrove, Portsea, and St Mary and Guildhall.
  • 1983–1997: The City of Portsmouth wards of Copnor, Cosham, Drayton and Farlington, Hilsea, Nelson, and Paulsgrove, and the Borough of Havant wards of Purbrook and Stakes.
  • 1997–2010: The City of Portsmouth wards of Copnor, Cosham, Drayton and Farlington, Hilsea, Nelson, and Paulsgrove.
  • 2010–present: The City of Portsmouth wards of Baffins, Copnor, Cosham, Drayton and Farlington, Hilsea, Nelson, and Paulsgrove.
  • The 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies left the boundaries unchanged.[2]

As its name suggests, the constituency covers the northern portion of the city of Portsmouth in Hampshire.

History

The constituency was created in 1918 when the two-seat Portsmouth constituency was split into three divisions: Central, North and South.

It was abolished for the 1950 general election and largely replaced by a new Portsmouth West constituency as the axis of division changed, but was re-established for the February 1974 general election.

Constituency profile

This urban seat is of average affluence[3] and incomes, with relatively low unemployment compared to the national average measured at the end of 2012 at 3.8% (claimant count) as opposed to 2.3% average across the region.[4]

Compared to Portsmouth South, it has a lower proportion of public sector workers, students and ethnic minorities. This explains the divergence between the two Portsmouth seats in voting patterns. The seat is currently in Labour hands, but very narrowly, with the former Conservative MP and leadership candidate Penny Mordaunt commanding a large personal following.

The seat has been one of the most long-standing bellwethers (of the national election winner), having that status since its creation in February 1974; only the Dartford constituency have a longer-standing status, which has been a bellwether since 1964.

Members of Parliament

MPs 1918–1950

Portsmouth prior to 1918

Election Member Party
1918 Sir Bertram Falle, Bt. Coalition Conservative
1922 Conservative
1934 by-election Admiral Sir Roger Keyes Conservative
1943 by-election Admiral Sir William James Conservative
1945 Donald Bruce Labour
1950 constituency abolished: see Portsmouth West

MPs since 1974

Portsmouth West and Portsmouth Langstone prior to 1974

Election Member Party
Feb 1974 Frank Judd Labour
1979 Peter Griffiths Conservative
1997 Syd Rapson Labour
2005 Sarah McCarthy-Fry Labour Co-operative
2010 Penny Mordaunt Conservative
2024 Amanda Martin Labour

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Portsmouth North[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Amanda Martin 14,495 34.8 +7.9
Conservative Penny Mordaunt 13,715 33.0 –28.4
Reform UK Melvyn Todd 8,501 20.4 N/A
Liberal Democrats Simon Dodd 3,031 7.3 –0.2
Green Duncan Robinson 1,851 4.5 +1.6
Majority 780 1.9 N/A
Turnout 41,593 59.0 –5.3
Registered electors 70,446
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +18.1

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Portsmouth North[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Penny Mordaunt 28,172 61.4 +6.6
Labour Amanda Martin 12,392 27.0 −6.7
Liberal Democrats Antonia Harrison 3,419 7.4 +1.9
Green Lloyd Day 1,304 2.8 +1.2
Independent George Madgwick 623 1.4 N/A
Majority 15,780 34.4 +13.3
Turnout 45,910 64.4 −1.8
Registered electors 71,299
Conservative hold Swing +6.6
General election 2017: Portsmouth North[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Penny Mordaunt 25,860 54.8 +7.7
Labour Rumal Khan 15,895 33.7 +9.8
Liberal Democrats Darren Sanders 2,608 5.5 −0.7
UKIP Mike Fitzgerald 1,926 4.1 −15.0
Green Ken Hawkins[8] 791 1.7 −1.5
Libertarian Joe Jenkins 130 0.3 N/A
Majority 9,965 21.1 −2.1
Turnout 47,210 66.1 +4.2
Registered electors 71,374
Conservative hold Swing –1.1
General election 2015: Portsmouth North[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Penny Mordaunt 21,343 47.1 +2.8
Labour John Ferrett 10,806 23.8 −3.9
UKIP Mike Fitzgerald[10] 8,660 19.1 +15.0
Liberal Democrats Darren Sanders 2,828 6.2 −13.9
Green Gavin Ellis[11] 1,450 3.2 +2.2
TUSC Jon Woods 231 0.5 +0.2
Majority 10,537 23.2 +6.7
Turnout 45,318 62.1 −0.7
Registered electors 73,105
Conservative hold Swing +3.4
General election 2010: Portsmouth North[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Penny Mordaunt 19,533 44.3 +6.4
Labour Co-op Sarah McCarthy-Fry 12,244 27.8 −10.9
Liberal Democrats Darren Sanders 8,874 20.1 +0.5
UKIP Mike Fitzgerald 1,812 4.1 +0.3
English Democrat David Knight 1,040 2.4 N/A
Green Iain Maclennan 461 1.0 N/A
TUSC Mick Tosh 154 0.3 N/A
Majority 7,289 16.5 N/A
Turnout 44,118 62.7 +3.0
Registered electors 70,329
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +8.7

Elections in the 2000s

2005 notional result
Party Vote %
Labour 15,897 38.7
Conservative 15,564 37.9
Liberal Democrats 8,080 19.7
Others 1,563 3.8
Turnout 41,104 59.7
Electorate 68,872
General election 2005: Portsmouth North[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Sarah McCarthy-Fry 15,412 40.9 −9.8
Conservative Penny Mordaunt 14,273 37.8 +1.1
Liberal Democrats Gary Lawson 6,684 17.7 +7.4
UKIP Mike Smith 1,348 3.6 +2.1
Majority 1,139 3.0 −10.9
Turnout 37,717 60.0 +2.6
Registered electors 62,884
Labour hold Swing −5.5
General election 2001: Portsmouth North[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Syd Rapson 18,676 50.7 +3.5
Conservative Christopher Day 13,542 36.7 −0.9
Liberal Democrats Darren Sanders 3,795 10.3 −0.3
UKIP William McCabe 559 1.5 +0.9
Independent Brian Bundy 294 0.8 N/A
Majority 5,134 13.9 +4.4
Turnout 36,866 57.4 −12.8
Registered electors 64,256
Labour hold Swing +2.2

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Portsmouth North[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Syd Rapson 21,339 47.1 +13.9
Conservative Peter Griffiths 17,016 37.6 −13.1
Liberal Democrats Steven Sollitt 4,788 10.6 –4.5
Referendum Shaun Evelegh 1,757 3.9 N/A
UKIP Peter Coe 298 0.7 N/A
Wessex Regionalist Colin Bex 72 0.2 N/A
Majority 4,323 9.5 N/A
Turnout 45,270 70.1 –6.1
Registered electors 64,539
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +13.5
1992 notional result
Party Vote %
Conservative 25,368 50.7
Labour 16,610 33.2
Liberal Democrats 7,529 15.1
Green 511 1.0
Turnout 50,018 76.2
Electorate 65,614
General election 1992: Portsmouth North[16][17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Griffiths 32,240 52.6 −2.7
Labour Alan Burnett 18,359 29.9 +10.0
Liberal Democrats Alex Bentley 10,101 16.5 −8.3
Green Helen Palmer 628 1.0 N/A
Majority 13,881 22.6 −7.9
Turnout 61,328 77.1 +2.3
Registered electors 79,592
Conservative hold Swing −6.4

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Portsmouth North[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Griffiths 33,297 55.3 +0.0
SDP Elizabeth Mitchell 14,896 24.7 +1.1
Labour Co-op David Miles 12,016 20.0 –1.2
Majority 18,401 30.6 –1.1
Turnout 60,209 74.8 +1.8
Registered electors 80,501
Conservative hold Swing –0.6
General election 1983: Portsmouth North[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Griffiths 31,413 55.3 +3.9
SDP Stuart Luxon 13,414 23.6 +15.2
Labour Nigel Beard 12,013 21.1 –18.5
Majority 17,999 31.7 +19.9
Turnout 56,840 72.9 –5.7
Registered electors 77,923
Conservative hold Swing –5.7

Elections in the 1970s

1979 notional result[20]
Party Vote %
Conservative 30,139 51.4
Labour 23,229 39.6
Liberal 4,922 8.4
Others 381 0.6
Turnout 58,671
Electorate
General election 1979: Portsmouth North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Griffiths 26,356 48.6 +5.3
Labour Frank Judd 24,045 44.4 –1.5
Liberal S Brewin 3,354 6.2 −3.6
National Front R Hadlow 298 0.6 N/A
Workers Revolutionary T White 122 0.2 N/A
Majority 2,311 4.3 N/A
Turnout 54,177 78.7 +1.8
Registered electors 68,870
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +3.4
General election October 1974: Portsmouth North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frank Judd 24,352 45.9 +2.3
Conservative John Ward 23,007 43.3 +0.3
Liberal Eileen Brooks 5,208 9.8 −3.5
More Prosperous Britain Tom Keen 527 1.0 N/A
Majority 1,345 2.5 +2.0
Turnout 53,094 76.8 −3.0
Registered electors 69,089
Labour hold Swing +1.0
General election February 1974: Portsmouth North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frank Judd 23,847 43.6 +2.4
Conservative Peter Griffiths 23,527 43.0 –2.9
Liberal A.J. Peaston 7,304 13.4 +0.5
Majority 320 0.6 N/A
Turnout 54,678 79.9 +8.6
Registered electors 68,473
Labour gain from Conservative (Notional.) Swing +2.7
1970 notional result[21]
Party Vote %
Conservative 24,000 46.0
Labour 21,500 41.2
Liberal 6,700 12.8
Turnout 52,200 71.3
Electorate 73,238

Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Portsmouth North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Donald Bruce 15,352 51.1 +17.8
Conservative Greville Howard 14,310 47.6 –19.0
Democratic John Keast 388 1.3 N/A
Majority 1,042 3.5 N/A
Turnout 30,050 75.4 +10.5
Registered electors 39,873
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +18.9
1943 Portsmouth North by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William James 6,735 59.7 −6.9
Common Wealth Thomas Sargant 4,545 40.3 N/A
Majority 2,190 19.4 −13.8
Turnout 11,280
Registered electors
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1930s

General election 1935: Portsmouth North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Roger Keyes 22,956 66.62 +7.02
Labour Edward Humby 11,502 33.38 −7.02
Majority 11,454 33.24 +14.04
Turnout 34,458 64.86 −9.63
Registered electors
Conservative hold Swing +7.02
1934 Portsmouth North by-election[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Roger Keyes 17,582 59.6 −8.8
Labour Edward Humby 11,904 40.4 +8.8
Majority 5,678 19.2 −17.5
Turnout 29,486 55.7 −18.79
Registered electors
Conservative hold Swing -8.8
General election 1931: Portsmouth North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Bertram Falle 26,331 69.37 +24.87
Labour Kenneth Dewar 12,182 31.63 −4.57
Majority 14,149 36.74 +28.44
Turnout 38,513 74.49 +3.69
Registered electors
Conservative hold Swing +14.87

Elections in the 1920s

General election 1929: Portsmouth North[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Bertram Falle 15,352 44.5 −18.6
Labour Edward Archbold 12,475 36.2 −0.7
Liberal Archibald Palmer 6,643 19.3 N/A
Majority 2,877 8.3 −27.9
Turnout 34,470 70.8 −4.2
Registered electors 48,688
Unionist hold Swing −9.0
General election 1924: Portsmouth North[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Bertram Falle 17,597 63.1 +12.9
Labour Olaf Gleeson 10,279 36.9 +0.7
Majority 7,318 26.2 +12.2
Turnout 27,876 75.0 +3.3
Registered electors 37,168
Unionist hold Swing +6.1
General election 1923: Portsmouth North[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Bertram Falle 13,229 50.2 −5.7
Labour Olaf Gleeson 9,523 36.2 +9.3
Liberal William Llewellyn Williams 3,584 13.6 −3.6
Majority 3,706 14.0 −15.0
Turnout 26,336 71.7 −0.2
Registered electors 36,717
Unionist hold Swing −7.5
General election 1922: Portsmouth North[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Bertram Falle 14,168 55.9 −5.9
Labour Arthur Henderson 6,808 26.9 N/A
Liberal Thomas Lapthorn 4,368 17.2 N/A
Majority 7,360 29.0 +5.4
Turnout 25,344 71.9 +19.6
Registered electors 35,236
Unionist hold Swing N/A

Election in the 1910s

General election 1918: Portsmouth North[23][24]
Party Candidate Votes %
C Unionist Party (UK) Bertram Falle 11,427 61.8
Naval and Lower-Deck Lionel Yexley* 7,063 38.2
Majority 4,364 23.6
Turnout 18,490 52.3
Registered electors 35,367
Unionist win (new seat)
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

* Yexley (real name, James Woods) was supported by the Lower-Deck Parliamentary Committee, and also the local Liberal association.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
  2. ^ 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

  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 6 South East region.
  3. ^ "Local statistics". Office for National Statistics.
  4. ^ "Unemployment claimants by constituency". The Guardian. 17 November 2010.
  5. ^ "Portsmouth North Statement of Persons Nominated". Portsmouth City Council. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  6. ^ "Portsmouth North Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  7. ^ "Microsoft Word – Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll – Portsmouth North.docx" (PDF). portsmouth.gov.uk. 11 May 2017.
  8. ^ "Portsmouth Green Party Candidates 2019 Local Elections". portsmouth.greenparty.org.uk.
  9. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  10. ^ "UK Polling Report".
  11. ^ "People - Portsmouth Green Party". Archived from the original on 11 September 2024.
  12. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  13. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  14. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  15. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  16. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  17. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  18. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  19. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  20. ^ "BBC/ITN NOTIONAL ELECTION 1979". election.demon.co.uk. BBC/ITN. Archived from the original on 28 May 2004. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
  21. ^ Michael Stead. "1970 notional general election & February 1974 general election". BBC. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  22. ^ F. W. S. Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-49, p.218
  23. ^ a b c d e British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig
  24. ^ Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1922

Sources

50°50′N 1°04′W / 50.83°N 1.07°W / 50.83; -1.07