Portsmouth North
UK Parliament constituency (since 1974)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
| Portsmouth North | |
|---|---|
| Borough constituency for the House of Commons | |
 Boundaries since 2010 | |
Boundary of Portsmouth North in South East England | |
| County | Hampshire |
| Electorate | 71,844 (2023)[1] |
| Major settlements | |
| Current constituency | |
| Created | 1974 |
| Member of Parliament | Amanda Martin (Labour) |
| Seats | One |
| Created from | |
| 1918–1950 | |
| Seats | One |
| Type of constituency | Borough constituency |
| Created from | Portsmouth |
| Replaced by |
|
Constituency profile
Portsmouth North is a constituency in Hampshire in South East England. It covers the northern half of Portsea Island and the mainland areas of the city of Portsmouth. This includes the neighbourhoods of Baffins, Copnor, Stamshaw, Hilsea, Paulsgrove, Wymering, Cosham, Drayton and Farlington.
Portsmouth is a port city with a maritime history. Its importance as a naval base and centre for shipbuilding made it the most heavily fortified city in the world in the early 19th century.[2] Within this constituency, the neighbourhoods on Portsea Island (Baffins, Copnor, Stamshaw and Hilsea) mostly feature dense Edwardian and interwar terraced housing, whilst the mainland suburbs were developed more recently as the city expanded. The neighbourhoods in the west like Stamshaw and Paulsgrove, the latter of which was built as a large council estate, are highly-deprived. The north-eastern suburbs of Drayton and Farlington are affluent in comparison, giving the constituency an average level of wealth overall.[3] House prices across the constituency are generally lower than the UK average and considerably lower than the regional average.[4]
Portsmouth North has a similar age profile to the rest of the country, although there are more middle-aged adults and a lower proportion of retirees.[5] Residents' rates of income, homeownership and child poverty are in line with UK averages.[4][6] They have below-average levels of education and a high proportion work in the health and manufacturing sectors.[4][7] The percentage claiming unemployment benefits is similar to the country as a whole.[6] White people made up 90% of residents at the 2021 census.[8]
At the local city council, the neighbourhoods closer to the city centre are represented by Liberal Democrats, the wealthy north-eastern suburbs by Conservatives and the rest of the constituency by localists and Reform UK. Voters in Portsmouth North strongly supported leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum; an estimated 64% voted in favour of Brexit compared to the UK-wide figure of 52%.[4]
Boundaries and boundary changes
As its name suggests, the constituency covers the northern portion of the city of Portsmouth in Hampshire.
| Dates | Local authority | Maps | Wards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1918–1950 | County Borough of Portsmouth |  |
Charles Dickens, Mile End, North End, and Portsea. |
| 1974–1983 | County Borough of Portsmouth |  |
Cosham, Farlington, Meredith, Nelson, North End, Paulsgrove, Portsea, and St Mary and Guildhall. |
| 1983–1997 | City of Portsmouth Borough of Havant |
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 | City of Portsmouth |  |
Copnor, Cosham, Drayton and Farlington, Hilsea, Nelson, and Paulsgrove. |
| 2010–present |  |
Baffins, Copnor, Cosham, Drayton and Farlington, Hilsea, Nelson, and Paulsgrove. |
1918–1950
The constituency was formed from splitting the existing of constituency Portsmouth
Abolition
After the First periodic review of Westminster constituencies, the Cosham and Meredith ward forming part of the new constituency of Portsmouth Langstone, while the rest formed the new constituency of Portsmouth West.
1974–1983
The constituency was reformed from the abolished constituencies of Portsmouth West and Portsmouth Langstone
1983–1997
Portsea, and St Mary and Guildhall wards were transferred to Portsmouth South with Purbrook and Stakes transferred from the abolished constituency of Havant and Waterloo.
1997–2010
2010–present
Ward boundary changes and renaming
The 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies left the boundaries unchanged.[9]
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.
Members of Parliament
MPs 1918–1950
Portsmouth prior to 1918
| Election | Member | Party | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1918 | Sir Bertram Falle, Bt. | Conservative | Member for Portsmouth (1910–1918) | |
| 1934 by-election | Admiral Sir Roger Keyes | Conservative | Elevated to the peerage as Baron Keyes in January 1943 | |
| 1943 by-election | Admiral Sir William James | Conservative | ||
| 1945 | Donald Bruce | Labour | Contested Portsmouth West following redistribution | |
| 1950 | constituency abolished: see Portsmouth West and Portsmouth Langstone | |||
MPs since 1974
Portsmouth West and Portsmouth Langstone prior to 1974
| Election | Member | Party | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 1974 | Frank Judd | Labour | Member for Portsmouth West (1966–1974) | |
| 1979 | Peter Griffiths | Conservative | Member for Smethwick (1964–1966) | |
| 1997 | Syd Rapson | Labour | ||
| 2005 | Sarah McCarthy-Fry | Labour Co-operative | Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (2009–2010) | |
| 2010 | Penny Mordaunt | Conservative | Secretary of State for International Development (2017–2019) Secretary of State for Defence (2019) Leader of the House of Commons (2022–2024) | |
| 2024 | Amanda Martin | Labour | ||
Elections
Election in the 1910s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Unionist | 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.
Elections in the 1920s
| 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 | |||
| 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 | |||
| 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 | |||
| 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 | |||
Elections in the 1930s
| 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 | |||
| 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 | |||
| 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 | |||
Elections in the 1940s
| 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 | ||||
| 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 | |||
Elections in the 1970s
| 1970 notional result[12] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Frank Judd | 23,847 | 43.6 | +2.4 | |
| Conservative | Peter Griffiths | 23,527 | 43.0 | –2.9 | |
| Liberal | Anthony Peaston[13] | 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 | |||
| 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 | |||
| 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 | |||
| 1979 notional result[14] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |||
Elections in the 1980s
| 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 | |||
| 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 | |||
Elections in the 1990s
| 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 | |||
| 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 | ||
| 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 Regionalists | 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 | |||
Elections in the 2000s
| 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 | |||
| 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 | |||
| 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 | ||
Elections in the 2010s
| 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 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Penny Mordaunt | 21,343 | 47.1 | +2.8 | |
| Labour | John Ferrett | 10,806 | 23.8 | −3.9 | |
| UKIP | Mike Fitzgerald[24] | 8,660 | 19.1 | +15.0 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Darren Sanders | 2,828 | 6.2 | −13.9 | |
| Green | Gavin Ellis[25] | 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 | |||
| 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[27] | 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 | |||
| 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 | |||
Elections in the 2020s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Amanda Martin | 14,495 | 34.8 | +7.9 | |
| Conservative | Penny Mordaunt | 13,715 | 33.0 | –28.4 | |
| Reform | 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 | |||
See also
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.