# Southampton Test (UK Parliament constituency)

Southampton Test is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament by Satvir Kaur, a member of the Labour Party since 2024.

## 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 (see third Wilson ministry).
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 more narrowly 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.
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
| Election | Member | Party |
| 1950 | Horace King | Labour |
| 1955 | John Howard | Conservative |
| 1964 | John Fletcher-Cooke | Conservative |
| 1966 | Bob Mitchell | Labour |
| 1970 | James Hill | Conservative |
| October 1974 | Bryan Gould | Labour |
| 1979 | James Hill | Conservative |
| 1997 | Alan Whitehead | Labour |
| 2024 | Satvir Kaur | Labour |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Southampton Test :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 9,333 | 26.0 | +12.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 35,805 | 54.7 | –9.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 65,520 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 6.1 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Southampton Test :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 6,213 | 13.8 | −10.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,994 | 64.2 | −2.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -5.4 | |
General election 2017: Southampton Test :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 11,508 | 24.6 | +15.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,908 | 66.8 | +4.7 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +7.9 | |
General election 2015: Southampton Test :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 3,810 | 8.8 | +3.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,652 | 62.1 | +0.7 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +1.7 | |
General election 2010: Southampton Test :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 2,413 | 5.5 | −11.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,187 | 61.4 | +5.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −6.9 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Southampton Test :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 7,018 | 16.8 | −10.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,783 | 53.7 | −2.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −5.1 | |
General election 2001: Southampton Test :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 11,207 | 27.0 | +1.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,575 | 56.3 | −15.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Southampton Test :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 13,684 | 26.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,441 | 71.9 | −5.5 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
General election 1992: Southampton Test :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 585 | 1.0 | −11.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,450 | 77.4 | +1.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −5.6 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Southampton Test :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 6,954 | 12.3 | −4.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,440 | 76.4 | +3.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -2.4 | |
General election 1983: Southampton Test :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 9,346 | 17.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,560 | 73.1 | −3.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Southampton Test :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 2,123 | 3.62 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 58,666 | 76.30 | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |
General election October 1974: Southampton Test :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 530 | 0.98 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,024 | 73.11 | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
General election February 1974: Southampton Test :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 1,403 | 2.42 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 58,081 | 79.21 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1970: Southampton Test :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 1,802 | 3.47 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,867 | 73.33 | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Southampton Test :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 2,440 | 4.79 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,918 | 78.13 | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
General election 1964: Southampton Test :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | John Fletcher-Cooke | 25,700 | 50.34 |
| | Labour | Bob Mitchell | 25,352 | 49.66 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 348 | 0.68 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,052 | 76.69 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Southampton Test :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | John Howard | 30,176 | 56.31 |
| | Labour | Shirley Williams | 23,410 | 43.69 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,766 | 12.62 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,586 | 79.88 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1955: Southampton Test :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 3,842 | 7.37 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,155 | 78.72 | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |
General election 1951: Southampton Test :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Horace King | 26,430 | 50.44 |
| | National Liberal | John Paul | 25,965 | 49.56 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 465 | 0.88 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,395 | 83.52 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
General election 1950: Southampton Test :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 1,389 | 1.93 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,412 | 84.39 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |