# Southampton Itchen (UK Parliament constituency)

Southampton, Itchen is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Darren Paffey from the Labour Party (UK). Before then, it had been held since 2015 by Royston Smith GM of the Conservative Party, who had announced his retirement from frontline politics in 2023 and did not seek re-election in 2024.
The constituency is named after the River Itchen, which flows through it and is the lesser of the two major rivers that reach the tidal estuary of Southampton Water at the city.

## History

The constituency was created in 1950, when the two-member Southampton constituency was abolished.
Until 1979 it was a safe Labour seat – apart from 1965 to 1971, when Horace King became the first member of the Labour Party to serve as the Speaker of the House of Commons. A Conservative MP, Christopher Chope, was elected in 1983 and 1987 after the sitting MP Bob Mitchell left Labour in 1981 for the SDP. The combination of Mitchell as a strong SDP-Liberal Alliance candidate in both 1983 and 1987, together with Conservative landslides, made Southampton Itchen highly competitive.
Since 1987, campaigns in the seat have resulted in a minimum of 26.8% of votes at each election consistently for the same two parties' choice for candidate, and the next highest-placed share having fluctuated between 3% and 23% of the vote. In those recent elections, save for 2015 when UKIP surged nationally, the third-placed candidate has been a Liberal Democrat, whose candidate lost their deposit in the result perhaps uniquely for an English university city seat in 2017, but which takes in far fewer of the university areas than Southampton Test. The seat attracted nine candidates in 1997; three in 1992. Oldest elections in the seat were sometimes a two-candidate contest, as in comparator mid-twentieth century English elections.
Labour candidate John Denham, defeated Chope by 551 votes in 1992 and held the seat with low-to-average majorities until 2010 when he won by 192 votes. From 2010 to 2017, the three general election results in the seat presented themselves as two-party ultra-marginal (finely-balanced) contests.
Royston Smith GM gained the seat as a Conservative Party candidate in 2015. He had led his party's group on the city council and first contested the seat in 2010. He retained the seat in the 2017 general election with a majority of 31 votes, and subsequently at the 2019 general election with a majority of over 4,000 votes. Following Smith's retirement for the 2024 election, the seat was retaken for Labour by Darren Paffey on a swing of 12.8%, resulting in a majority of over 6,000.

## Boundaries
### Historic

1950–1955: The County Borough of Southampton wards of Bevois, Bitterne and Peartree, Bitterne and Sholing, Newtown, Northam, Portswood, St Denys, St Mary's, Trinity, and Woolston.
1955–1983: The County Borough of Southampton wards of Bitterne, Harefield, Peartree and Bitterne Manor, St Denys and Bitterne Park, St Luke's, St Mary's, Sholing, Swaythling, and Woolston.
1983–1997: The City of Southampton wards of Bargate, Bitterne, Bitterne Park, Harefield, Peartree, St Luke's, and Sholing.
1997–2023: The City of Southampton wards of Bargate, Bitterne, Bitterne Park, Harefield, Peartree, Sholing, and Woolston.

### 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 Bargate, Bitterne Park, Harefield, Peartree, Sholing, Thornhill, and Woolston; and two polling districts from the Banister & Polygon ward.
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 west by Southampton Test (Labour), to the north by Romsey and Southampton North (Conservative), to the north east by Eastleigh (Lib Dem) and to the south east by Hamble Valley (Conservative).

## Constituency profile

The seat covers the eastern part of the City of Southampton, in southern England, specifically the city centre, the eastern port areas (the Port of Southampton is one of the principal ports of the UK), the exclusive Ocean Village quarter, the inner city council estates and the economically deprived Thornhill estate on its eastern boundary. It is seen as the more working class of the two constituencies in the city. The other is Southampton Test – named after the River Test.

## Members of Parliament

Southampton prior to 1950
| Election | Member | Party |
| 1950 | Ralph Morley | Labour |
| 1955 | Horace King | Labour |
| 1965 | Horace King | Speaker |
| 1971 by-election | Bob Mitchell | Labour |
| 1981 | Bob Mitchell | SDP |
| 1983 | Christopher Chope | Conservative |
| 1992 | John Denham | Labour |
| 2015 | Royston Smith | Conservative |
| 2024 | Darren Paffey | Labour |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Southampton Itchen :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Darren Paffey | 15,782 | 41.5 | +0.5 |
| | Conservative | Sidney Yankson | 9,677 | 25.4 | –25.1 |
| | Reform UK | Alex Culley | 6,853 | 18.0 | N/A |
| | Green | Neil McKinnon Lyon Kelly | 2,793 | 7.3 | +5.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | James Edward Batho | 2,684 | 7.1 | +1.8 |
| | TUSC | Declan Peter Clune | 264 | 0.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,105 | 16.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,053 | 55.7 | –10.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 68,379 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 12.8 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Southampton Itchen :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Royston Smith | 23,952 | 50.5 | +4.0 |
| | Labour | Simon Letts | 19,454 | 41.0 | −5.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Liz Jarvis | 2,503 | 5.3 | +2.3 |
| | Green | Osman Sen-Chadun | 1,040 | 2.2 | +0.6 |
| | UKIP | Kim Rose | 472 | 1.0 | −1.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,498 | 9.5 | +9.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,421 | 65.6 | +0.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +4.8 | |
General election 2017: Southampton Itchen :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Royston Smith | 21,773 | 46.54 | +4.8 |
| | Labour | Simon Letts | 21,742 | 46.47 | +10.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Eleanor Bell | 1,421 | 3.0 | −0.6 |
| | UKIP | Kim Rose | 1,122 | 2.4 | −11.0 |
| | Green | Rosie Pearce | 725 | 1.6 | −2.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 31 | 0.07 | −5.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,783 | 65.2 | +3.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -2.6 | |
General election 2015: Southampton Itchen :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Royston Smith | 18,656 | 41.7 | +5.4 |
| | Labour | Rowenna Davis | 16,340 | 36.5 | −0.3 |
| | UKIP | Kim Rose | 6,010 | 13.4 | +9.1 |
| | Green | John Spottiswoode | 1,876 | 4.2 | +2.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Eleanor Bell | 1,595 | 3.6 | −17.2 |
| | TUSC | Sue Atkins | 233 | 0.5 | +0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,316 | 5.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,710 | 61.8 | +2.2 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +2.8 | |
General election 2010: Southampton Itchen :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Denham | 16,326 | 36.8 | −11.5 |
| | Conservative | Royston Smith | 16,134 | 36.3 | +8.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Goodall | 9,256 | 20.8 | −0.3 |
| | UKIP | Alan Kebbell | 1,928 | 4.3 | +0.5 |
| | Green | John Spottiswoode | 600 | 1.4 | New |
| | TUSC | Tim Cutter | 168 | 0.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 192 | 0.5 | −21.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,412 | 59.6 | +4.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −10.3 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Southampton Itchen :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Denham | 20,871 | 48.3 | −6.2 |
| | Conservative | Flick Drummond | 11,569 | 26.8 | −0.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Goodall | 9,162 | 21.2 | +6.2 |
| | UKIP | Kim Rose | 1,623 | 3.8 | +1.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,302 | 21.5 | −5.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,225 | 55.5 | +1.5 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −2.8 | |
General election 2001: Southampton Itchen :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Denham | 22,553 | 54.5 | −0.3 |
| | Conservative | Caroline Nokes | 11,330 | 27.4 | −1.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mark Cooper | 6,195 | 15.0 | +3.3 |
| | UKIP | Kim Rose | 829 | 2.0 | +1.7 |
| | Socialist Alliance | Gavin Marsh | 241 | 0.6 | New |
| | Socialist Labour | Michael Holmes | 225 | 0.5 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,223 | 27.1 | +0.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,373 | 54.0 | −16.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +0.4 | |
Electorate: 76,603

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Southampton Itchen :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Denham | 29,498 | 54.8 | +10.8 |
| | Conservative | Peter Fleet | 15,269 | 28.4 | −13.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Harrison | 6,289 | 11.7 | −2.2 |
| | Referendum | John Clegg | 1,660 | 3.1 | New |
| | Socialist Labour | Kim Rose | 628 | 1.2 | New |
| | UKIP | Clive Hoar | 172 | 0.3 | New |
| | Socialist Alternative | Gavin Marsh | 113 | 0.2 | New |
| | Natural Law | Rosemary Barry | 110 | 0.2 | New |
| | ProLife Alliance | Ferdi McDermott | 99 | 0.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,220 | 26.4 | +21.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,838 | 70.0 | −5.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +12.3 | |
Electorate: 76,869
General election 1992: Southampton Itchen :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Denham | 24,402 | 44.0 | +11.9 |
| | Conservative | Christopher Chope | 23,851 | 43.0 | −1.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | James R.T. Hodgson | 7,221 | 13.0 | −10.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 551 | 1.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 55,474 | 76.9 | +1.0 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +6.6 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Southampton Itchen :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Christopher Chope | 24,419 | 44.3 | +2.8 |
| | Labour | John Denham | 17,703 | 32.1 | +5.0 |
| | SDP | Bob Mitchell | 13,006 | 23.6 | −7.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,716 | 12.2 | +2.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 55,128 | 75.9 | +2.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -1.1 | |
General election 1983: Southampton Itchen :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Christopher Chope | 21,937 | 41.5 | |
| | SDP | Bob Mitchell | 16,647 | 31.5 | |
| | Labour | John Denham | 14,324 | 27.1 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,290 | 10.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,908 | 73.3 | |
| | Conservative gain from SDP | Conservative gain from SDP | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Southampton Itchen :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Bob Mitchell | 28,036 | 46.3 | −2.6 |
| | Conservative | Andrew Hunter | 26,434 | 43.6 | +8.2 |
| | Liberal | John Pindar | 6,132 | 10.1 | −5.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,602 | 2.7 | −10.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 60,602 | 74.7 | +4.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election October 1974: Southampton Itchen :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Bob Mitchell | 28,168 | 48.9 | +4.9 |
| | Conservative | P. T. James | 20,373 | 35.4 | +0.4 |
| | Liberal | Joseph Cherryson | 9,071 | 15.7 | −5.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,795 | 13.5 | +4.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 57,612 | 70.3 | −6.9 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
General election February 1974: Southampton Itchen :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Bob Mitchell | 27,557 | 44.0 | N/A |
| | Conservative | P. T. James | 21,967 | 35.0 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Joseph Cherryson | 13,173 | 21.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,590 | 9.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 62,697 | 77.2 | +23.1 |
| | Labour gain from Speaker | Labour gain from Speaker | Swing | | |
1971 Southampton Itchen by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Bob Mitchell | 22,575 | 55.36 | New |
| | Conservative | James Spicer | 12,900 | 31.63 | New |
| | National Democratic | Edwin Bray | 3,090 | 7.58 | |
| | Liberal | Joseph Cherryson | 2,214 | 5.43 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,675 | 23.73 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,779 | | |
| | Labour gain from Speaker | Labour gain from Speaker | Swing | | |
General election 1970: Southampton Itchen :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Speaker | Horace King | 29,417 | 67.2 | −18.2 |
| | National Democratic | Edwin Bray | 9,581 | 21.9 | New |
| | Independent | Brian Henry Phillips | 4,794 | 11.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 19,836 | 45.3 | −25.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,792 | 54.1 | +5.1 |
| | Speaker hold | Speaker hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Southampton Itchen :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Speaker | Horace King | 30,463 | 85.4 | +32.7 |
| | Democratic Non-party Nationalist | Kenneth Douglas Hunt | 5,217 | 14.6 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 25,246 | 70.8 | +52.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 35,680 | 49.0 | −27.1 |
| | Speaker gain from Labour | Speaker gain from Labour | Swing | | |
General election 1964: Southampton Itchen :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Horace King | 28,949 | 52.7 | −0.7 |
| | Conservative | Godfrey Olson | 18,974 | 34.5 | −12.1 |
| | Liberal | Joseph Cherryson | 7,007 | 12.8 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,975 | 18.2 | +9.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,930 | 76.1 | −1.9 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Southampton Itchen :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Horace King | 29,123 | 53.42 |
| | Conservative | Evelyn King | 25,390 | 46.58 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,733 | 6.84 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,513 | 78.00 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
General election 1955: Southampton Itchen :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Horace King | 29,149 | 55.49 |
| | Conservative | Leslie Loader | 23,378 | 44.51 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,771 | 10.98 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,527 | 78.28 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
General election 1951: Southampton Itchen :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Ralph Morley | 30,330 | 54.12 |
| | National Liberal | Reginald Stranger | 25,708 | 45.88 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,622 | 8.24 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,038 | 83.59 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
General election 1950: Southampton Itchen :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Ralph Morley | 29,749 | 53.44 | |
| | National Liberal | Robert Hobart | 24,536 | 44.08 | |
| | Ind. Conservative | William Craven-Ellis | 1,380 | 2.48 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,213 | 9.36 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 55,665 | 84.0 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |