# Portsmouth South (UK Parliament constituency)

Portsmouth South is a constituency 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

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.
The 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies left the boundaries unchanged.

## 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 University of Portsmouth is within the constituency. 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. 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 and excellent amenities.

## 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.
Morgan's vote share remained steady in the 2024 election, with the Conservatives falling significantly behind both Labour and Reform. Portsmouth South can be considered a safe Labour seat. From a high of 45.9% in 2010, the Lib Dems are now in fourth position in a seat they held between 1997 and 2015, despite holding the majority of councillors in this constituency.

## Members of Parliament

Portsmouth prior to 1918
| Election | Member | 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 | Mike Hancock | Independent |
| 2015 | Flick Drummond | Conservative |
| 2017 | Stephen Morgan | Labour |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Portsmouth South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Stephen Morgan | 18,857 | 48.4 | −0.2 |
| | Reform UK | Mark Zimmer | 5,702 | 14.6 | +12.5 |
| | Conservative | Signe Biddle | 5,643 | 14.5 | −22.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Charlie Murphy | 4,886 | 12.6 | +1.2 |
| | Green | Elliott Lee | 3,107 | 8.0 | N/A |
| | PIP | Jacob Short | 733 | 1.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,155 | 33.8 | +22.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,928 | 52.8 | −11.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 73,711 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 6.4 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Portsmouth South :
| Party | 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 | N/A |
| | JAC | Steven George | 240 | 0.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,363 | 11.3 | +7.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,425 | 63.9 | 0.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +3.9 | |
General election 2017: Portsmouth South :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 1,554 | 3.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,566 | 63.9 | +5.4 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +9.4 | |
General election 2015: Portsmouth South :
| Party | 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 | N/A |
| | TUSC | Sean Hoyle | 235 | 0.6 | N/A |
| | JAC | Don Jerrard | 99 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,241 | 12.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,903 | 58.5 | −0.2 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | +12.6 | |
General election 2010: Portsmouth South :
| Party | 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 | N/A |
| | Green | Tim Dawes | 716 | 1.7 | N/A |
| | English Democrat | Ian Ducain | 400 | 1.0 | N/A |
| | JAC | Les Cummings | 117 | 0.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,200 | 12.6 | +4.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,264 | 58.7 | +1.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | +2.3 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Portsmouth South :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 3,362 | 8.3 | ―7.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,374 | 56.9 | +6.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | ―3.6 | |
General election 2001: Portsmouth South :
| Party | 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 | N/A |
| | UKIP | Michael Tarrant | 321 | 0.8 | +0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,094 | 15.5 | +7.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,216 | 50.9 | ―13.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | +3.2 | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Portsmouth South :
| Party | 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 | N/A |
| | Liberal | John Thompson | 184 | 0.4 | N/A |
| | UKIP | Jill Evans | 141 | 0.3 | N/A |
| | Natural Law | William Trend | 140 | 0.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,327 | 8.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,695 | 64.2 | ―4.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | +4.5 | |
General election 1992: Portsmouth South :
| Party | 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 | N/A |
| | Natural Law | William Trend | 91 | 0.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 242 | 0.5 | +0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,651 | 69.1 | ―2.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | ±0.0 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

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

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Portsmouth South :
| Party | 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 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,529 | 23.49 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,085 | 72.88 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election October 1974: Portsmouth South :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 8,071 | 16.44 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,106 | 69.39 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election February 1974: Portsmouth South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Bonner Pink | 26,824 | 50.26 | |
| | Labour | S. Lloyd | 15,842 | 29.69 | |
| | Liberal | J. Williams | 10,307 | 19.31 | N/A |
| | Marxist-Leninist (England) | A. D. Rifkin | 394 | 0.74 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,982 | 20.57 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 58,367 | 75.86 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1970: Portsmouth South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Bonner Pink | 23,962 | 63.38 |
| | Labour | John White | 13,847 | 36.62 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,115 | 26.76 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 37,809 | 67.36 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Portsmouth South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Bonner Pink | 22,713 | 60.65 |
| | Labour | Patten Bridge Smith | 14,738 | 39.35 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,975 | 21.30 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 37,451 | 70.74 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1964: Portsmouth South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Jocelyn Lucas | 24,387 | 63.69 |
| | Labour | Richard W. S. Pryke | 13,904 | 36.31 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,483 | 27.38 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,291 | 71.02 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Portsmouth South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Jocelyn Lucas | 27,892 | 69.96 |
| | Labour | Frank Towell | 11,979 | 30.04 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15,913 | 39.92 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,871 | 72.33 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1955: Portsmouth South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Jocelyn Lucas | 27,887 | 67.22 |
| | Labour | Lawrence W. Carroll | 13,600 | 32.78 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,287 | 34.44 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,487 | 72.39 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1951: Portsmouth South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Jocelyn Lucas | 30,548 | 63.78 |
| | Labour | Douglas S. Wallace | 17,350 | 36.22 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,198 | 27.56 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,898 | 80.76 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1950: Portsmouth South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Jocelyn Lucas | 31,124 | 63.95 |
| | Labour | Leslie Merrion | 17,545 | 36.05 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,579 | 27.90 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,669 | 83.50 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Portsmouth South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Jocelyn Lucas | 15,810 | 55.29 | −19.91 |
| | Labour | J. F. Blitz | 12,783 | 44.71 | +19.91 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,027 | 10.58 | −39.82 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 28,593 | 74.95 | +8.01 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 38,150 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −19.91 | |

### Elections in the 1930s

By-election 1939: Portsmouth South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Jocelyn Lucas | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1935: Portsmouth South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Herbert Cayzer | 27,416 | 75.20 | −5.68 |
| | Labour | John W. Fawcett | 9,043 | 24.80 | +5.68 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 18,373 | 50.40 | −11.36 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 36,459 | 66.94 | −5.78 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 54,463 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −5.68 | |
General election 1931: Portsmouth South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Herbert Cayzer | 32,634 | 80.88 | +44.06 |
| | Labour | W. J. Beck | 7,715 | 19.12 | −5.63 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 24,919 | 61.76 | +49.68 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,349 | 72.72 | −2.42 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 55,488 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +24.85 | |

### Elections in the 1920s

General election 1929: Portsmouth South :
| Party | 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 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Charles Rudkin | 6,214 | 15.19 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,941 | 12.07 | −33.84 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,914 | 75.14 | +0.94 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 54,449 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1924: Portsmouth South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Herbert Cayzer | 22,423 | 72.96 | +17.00 |
| | Labour | Jessie Stephen | 8,310 | 27.04 | +2.17 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,113 | 45.92 | +14.83 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 30,733 | 74.20 | +1.48 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 41,417 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +7.42 | |
General election 1923: Portsmouth South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Herbert Cayzer | 16,625 | 55.96 | −12.77 |
| | Labour | Jessie Stephen | 7,388 | 24.87 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Sidney Robert Drury-Lowe | 5,698 | 19.18 | −12.09 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,237 | 31.09 | −6.38 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 29,711 | 72.72 | −1.94 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 40,854 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −18.82 | |
By-election 1923: Portsmouth South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Herbert Cayzer | 11,884 | 54.90 | −13.83 |
| | Liberal | Henry Merrick Lawson | 9,763 | 45.10 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,121 | 9.80 | −17.66 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,647 | 54.90 | −18.76 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 39,426 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
By-election 1922: Portsmouth South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Leslie Wilson | 14,301 | 62.90 | −5.83 |
| | Ind. Conservative | G. C. Thomas | 8,434 | 37.10 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,867 | 25.80 | −11.66 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 22,735 | 57.66 | −16.00 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 39,426 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1922: Portsmouth South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Herbert Cayzer | 19,960 | 68.73 | +0.43 |
| | Liberal | Henry Merrick Lawson | 9,080 | 31.27 | +12.80 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,880 | 37.46 | −12.37 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 29,040 | 73.66 | +11.69 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 39,426 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −6.19 | |

### Elections in the 1910s

General election 1918: Portsmouth South :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 11,559 | 49.83 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 23,195 | 61.97 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 37,427 | | |
| | Unionist win (new seat) | Unionist win (new seat) | Unionist win (new seat) | Unionist win (new seat) | Unionist win (new seat) |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||