# 1973 Portsmouth City Council election

The 1973 Portsmouth City Council election was held on 10 May 1973 as part of the first elections to the new local authorities established by the Local Government Act 1972 in England and Wales. 48 councillors were elected from 16 electoral divisions. Each division returned three councillors each by first-past-the-post voting for a three-year term of office.
The Conservative Party won overall control of the council.

## Election results

Portsmouth City Council election, 1973 :
| Party | Seats | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | Candidates |
| Conservative | 28 | 58.3% | 49.8% | 76,844 | 48 |
| Labour | 17 | 35.4% | 44.7% | 68,974 | 48 |
| Independent | 3 | 6.3% | 2.9% | 4,462 | 3 |
| Liberal | 0 | 0 | 2.6% | 4,071 | 4 |

## Ward results
### Buckland

Buckland (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Syd Rapson | 1,842 | 52.0% | |
| | Labour | J. Wearn | 1,734 | | |
| | Conservative | R. Taylor | 1,697 | 48.0% | |
| | Conservative | Ms V. Lubin | 1,691 | | |
| | Labour | I. Christie | 1,642 | | |
| | Conservative | B. Lewington | 1,622 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 47.4% | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Cosham

Cosham (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | P. Ashley | 1,942 | 48.9% | |
| | Independent | Ms. M. Anderson | 1,347 | | |
| | Independent | W. Dallas | 1,173 | | |
| | Conservative | E. Spencer | 1,061 | 26.7% | |
| | Labour | K. Sparrow | 966 | 24.3% | |
| | Conservative | E. Burke | 925 | | |
| | Labour | G. Crowhurst | 907 | | |
| | Labour | G. Thompson | 869 | | |
| | Conservative | R. Darragh | 849 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 43.5% | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Farlington

Farlington (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | I. Gibson | 2,556 | 53.4% | |
| | Conservative | W. Fry | 2,485 | | |
| | Conservative | R. Ostler | 2,267 | | |
| | Liberal | Ms. B. Shepherd | 1,533 | 32.0% | |
| | Labour | R. Bryant | 695 | 14.5% | |
| | Labour | J. Smith | 673 | | |
| | Labour | D. Ingham | 673 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 45.4% | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Fratton

Fratton (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Mike Hancock | 1,544 | 63.4% | |
| | Labour | A. Gibbs | 1,504 | | |
| | Labour | J. James | 1,393 | | |
| | Conservative | Ms. H. Austin | 893 | 36.6% | |
| | Conservative | A. Hasker | 855 | | |
| | Conservative | K. Jordan | 826 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 31.6% | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Havelock

Havelock (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | C. Johnstone | 2,175 | 50.5% | |
| | Conservative | E. Taplin | 2,134 | 49.5% | |
| | Conservative | T. Gregory | 2,092 | | |
| | Labour | Ms. M. Kenny | 2,046 | | |
| | Conservative | B. Pickering | 2,042 | | |
| | Labour | D. Brown | 1,985 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 46.9% | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Highland

Highland (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | C. Wakefield | 2,301 | 53.9% | |
| | Conservative | A. Elliot | 2,247 | | |
| | Conservative | J. Lodge | 2,177 | | |
| | Labour | B. Miller | 1,965 | 46.1% | |
| | Labour | Mrs. E. Wright | 1,820 | | |
| | Labour | G. Lemon | 1,790 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 41.9% | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Kingston

Kingston (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | R. Hancock | 2,544 | 51.5% | |
| | Conservative | J. Brogden | 2,527 | | |
| | Labour | P. Chandler | 2,399 | 48.5% | |
| | Conservative | E. Loney-Hampton | 2,385 | | |
| | Labour | S. Mitchell | 2,299 | | |
| | Labour | Ms. J. Sharma | 2,222 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 46.6% | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Meredith

Meredith (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | A. Darby | 2,374 | 55.8% | |
| | Conservative | J. Rigby | 2,372 | | |
| | Conservative | F. Sorrell | 2,288 | | |
| | Labour | W. Stillwell | 1,882 | 44.2% | |
| | Labour | P. Kingswell | 1,723 | | |
| | Labour | C. Arrowsmith | 1,659 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 38.3% | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Nelson

Nelson (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. Marshall | 2,058 | 55.7% | |
| | Conservative | A. Mos | 1,753 | | |
| | Labour | P. Hancock | 1,635 | 44.3% | |
| | Conservative | C. Fortnum | 1,604 | | |
| | Labour | J. Attrill | 1,334 | | |
| | Labour | A. Golds | 1,287 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 54.6% | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### North End

Nelson (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | A. Dann | 2,131 | 53.8% | |
| | Conservative | K. Hale | 2,115 | | |
| | Conservative | Ms. A. Tomlin | 2,093 | | |
| | Labour | B. Tyler | 1,829 | 46.2% | |
| | Labour | Ms. J. Jamieson | 1,809 | | |
| | Labour | J. Patey | 1,726 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 40.7% | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Paulsgrove

Paulsgrove (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Ms. M. Price | 1,533 | 51.9% | |
| | Labour | G. Austin | 1,457 | | |
| | Labour | J. Mitchell | 1,416 | | |
| | Liberal | R. Schollar | 945 | 32.0% | |
| | Liberal | Ms. I. Young | 818 | | |
| | Liberal | J. Young | 775 | | |
| | Conservative | W. Snelling | 478 | 16.2% | |
| | Conservative | M. Rendle | 476 | | |
| | Conservative | Ms. J. Snelling | 475 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 26.1% | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Portsea

Portsea (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Ms. A. Ashworth | 1,312 | 69.3% | |
| | Labour | R. Grant | 1,304 | | |
| | Labour | R. Thomas | 1,289 | | |
| | Conservative | T. Hasker | 580 | 30.7 | |
| | Conservative | Mrs. D. Jeram | 566 | | |
| | Conservative | H. Osborne | 541 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 34.0 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### St. Jude

St. Jude (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | R. Sotnick | 1,571 | 71.8 | |
| | Conservative | J. Lubin | 1,495 | | |
| | Conservative | J. Cockerill | 1,483 | | |
| | Labour | M. Smith | 616 | 28.2 | |
| | Labour | F. Guy | 601 | | |
| | Labour | H. Harris | 576 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 26.3 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### St. Mary & Guildhall

St. Mary & Guildhall (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | E. Kelly | 1,354 | 80.6 | |
| | Labour | A. White | 1,316 | | |
| | Labour | Mrs. E. Fudge | 1,307 | | |
| | Conservative | J. Rothery | 325 | 19.4 | |
| | Conservative | A. Stanley | 209 | | |
| | Conservative | M. Trett | 295 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 30.6 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### St. Simon

St. Simon (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | G. Byng | 1,733 | 71.6 | |
| | Conservative | Ms. A. Scorey | 1,678 | | |
| | Conservative | A. Spraggs | 1,670 | | |
| | Labour | Ms. J. Christie | 688 | 28.4 | |
| | Labour | B. Armer | 659 | | |
| | Labour | D. Elner | 649 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 29.9 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### St. Thomas

St. Thomas (3) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | S. Fiddy | 2,157 | 56.2 | |
| | Conservative | L. Kitchen | 2,049 | | |
| | Conservative | C. Worley | 1,999 | | |
| | Labour | R. Bromley | 1,683 | 43.8 | |
| | Labour | D. Jewell | 1,635 | | |
| | Labour | M. Murphy | 1,552 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 37.8 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |