Portsmouth North (UK Parliament constituency)

Portsmouth North is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament by Amanda Martin of the Labour Party since 2024.

Boundaries
1918–1950: The County Borough of Portsmouth wards of Charles Dickens, Mile End, North End, and Portsea.

1974–1983: The County Borough of Portsmouth wards of Cosham, Farlington, Meredith, Nelson, North End, Paulsgrove, Portsea, and St Mary and Guildhall.

1983–1997: The 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: The City of Portsmouth wards of Copnor, Cosham, Drayton and Farlington, Hilsea, Nelson, and Paulsgrove.

2010–present: The City of Portsmouth wards of Baffins, Copnor, Cosham, Drayton and Farlington, Hilsea, Nelson, and Paulsgrove.

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, enacted by the Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023, the composition of the constituency from the 2024 general election remained unchanged.

As its name suggests, the constituency covers the northern portion of the city of Portsmouth in Hampshire.

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.

Constituency profile
This urban seat is of average affluence and incomes, with relatively low unemployment compared to the national average measured at the end of 2012 at 3.8% (claimant count) as opposed to 2.3% average across the region.

Taken together with Portsmouth West, it has been one of the most long-standing bellwethers (of the national election winner), having that status since 1966; only the Dartford constituency have a longer-standing status, which has been a bellwether since 1964.

MPs 1918–1950
Portsmouth prior to 1918

MPs since 1974
Portsmouth West and Portsmouth Langstone prior to 1974

Election in the 1910s

 * Yexley (real name, James Woods) was supported by the Lower-Deck Parliamentary Committee, and also the local Liberal association.