Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1950 onwards
Southampton Test |
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Borough constituency for the House of Commons |
![Map](https://maps.wikimedia.org/img/osm-intl,a,a,a,250x200.png?lang=en&domain=en.wikipedia.org&title=Southampton_Test_%28UK_Parliament_constituency%29&revid=1235459333&groups=_a8cde7e6e6f0ae0b6181403a36afcb9e48d4dd93) Boundaries since 2010 |
![Map of constituency](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4b/South_East_England_-_Southampton_Test_constituency.svg/255px-South_East_England_-_Southampton_Test_constituency.svg.png) Boundary of Southampton Test in South East England |
County | Hampshire |
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Electorate | 69,960 (2023)[1] |
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Major settlements | Southampton |
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Current constituency |
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Created | 1950 |
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Member of Parliament | Satvir Kaur (Labour) |
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Seats | One |
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Created from | Southampton |
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Southampton Test is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament by Satvir Kaur, a member of the Labour Party since 2024.[n 2]
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, after being the member in the first half of the 1950s, would later become the first Speaker of the House of Commons from the Labour Party.
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).
Whitehead for Labour performed better here than John Denham in Southampton Itchen, the other Southampton seat, which the party also held in the 2010 general election. The area from 2010 to 2015 was one of four Labour seats in South East England and since 2017 is among two of eighteen in Hampshire won by Labour candidates.[2] Whitehead was 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 has announced that he will not be standing at the next general election.[3]
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. Workless claimants, registered jobseekers, were in November 2012 close to but slightly below than the national average of 3.8%, at 3.4% of the population based on a statistical compilation by The Guardian, above the average for the South East seats of 2.5% but below, for example, five seats in East Kent.[4]
The seat is home to Southampton FC's football ground at St Mary's.
Boundaries
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).[5]
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.[6]
2010-present: The City of Southampton wards of Bevois, Coxford, Freemantle, Millbrook, Portswood, Redbridge, and Shirley.
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.
Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, enacted by the Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023, the composition of the constituency from the 2024 United Kingdom general election remained unchanged.[7]
Following a review of local authority ward boundaries, which became effective in May 2023,[8][9] 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).[10]
Members of Parliament
Southampton prior to 1950
Elections
Elections in the 2020s
General election 2024: Southampton Test[12] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Satvir Kaur[13] | 15,945 | 44.5 | −5.0 |
| Conservative | Ben Burcombe-Filer[14] | 6,612 | 18.5 | −17.2 |
| Reform UK | John Edwards[15] | 5,261 | 14.7 | +11.2 |
| Green | Katherine Barbour[14] | 3,594 | 10.0 | +6.8 |
| Liberal Democrats | Thomas Gravatt [14] | 3,252 | 9.1 | +1.4 |
| Workers Party | Wajahat Shaukat | 775 | 2.2 | N/A |
| TUSC | Maggie Fricker | 366 | 1.0 | N/A |
Majority | 9,333 | 26.0 | +12.2 |
Turnout | 35,805 | 54.7 | –9.6 |
Registered electors | 65,520 | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | 6.1 | |
Elections in the 2010s
General election 2019: Southampton Test[16] 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 | 6,213 | 13.8 | −10.8 |
Turnout | 44,994 | 64.2 | −2.6 |
| Labour hold | Swing | -5.4 | |
General election 2017: Southampton Test 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 | 11,508 | 24.6 | +15.8 |
Turnout | 46,908 | 66.8 | +4.7 |
| Labour hold | Swing | +7.9 | |
General election 2015: Southampton Test[17][18] 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 | 3,810 | 8.8 | +3.3 |
Turnout | 43,652 | 62.1 | +0.7 |
| Labour hold | Swing | +1.7 | |
General election 2010: Southampton Test[19][20] 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 | 2,413 | 5.5 | −11.3 |
Turnout | 44,187 | 61.4 | +5.4 |
| Labour hold | Swing | −6.9 | |
Elections in the 2000s
General election 2005: Southampton Test[21] 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 | 7,018 | 16.8 | −10.2 |
Turnout | 41,783 | 53.7 | −2.6 |
| Labour hold | Swing | −5.1 | |
General election 2001: Southampton Test[22] 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 | 11,207 | 27.0 | +1.0 |
Turnout | 41,575 | 56.3 | −15.6 |
| Labour hold | Swing | | |
Elections in the 1990s
General election 1992: Southampton Test[24][25] 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 | 585 | 1.0 | −11.3 |
Turnout | 56,450 | 77.4 | +1.0 |
| Conservative hold | Swing | −5.6 | |
Elections in the 1980s
General election 1987: Southampton Test[26] 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 | 6,954 | 12.3 | −4.8 |
Turnout | 56,440 | 76.4 | +3.3 |
| Conservative hold | Swing | -2.4 | |
General election 1983: Southampton Test[27] 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 | 9,346 | 17.1 | |
Turnout | 54,560 | 73.1 | −3.2 |
| Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Elections in the 1970s
General election 1979: Southampton Test 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 | 2,123 | 3.62 | N/A |
Turnout | 58,666 | 76.30 | |
| Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |
General election October 1974: Southampton Test 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 | 530 | 0.98 | N/A |
Turnout | 54,024 | 73.11 | |
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
General election February 1974: Southampton Test 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 | 1,403 | 2.42 | |
Turnout | 58,081 | 79.21 | |
| Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1970: Southampton Test[28] 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 | 1,802 | 3.47 | N/A |
Turnout | 51,867 | 73.33 | |
| Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |
Elections in the 1960s
General election 1966: Southampton Test[29] 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 | 2,440 | 4.79 | N/A |
Turnout | 51,918 | 78.13 | |
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
Elections in the 1950s
General election 1955: Southampton Test[32] 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 | 3,842 | 7.37 | |
Turnout | 52,155 | 78.72 | |
| Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |
See also
Notes
- ^ A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
- ^ As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.
References
- ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – South East". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
- ^ "South East Results after 84 of 84". BBC News.
- ^ "Southampton Test Labour MP Alan Whitehead to step down". BBC News. 14 January 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
- ^ Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
- ^ Representation of the People Act 1948, Sch. 1.
- ^ The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995, SI 1995 No 1626
- ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 6 South East region.
- ^ LGBCE. "Southampton | LGBCE". lgbce.org.uk. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ "The Southampton (Electoral Changes) Order 2023".
- ^ "New Seat Details – Southampton Test". electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "T" (part 1)
- ^ Southampton Test
- ^ "Council leader to fight Southampton Test seat at next general election". 10 July 2022.
- ^ a b c "Southampton Test - UK General election 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ "Reform UK reveal candidates in city for next general election". 26 September 2023.
- ^ "Southampton Test Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
- ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- ^ "BBC NEWS – Election 2015 – Southampton Test". BBC News.
- ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- ^ "BBC NEWS – Election 2010 – Southampton Test". BBC News.
- ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
- ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1970.
- ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1966.
- ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1964.
- ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1959.
- ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1955.
- ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1951.
- ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1950.
External links
- Southampton, Test UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK
- Southampton Test UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK
Constituencies in South East England (91)
Labour (36) | - Aldershot
- Ashford
- Aylesbury
- Banbury
- Basingstoke
- Bracknell
- Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven
- Buckingham and Bletchley
- Canterbury
- Chatham and Aylesford
- Crawley
- Dartford
- Dover and Deal
- Earley and Woodley
- East Thanet
- East Worthing and Shoreham
- Folkestone and Hythe
- Gillingham and Rainham
- Gravesham
- Hastings and Rye
- Hove and Portslade
- Isle of Wight West
- Milton Keynes Central
- Milton Keynes North
- Oxford East
- Portsmouth North
- Portsmouth South
- Reading Central
- Reading West and Mid Berkshire
- Rochester and Strood
- Sittingbourne and Sheppey
- Slough
- Southampton Itchen
- Southampton Test
- Worthing West
- Wycombe
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Conservative (30) | - Arundel and South Downs
- Beaconsfield
- Bexhill and Battle
- Bognor Regis and Littlehampton
- East Grinstead and Uckfield
- East Hampshire
- East Surrey
- Fareham and Waterlooville
- Farnham and Bordon
- Faversham and Mid Kent
- Godalming and Ash
- Gosport
- Hamble Valley
- Havant
- Herne Bay and Sandwich
- Isle of Wight East
- Maidstone and Malling
- Mid Buckinghamshire
- New Forest East
- New Forest West
- North West Hampshire
- Reigate
- Romsey and Southampton North
- Runnymede and Weybridge
- Sevenoaks
- Spelthorne
- Sussex Weald
- Tonbridge
- Weald of Kent
- Windsor
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Liberal Democrats (24) | - Bicester and Woodstock
- Chesham and Amersham
- Chichester
- Didcot and Wantage
- Dorking and Horley
- Eastbourne
- Eastleigh
- Epsom and Ewell
- Esher and Walton
- Guildford
- Henley and Thame
- Horsham
- Lewes
- Maidenhead
- Mid Sussex
- Newbury
- North East Hampshire
- Oxford West and Abingdon
- Surrey Heath
- Tunbridge Wells
- Winchester
- Witney
- Woking
- Wokingham
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Green (1) | |
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Southampton Itchen | |
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Southampton Test | |
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Romsey and Southampton North | |
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Map |
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class=notpageimage| Suburbs of Southampton within the city boundary |
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Authority control databases: People ![Edit this at Wikidata](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/10px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png) | |
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50°56′N 1°25′W / 50.933°N 1.417°W / 50.933; -1.417