George Madgwick was elected as an independent councillor to Portsmouth City Council from Paulsgrove ward during the 2021 elections. He formed the PIP later that year.
In the 2022 elections PIP stood in 8 of the 14 city council seats up for election, winning in 2. After the election, Madgwick told the PIP's annual general meeting that the party aimed to stand candidates in every ward at the next election.[5] Leader George Madgwick also contested the Southwick and Wickham ward of Winchester City Council in 2022, which borders Portsmouth, albeit standing as an independent.[6] This led to criticism from the Portsmouth Conservatives, as well as from some residents who paid £2.50 in unpaid postage fees to unknowingly collect electoral leaflets from Madgwick.[7][8] A Conservative councillor accused of printing ‘lies’ in election material settled a legal action and issued a formal apology.[9]
In the 2023 elections PIP stood in 13 of 14 city council seats up for election, winning in 3.[10]
In the 2024 elections PIP stood in 12 of the 14 city council seats up for election, winning in 4, increasing their vote share and ending in second place in terms of seats won behind the Liberal Democrats.[11] Madgwick, based on vote share, became the most electorally successful Paulsgrove candidate in the ward's history according to city council records, with 64% of the vote.[12]
PIP, now the opposition party after 3 years, is targeting control of the council at the 2026 election.[13]
