Gosport (UK Parliament constituency)

Gosport
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Map
Boundaries since 1983
Map of constituency
Boundary of Gosport in South East England
CountyHampshire
Electorate73,763 (2023) [1]
Major settlementsGosport, Stubbington, Lee-on-the-Solent
Current constituency
Created1974 (1974)
Member of ParliamentCaroline Dinenage (Conservative)
SeatsOne
Created fromGosport & Fareham

Gosport (/ˈɡɒspɔːrt/ GOS-port) is a parliamentary constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2010 by Caroline Dinenage of the Conservative Party.[n 2] The constituency is anchored by the town and borough of Gosport.

Boundaries

1974–1983: The Municipal Borough of Gosport.

1983–present: The Borough of Gosport, and the Borough of Fareham wards of Hill Head and Stubbington.

The 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies left the boundaries unchanged.[2]

The constituency centres on Peel Common, Chalk Common and the River Alver that run north–south — its largest settlement is arguably the eastern town of Gosport. Gosport post town comprises several distinct villages and neighbourhoods on the south coast of England in Hampshire whereas the constituency comprises the whole of Gosport Borough (including Lee-on-the-Solent and Alverstoke) and includes Stubbington and Hill Head from the neighbouring Fareham Borough.

Constituency profile

Gosport has, to date, been a Conservative safe seat, as an area with a majority of privately owned properties that has a minority of poor residents. It has two large housing estates in the south and east of Rowner, for example: according to the 2001 census, these are predominantly social housing, and contain two of the most deprived output areas in terms of income and unemployment in the United Kingdom. However, the area is not of uniform characterisation.[3][4] Rowner has a central conservation area of expensive housing, and touches, immediately to the west, the Lee on Solent Golf Club, Grange Farm Museum, the West of the Alder Nature Reserve and the Wild Grounds Nature reserve. Beside its bowling green, allotments and recreation ground lies the Grade I-architecture of St Mary's Church.[5] Unlike the generally expensive west of the borough,[4] Rowner resembles central Gosport and Bridgemary in presenting a diverse picture, retaining scenic and generally more rural surroundings than the City of Portsmouth, with some areas of deprivation.[6]

History

The constituency was created for the February 1974 general election. The area had previously been part of the constituency of Gosport and Fareham.

In December 2009, Gosport became the second constituency to vote in an open primary to select the Conservative PPC. All residents of the area were asked to take part via a postal vote. The result of the Gosport primary saw Caroline Dinenage publicly selected. At the general election on 6 May 2010, Caroline Dinenage was elected with 24,300 votes, a majority of 14,413 over her nearest opponent. Since the turn of the century, Labour, UKIP and the Liberal Democrats have all finished in second place.

Peter Viggers (later knighted) had represented the constituency from 1974 to 2010. David Cameron instructed Sir Peter not to stand for re-election after his nationally infamous attempt to claim for a duck house during the MPs' expenses scandal.

Members of Parliament

Gosport & Fareham prior to 1974

Election Member [7] Party
Feb 1974 Sir Peter Viggers Conservative
2010 Caroline Dinenage Conservative

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Gosport [8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Caroline Dinenage 17,776 40.3 –26.2
Labour Edward Batterbury 11,776 26.6 +8.1
Reform UK Matt Mulliss 7,983 18.0 N/A
Liberal Democrats Tim Bearder 4,039 9.1 –2.2
Green Tony Sudworth 1,948 4.4 +0.7
Independent Jeff Roberts 334 0.8 N/A
Heritage Lisa Englefield 319 0.7 N/A
Hampshire Ind. Dave Watson 48 0.1 N/A
Majority 6,066 13.7 –34.3
Turnout 44,277 60.4 –5.3
Registered electors 73,261
Conservative hold Swing –17.2

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Gosport[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Caroline Dinenage 32,226 66.5 +4.6
Labour Tom Chatwin 8,948 18.5 −8.7
Liberal Democrats Martin Pepper 5,473 11.3 +6.6
Green Zoe Aspinall 1,806 3.7 +1.6
Majority 23,278 48.0 +13.3
Turnout 48,453 65.9 −0.8
Conservative hold Swing +6.6
General election 2017: Gosport[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Caroline Dinenage 30,647 61.9 +6.6
Labour Alan Durrant 13,436 27.2 +12.7
Liberal Democrats Bruce Tennent 2,328 4.7 −2.2
UKIP Chloe Palmer 1,790 3.6 −15.8
Green Monica Cassidy 1,024 2.1 −1.5
Independent Jeffrey Roberts 256 0.5 +0.3
Majority 17,211 34.7 −1.2
Turnout 49,481 66.7 +1.6
Conservative hold Swing -3.0
General election 2015: Gosport[11][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Caroline Dinenage 26,364 55.3 +3.5
UKIP Christopher Wood 9,266 19.4 +16.2
Labour Alan Durrant 6,926 14.5 −2.4
Liberal Democrats Rob Hylands[13] 3,298 6.9 −14.2
Green Monica Cassidy 1,707 3.6 +2.4
Independent Jeffrey Roberts 104 0.2 New
Majority 17,098 35.9 +5.2
Turnout 47,662 65.1 +0.5
Conservative hold Swing -6.4
General election 2010: Gosport[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Caroline Dinenage 24,300 51.8 +7.0
Liberal Democrats Rob Hylands 9,887 21.1 +4.5
Labour Graham Giles 7,944 16.9 −14.6
UKIP Andrew Rice 1,496 3.2 −1.0
BNP Barry Bennett 1,004 2.1 New
English Democrat Bob Shaw 622 1.3 New
Green Claire Smith 573 1.2 −1.7
Independent Dave Smith 493 1.1 New
Independent Charlie Read 331 0.7 New
Independent Brian Hart 289 0.6 New
Majority 14,413 30.7 +17.4
Turnout 46,939 64.6 +4.1
Conservative hold Swing +1.3

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Gosport[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Viggers 19,268 44.8 +1.2
Labour Richard Williams 13,538 31.5 −5.6
Liberal Democrats Roger Roberts 7,145 16.6 +1.5
UKIP John Bowles 1,825 4.2 +1.3
Green Claire Smith 1,258 2.9 New
Majority 5,730 13.3 +6.8
Turnout 43,034 60.5 +3.4
Conservative hold Swing +3.4
General election 2001: Gosport[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Viggers 17,364 43.6 ±0.0
Labour Richard Williams 14,743 37.1 +6.4
Liberal Democrats Roger Roberts 6,011 15.1 −4.5
UKIP John Bowles 1,162 2.9 New
Socialist Labour Kevin Chetwynd 509 1.3 New
Majority 2,621 6.5 −6.4
Turnout 39,789 57.1 −13.2
Conservative hold Swing -3.2

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Gosport[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Viggers 21,085 43.6 −14.5
Labour Ivan Gray 14,827 30.7 +17.1
Liberal Democrats Steve Hogg 9,479 19.6 −8.0
Referendum Andrew Blowers 2,538 5.3 New
Independent Patrick Ettie 426 0.9 New
Majority 6,258 12.9 −17.6
Turnout 48,355 70.3 −6.3
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1992: Gosport[18][19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Viggers 31,094 58.1 −0.4
Liberal Democrats MG Russell 14,776 27.6 −4.0
Labour Mrs MF Angus 7,275 13.6 +3.7
Independent PFF Ettie 332 0.6 New
Majority 16,318 30.5 +3.6
Turnout 53,477 76.6 +1.8
Conservative hold Swing +1.8

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Gosport[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Viggers 29,804 58.5 −2.1
Liberal Peter John Chegwyn 16,081 31.6 +2.1
Labour Alan Lloyd 5,053 9.9 +0.6
Majority 13,723 26.9 −4.2
Turnout 50,938 74.8 +3.2
Conservative hold Swing -2.1
General election 1983: Gosport[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Viggers 28,179 60.6
Liberal Peter John Chegwyn 13,728 29.5
Labour Bernard Bond 4,319 9.3
Independent R.A. MacMillan 241 0.5 New
Majority 14,451 31.1 −4.4
Turnout 46,467 71.6 −5.9
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Gosport
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Viggers 24,553 61.8 +14.3
Labour John Slater 10,460 26.3 −2.6
Liberal N.C. Lewis 4,741 11.9 −11.7
Majority 14,093 35.5 +16.9
Turnout 39,754 77.5 +2.2
Conservative hold Swing +5.9
General election October 1974: Gosport
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Viggers 17,487 47.5 −2.2
Labour Peter Marsh Tebbutt 10,621 28.9 −2.4
Liberal Peter Dane Clark 8,701 23.6 +4.6
Majority 6,866 18.6 +0.2
Turnout 36,809 75.3 −6.1
Conservative hold Swing +0.1
General election February 1974: Gosport
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Viggers 19,563 49.7
Labour Graham John Hewitt 12,335 31.3
Liberal John George Rodway Rix 7,485 19.0
Majority 7,228 18.4
Turnout 39,383 81.4
Conservative win (new seat)

See also

Notes

  1. ^ A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
  2. ^ 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

  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 6 South East region.
  3. ^ "2001 census statistics". Archived from the original on 11 February 2003. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  4. ^ a b Local House Price Map - Mouseprice.com
  5. ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1276419)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  6. ^ [1] Ordnance survey website
  7. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "G" (part 2)
  8. ^ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED, NOTICE OF POLL & SITUATION OF POLLING STATIONS" (PDF). Gosport Council. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  9. ^ "Gosport Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  10. ^ "Gosport parliamentary constituency". BBC News.
  11. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  12. ^ "County councillor stands against Tory MP". Portsmouth.co.uk. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  13. ^ http://www.libdems.org.uk/general_election_candidates#South East
  14. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  15. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  16. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  17. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  18. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  19. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  20. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  21. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.

50°48′N 1°10′W / 50.80°N 1.17°W / 50.80; -1.17