Portsmouth Council - Wards and Councillors

Unitary authority · South East · 42 seats in 14 wards · A third of seats elected in three years out of four · Next election 6 May 2027

Liberal Democrats have a majority on Portsmouth Council. The council has 42 councillors in 14 wards. Seats by party: Lib Dem 23, Reform 12, Labour 3, Conservative 3, Other 1. The next election is on 6 May 2027.

The government withdrew its plan to reorganise councils in Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton on 7 September 2026. Elections due in May 2027 will go ahead on existing council boundaries. Source

Control

Seats by party

Liberal Democrats (Majority)

42 seats - 22 for a majority

Reform 12Labour 3Conservative 3Lib Dem 23Other 1

Vote share at the 7 May 2026 election (14 seats, all wards)

ShareSeats won

Reform32.6%5

Lib Dem29.6%8

Labour14.2%0

Green13.2%0

Conservative10.4%1

Other0.1%0

2026 election results for Portsmouth, ward by ward

Next election

6 May 2027

14 of 42 seats up, elected by thirds

Largest party

Lib Dem 23

majority of 4; 22 needed

Closest result

Drayton and Farlington

Conservative won by 24 votes over Reform, 7 May 2026

Latest by-election

Paulsgrove

Reform gain from Local party, 23 October 2025 (1 since 2021)

Constituencies

2 overlap

2024Now

Voted Leave in 2016

58%

GB 52%

Wards

Who holds each ward

ConservativeLib DemReform

Coloured by the party holding most of the ward's seats today; where seats are split evenly, by the party with the higher share at the last election.

All 14 wards

Councillors and last results

Select a ward for its full results, candidates and last by-election.

Ward and councillors	Last election
Baffins Darren Sanders, Leonie Oliver, Abdul Kadir	7 May 2026 Lib Dem 40.0% lead 1.6 pts
Central Southsea Kate Dorrington, Charlotte Gerada, Suzy Horton	7 May 2026 Lib Dem 42.6% lead 21.7 pts
Charles Dickens Cal Corkery, Sam Coupland, Rajah Ghosh	7 May 2026 Reform 30.0% lead 2.6 pts
Copnor Lee Tindal, Raymond Dent, Carl Inman	7 May 2026 Reform 38.4% lead 12.4 pts
Cosham Mary Vallely, Derek North, Lamara Fudge	7 May 2026 Reform 42.5% lead 3.0 pts
Drayton and Farlington Simon Bosher, Hannah Brent, Spencer Gardner	7 May 2026 Conservative 35.8% lead 0.5 pts
Eastney and Craneswater Nicholas Dorrington, Peter Candlish, Matthew Winnington	7 May 2026 Lib Dem 40.6% lead 16.7 pts
Fratton Stuart Brown, Billy Ansell, Dave Ashmore	7 May 2026 Lib Dem 39.3% lead 9.2 pts
Hilsea Emily Strudwick, Russell Simpson, Matthew Cordy	7 May 2026 Reform 49.2% lead 35.5 pts
Milton Steve Pitt, Kimberly Barrett, Gerald Vernon-Jackson	7 May 2026 Lib Dem 45.7% lead 19.7 pts
Nelson Lee Hunt, Steve Andrews, Richard Adair	7 May 2026 Lib Dem 41.1% lead 4.1 pts
Paulsgrove Joe Standen, George Madgwick, Chris Dike	7 May 2026 Reform 57.5% lead 43.8 pts
St Jude Hugh Mason, Denise Perry, Graham Heaney	7 May 2026 Lib Dem 41.6% lead 21.6 pts
St Thomas Chris Attwell, Ian Holder, Mark Jeffery	7 May 2026 Lib Dem 43.3% lead 22.7 pts

Baffins

Abdul Kadir Lib DemDarren Sanders Lib DemLeonie Oliver Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Lib Dem40.0%

Reform38.4%

Green8.9%

Labour6.5%

Conservative6.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Abdul Kadir Elected	Lib Dem	2,100	40.0%
Darren John Searley	Reform	2,015	38.4%
David Anthony Simpson	Green	468	8.9%
Jemma Louise Artemis	Labour	342	6.5%
Dave Giovanni Leme da Silva	Conservative	327	6.2%

Central Southsea

Charlotte Gerada LabourKate Dorrington Lib DemSuzy Horton Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Lib Dem42.6%

Green20.9%

Labour18.3%

Reform14.1%

Conservative4.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Kate Dorrington Elected	Lib Dem	1,996	42.6%
Lucy Bridgewater	Green	978	20.9%
George David Fielding	Labour	856	18.3%
Addy Asaduzzaman	Reform	661	14.1%
Mackenzie Cumming	Conservative	195	4.2%

Charles Dickens

Cal Corkery IndependentRajah Ghosh Lib DemSam Coupland Reform

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Reform30.0%

Lib Dem27.4%

Labour21.0%

Green17.0%

Conservative4.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Sam Coupland Elected	Reform	993	30.0%
Harold McGregor-Sims	Lib Dem	906	27.4%
Yinka Adeniran	Labour	697	21.0%
Elliott Lee	Green	562	17.0%
David Michael Chandler	Conservative	154	4.6%

Copnor

Carl Inman ReformLee Tindal ReformRaymond Dent Reform

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Reform38.4%

Conservative26.0%

Green12.4%

Lib Dem11.9%

Labour11.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Carl Inman Elected	Reform	1,616	38.4%
Ben Swann	Conservative	1,095	26.0%
Tamara Groen	Green	520	12.4%
Paul Antony Oakley-Cleife	Lib Dem	500	11.9%
Andy Butterworth	Labour	478	11.4%

Cosham

Derek North ReformLamara Fudge ReformMary Vallely Labour

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Reform42.5%

Labour39.5%

Green9.6%

Lib Dem8.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Lamara Louise Fudge Elected	Reform	1,881	42.5%
Asghar Shah	Labour	1,747	39.5%
Alex De Oliveira Martins	Green	425	9.6%
Timothy Charles Suffolk	Lib Dem	374	8.4%

Drayton and Farlington

Hannah Brent ConservativeSimon Bosher ConservativeSpencer Gardner Conservative

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Conservative35.8%

Reform35.3%

Labour12.6%

Green8.2%

Lib Dem8.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Simon John Bosher Elected	Conservative	1,841	35.8%
Stephen Michael Burt	Reform	1,817	35.3%
Matthew Sean Holland	Labour	648	12.6%
Quenton James Kelley	Green	422	8.2%
Samantha Darragh	Lib Dem	413	8.0%

Eastney and Craneswater

Matthew Winnington Lib DemNicholas Dorrington Lib DemPeter Candlish Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Lib Dem40.6%

Reform23.9%

Green13.2%

Conservative11.8%

Labour10.1%

Heritage Party0.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Matthew Ray Winnington Elected	Lib Dem	1,900	40.6%
John Malcolm Hill	Reform	1,117	23.9%
Lizzie Rose	Green	619	13.2%
Alison Jane Hoare	Conservative	551	11.8%
Patrick Charles Keefe	Labour	472	10.1%
Cliff Parsons	Heritage Party	23	0.5%

Fratton

Billy Ansell Lib DemDave Ashmore Lib DemStuart Brown Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Lib Dem39.3%

Reform30.1%

Green14.0%

Labour11.8%

Conservative4.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Billy Ansell Elected	Lib Dem	1,518	39.3%
Jacob Lee Short	Reform	1,162	30.1%
Tim Sheerman-Chase	Green	542	14.0%
Tom Coles	Labour	454	11.8%
Tim Edwards	Conservative	186	4.8%

Hilsea

Emily Strudwick ReformMatthew Cordy ReformRussell Simpson Reform

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Reform49.2%

Green13.7%

Labour13.4%

Lib Dem12.5%

Conservative11.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Russell Peter William Simpson Elected	Reform	2,067	49.2%
Emma Louise Kimberley Murphy	Green	574	13.7%
Edward Batterbury	Labour	562	13.4%
Kristine Teivane	Lib Dem	526	12.5%
Matthew Jeremy Atkins	Conservative	470	11.2%

Milton

Gerald Vernon-Jackson Lib DemKimberly Barrett Lib DemSteve Pitt Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Lib Dem45.7%

Reform26.0%

Green15.9%

Labour7.5%

Conservative4.2%

Independent0.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Steve Pitt Elected	Lib Dem	2,233	45.7%
Phil Carpenter	Reform	1,273	26.0%
Paula Ann Savage	Green	779	15.9%
David Richard Trace	Labour	367	7.5%
Melinda Koller	Conservative	203	4.2%
Perry Barter	Independent	34	0.7%

Nelson

Lee Hunt Lib DemRichard Adair Lib DemSteve Andrews Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Lib Dem41.1%

Reform37.0%

Green9.5%

Labour7.7%

Conservative4.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Steve Andrews Elected	Lib Dem	1,499	41.1%
Jason Fazackarley	Reform	1,350	37.0%
Stan Marlow	Green	347	9.5%
Robin Head	Labour	281	7.7%
Lewis Mark David Gosling	Conservative	168	4.6%

Paulsgrove

Chris Dike ReformGeorge Madgwick ReformJoe Standen Reform

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Reform57.5%

Conservative13.7%

Labour10.2%

Lib Dem9.4%

Green9.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Joe Standen Elected	Reform	1,963	57.5%
Thomas Christopher Hoare	Conservative	467	13.7%
Mark Andrew Farwell	Labour	347	10.2%
Michelle Jenny Simmons	Lib Dem	319	9.4%
Ian David McCulloch	Green	315	9.2%

Last by-election, 23 October 2025

Reform64.3%

Conservative11.3%

Labour10.5%

Lib Dem8.7%

Green5.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Joe Standen Elected	Reform	1,770	64.3%
Thomas Christopher Hoare	Conservative	311	11.3%
Sydna Phillips	Labour	289	10.5%
Michelle Jenny Simmons	Lib Dem	239	8.7%
Georgina Ayling	Green	143	5.2%

St Jude

Denise Perry Lib DemGraham Heaney LabourHugh Mason Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Lib Dem41.6%

Labour20.0%

Reform16.9%

Green16.0%

Conservative5.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Denise Perry Elected	Lib Dem	1,654	41.6%
Judith Deborah Smyth	Labour	795	20.0%
Mitchell Newman	Reform	670	16.9%
Alvie Syed Ihsan Mahmud	Green	636	16.0%
Orsolya Pokoly	Conservative	218	5.5%

St Thomas

Chris Attwell Lib DemIan Holder Lib DemMark Jeffery Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Lib Dem43.3%

Reform20.6%

Green17.5%

Labour10.0%

Conservative8.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Mark Jeffery Elected	Lib Dem	1,646	43.3%
Oskar Lucjan Zabicki	Reform	784	20.6%
Jay Mercer	Green	666	17.5%
Tom Austin	Labour	379	10.0%
Terry Henderson	Conservative	330	8.7%

Next election

Seats up on 6 May 2027

14 of 42 seats are up. Seats held now, by party:

Lib Dem 7 Reform 3 Labour 2 Independent 1 Conservative 1

Ward	Councillor whose term ends
Baffins	Leonie Oliver Lib Dem
Central Southsea	Suzy Horton Lib Dem
Charles Dickens	Cal Corkery Independent
Copnor	Raymond Dent Reform
Cosham	Mary Vallely Labour
Drayton and Farlington	Hannah Brent Conservative
Eastney and Craneswater	Peter Candlish Lib Dem
Fratton	Dave Ashmore Lib Dem
Hilsea	Emily Strudwick Reform
Milton	Gerald Vernon-Jackson Lib Dem
Nelson	Lee Hunt Lib Dem
Paulsgrove	Chris Dike Reform
St Jude	Graham Heaney Labour
St Thomas	Chris Attwell Lib Dem

Term end dates from Open Council Data.

By-elections

Every council by-election since 2021

1 by-election since July 2021, 1 of them gains.

Date	Ward	Result	Winner's share
23 October 2025	Paulsgrove	Reform gain from Local party	64.0%

Parliament

Parliamentary constituencies

Constituency	Share of council	2024 winner	Projected now
Portsmouth North	50%	Labour	Conservative 28%
Portsmouth South	50%	Labour	Labour 36%

Share of the council: the proportion of its census neighbourhoods (2021 LSOAs) in each seat. The projection is PollCheck's demographic model at current polling, not a forecast.

People

Who lives in Portsmouth

208,005 residents in 86,161 households

Voted Leave in 2016

58% 6 above GB

Degree or higher

30% 4 below GB

No qualifications

17% 1 below GB

Own their home

52% 9 below GB

Rent from a council or housing association

18% 1 above GB

Rent privately

29% 9 above GB

Aged 15 to 34

38% 7 above GB

Aged 65 and over

18% 4 below GB

GB figure. 2021 Census (Scotland: 2022): age as a share of residents aged 15 and over, qualifications of residents aged 16 and over, housing as a share of households. Leave: 2016 EU referendum, Electoral Commission results by counting area.

Similar

Councils most like this one

CoventryLabour (Minority)SouthamptonLabour (Minority)LincolnLabour (Majority)HillingdonConservative (Majority)PrestonLabour (Minority)

Closest on the measures above: the 2016 Leave vote, age, qualifications and housing. Maps show which party holds each ward.

Sources

Sources and method

Seat totals and control: PollCheck council control tracker. Councillors: Open Council Data (CC BY-SA 4.0). Election results: Democracy Club (CC BY 4.0), with some vote counts from DCLEAPIL, Leman (2025) (CC BY-SA 4.0), and corrections checked against councils' official declarations. Ward boundaries: Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v.3.0. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Census: Office for National Statistics and National Records of Scotland.

Councillor lists and DCLEAPIL-derived vote counts on this page are available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

In wards electing more than one councillor, a party's share counts only its leading candidate (the Rallings and Thrasher method). Independents count individually. The lead is the gap between the top two parties' shares.