General Election 2024 recap: Penny Mordaunt loses Portsmouth North in Labour gain, Conservatives retain seats

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It has was a dramatic General Election across the Portsmouth area which saw a high profile casualty in the Conservative bloodbath - and a recount in a Tory ‘safe seat’.

The great waterfront city has turned red with Portsmouth North and South both falling to Labour. Amanda Martin gained her seat, tearing up on stage, from the leader of the house of commons Penny Mordaunt. Stephen Morgan retained his Portsmouth South seat with a large majority.

The count has started at the Portsmouth Guildhall to determine the Portsmouth North and South General Election results. The count has started at the Portsmouth Guildhall to determine the Portsmouth North and South General Election results.
The count has started at the Portsmouth Guildhall to determine the Portsmouth North and South General Election results. | Alex Shute

A full recount was declared in Havant, with votes for Labour and the Tories too close to call. In the end, it was Alan Mak who won the seat by the skin of his teeth with less than 100 votes. Former home secretary Suella Braverman gained Fareham and Waterlooville following the boundary change, spending much of her speech deriding her own party.

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Dame Caroline Dinenage retained Gosport, as seat which she has held since 2010, with Paul Holmes holding onto the Hamble Valley seat. Damian Hinds was another Tory MP who held onto his seat, despite pressure from Liberal Democrat Dominic Martin. Chichester MP and education secretary, Gillian Keegan, lost her seat, with Liberal Democrat Jess Brown-Fuller becoming the new MP.

The exit poll predicted a historic landslide victory for Labour, and with 375 seats at the time of writing, it has been proven correct. You can follow the latest updates by scrolling to the bottom of this article.

General Election 2024 Live Blog - Portsmouth

Key Events

  • Penny Mordaunt loses her Portsmouth North seat
  • Close call for Alan Mak after recount is needed in his constituancy
  • Suella Braverman apologises for her party's failings

General Election 2024 Live Blog

The News Portsmouth will bring you call the latest updates for the general election, including updates throughout the overnight count.

Want to know how to vote - and what you can or cannot do at a polling station?

Our handy guide covers everything you need to know!

A look back to the results of the last general election

We look at the current picture - and how the area voted in 2019

The polls have opened!

Polling stations are open until 10pm this evening. Check your polling card to find out where your one is - and DO NOT forget your photo ID!

Voting opens public casts ballots

Voting is open for the General Election. Millions of citizens across the country will cast their vote between 7am and 10pm.

The exit poll, which gives an inkling of what the prospective government will look like, will be published shortly after 10pm. The majority of seats in the Portsmouth area and Hampshire are likely to declare their results between 2am and 4am tomorrow morning.

Stay tuned to The News live blog today and overnight for all the latest updates.

It is the first General election where voting ID is mandatory, after it was previously used in bi-elections and local elections.

All voters need some form of photographic ID, whether it is a passport or a drivers licences. A full list of acceptable forms of ID can be found online.

An average of all polls completed during the seven days to July 3 puts Labour on 39 per cent, the party’s lowest rating since the campaign began, 18 points ahead of the Conservatives on 21 per cent, followed by Reform on 16 per cent, the Lib Dems on 11 per cent and the Greens on 6 per cent.

The Tories are up slightly on the figures for the previous week while Labour are down, with the averages for the seven days to June 26 being Labour 41 per cent, Conservatives 20 per cent, Reform 16 per cent, Lib Dems 11 per cent and Greens 6 per cent.

Dogs at polling stations

As is tradition, people from across the country have been taking pictures of their pooches outside polling stations.

Mabel, a mixed breed rescue dog from Romania, at Nether Broughton polling station. Picture: Annette Wade-Clarke/PA WireMabel, a mixed breed rescue dog from Romania, at Nether Broughton polling station. Picture: Annette Wade-Clarke/PA Wire
Mabel, a mixed breed rescue dog from Romania, at Nether Broughton polling station. Picture: Annette Wade-Clarke/PA Wire | Annette Wade-Clarke/PA Wire
Picture taken with permission posted on the social media site X, formerly Twitter, by @annie_rebeccaaa of Sproodle Teddy outside a polling station in Taunton. Picture: @annie_rebeccaaa/PA WirePicture taken with permission posted on the social media site X, formerly Twitter, by @annie_rebeccaaa of Sproodle Teddy outside a polling station in Taunton. Picture: @annie_rebeccaaa/PA Wire
Picture taken with permission posted on the social media site X, formerly Twitter, by @annie_rebeccaaa of Sproodle Teddy outside a polling station in Taunton. Picture: @annie_rebeccaaa/PA Wire | @annie_rebeccaaa/PA Wire
Picture taken with permission posted on the social media site X, formerly Twitter, by @PhilSV4 of cockapoo Clyde in St Neots. Picture: @PhilSV4/PA WirePicture taken with permission posted on the social media site X, formerly Twitter, by @PhilSV4 of cockapoo Clyde in St Neots. Picture: @PhilSV4/PA Wire
Picture taken with permission posted on the social media site X, formerly Twitter, by @PhilSV4 of cockapoo Clyde in St Neots. Picture: @PhilSV4/PA Wire | @PhilSV4/PA Wire

How to cast your vote

In case it is your first time voting, we have produced a very easy to understand video about how to have your say and cast your ballot.

To see the full video, click on the story below:

The polling stations are openThe polling stations are open
The polling stations are open | The News

Betting odds for Portsmouth North

Betting aggregator Oddschecker shows Penny Mordaunt as second favourite to win Portsmouth North. The current odds are below:

Labour - 8/15 - 62.8 per cent

Conservatives - 7/4 - 35.1 per cent

Reform - 66/1 - 1.4 per cent

Liberal Democrats - 250/1 - 0.4 per cent

Green - 300/1 - 0.3 per cent

It is predicted to be a hotly contested seat in Portsmouth North, with Labour candidate Amanda Martin and Conservative candidate Penny Mordaunt battling it out for the swing seat.

Candidates in Portsmouth South have been campaigning for your votes.

A full list of candidates can be found by scrolling down the live blog updates.

Three hours left to vote

We love this picture of Julie Duffy and her dog Spencer at The Phoenix in Hilsea.

We know many of you have been combining an evening dog walk with a trip to the polling station.

Voting is open until 10pm tonight!

Julie Duffy and her dog Spencer at The Phoenix in Hilsea Julie Duffy and her dog Spencer at The Phoenix in Hilsea
Julie Duffy and her dog Spencer at The Phoenix in Hilsea | The News

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