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The Portsmouth Independents Party (PIP) is a local political party in the United Kingdom. Based in Portsmouth, England, it was formed in 2021 by George Madgwick, an independent councillor on Portsmouth City Council.[1][2] The party currently has nine councillors on the city council.[3]
Portsmouth Independents Party | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | PIP |
| Leader | George Madgwick |
| Founder | George Madgwick |
| Founded | 2021 |
| Registered | 17 August 2021 |
| Headquarters | Portsmouth, Hampshire |
| Colours | Violet |
| Portsmouth City Council | 9 / 42 |
| Website | |
| www | |
The party's founder and leader, George Madgwick, is a direct descendant of the Irish nationalist politician Charles Stewart Parnell.[citation needed]
History
editGeorge 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.[4] Leader George Madgwick also contested the Southwick and Wickham ward of Winchester City Council in 2022, which borders Portsmouth, albeit standing as an independent.[5] 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.[6][7] A Conservative councillor accused of printing ‘lies’ in election material settled a legal action and issued a formal apology.[8]
In the 2023 elections PIP stood in 13 of 14 city council seats up for election, winning in 3.[9]
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.[10] 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.[11]
PIP, now the opposition party after 3 years, is targeting control of the council at the 2026 election.[12]
During the 2024 United Kingdom general election, party leader Madgwick endorsed the Conservative candidate Penny Mordaunt for the Portsmouth North constituency after declining an offer to stand for Reform UK.[13] PIP ran a parliamentary candidate, Jacob Short, for the Portsmouth South constituency;[14] he finished last with 733 votes (1.9% of the vote), losing his deposit.
Election results
edit| Year | Votes | % | +/- | Councillors | Control | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 5,952 | 13.0 | 
|
3 / 42
|
No overall control | |
| 2023 | 6,995 | 16.2 |  3.2
|
6 / 42
|
No overall control | |
| 2024 | 9,578 | 23.0 | 6.9
|
9 / 42
|
No overall control | |
References
edit- ^ "Registration". search.electoralcommission.org.uk. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ "About Us | Portsmouth Independents Party". Portsmouth Independe. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ "Your Councillors". democracy.portsmouth.gov.uk. 18 September 2024. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ Wright, Josh (31 August 2022). "Portsmouth Independents Party aims to stand a candidate in every city area at next election". The News.
- ^ Wright, Josh (13 April 2022). "Portsmouth councillor George Madgwick to stand for another seat on neighbouring Winchester City Council this year".
- ^ Wright, Josh (24 April 2022). "Conservative campaigning for place on Winchester City Council takes legal action over leaflet criticising him standing in two wards".
- ^ Wright, Josh (30 April 2022). "Outrage after residents pay to collect leaflets from Winchester City Council candidate who used fake stamps".
- ^ Wright, Josh (25 April 2022). "Councillor apologises after printing 'lies' in election material about Winchester council candidate". Hampshire Chronicle. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
- ^ "Election results by party, 4 May 2023". democracy.portsmouth.gov.uk. 4 May 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "Election results by party, 2 May 2024". democracy.portsmouth.gov.uk. 2 May 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "Election results for Paulsgrove, 2 May 2024". democracy.portsmouth.gov.uk. 2 May 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ Paine, Toby (9 May 2024). "Portsmouth Independent Party set ambitions after making gains at Portsmouth City Council elections". The News.
- ^ Paine, Toby (3 June 2024). "Portsmouth Independent snubs offer from Nigel Farage and is throwing his weight behind Penny Mordaunt instead". The News.
- ^ "Portsmouth South – UK General election 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 10 June 2024.