Compiled by EveryElectionResult.com's data team · Last updated 2026-08-30
Portsmouth West was won by Labour at the 1970 general election, with a majority of 955 votes over Conservative. This page covers every general election in Portsmouth West from 1950 to 1970.
Full Election History, 1950–1970
Election
Elected
Votes
Vote Share
Runner-up
Majority
Turnout
1950
Terence Hugh Clarke (Conservative)
24,924
50.7%
Donald William Trevor Bruce (Labour)
945 (1.9 pts)
83.5%
1951
Terence Hugh Clarke (Conservative)
25,363
51.3%
Alma Lillian Birk (Labour)
1,248 (2.5 pts)
83.5%
1955
Terence Hugh Clarke (Conservative)
23,729
54.2%
Alma Lillian Birk (Labour)
3,669 (8.4 pts)
77.4%
1959
Terence Hugh Clarke (Conservative)
23,600
57.7%
Dr Maxwell Bresler (Labour)
6,266 (15.3 pts)
76.9%
1964
Terence Hugh Clarke (Conservative)
18,762
50.7%
Frank Ashcroft Judd (Labour)
497 (1.3 pts)
74.8%
1966
Frank Judd (Labour)
18,685
51.7%
Terence Clarke (Conservative)
1,227 (3.4 pts)
76.5%
1970
Frank Judd (Labour)
17,169
50.6%
Terence Clarke (Conservative)
955 (2.8 pts)
72.3%
Full Result Breakdown by Election
1950
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Terence Hugh Clarke
Conservative
24,924
50.7%
Yes
Donald William Trevor Bruce
Labour
23,979
48.8%
No
George Herbert Swanton
Communist
257
0.5%
No
1951
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Terence Hugh Clarke
Conservative
25,363
51.3%
Yes
Alma Lillian Birk
Labour
24,115
48.7%
No
1955
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Terence Hugh Clarke
Conservative
23,729
54.2%
Yes
Alma Lillian Birk
Labour
20,060
45.8%
No
1959
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Terence Hugh Clarke
Conservative
23,600
57.7%
Yes
Dr Maxwell Bresler
Labour
17,334
42.3%
No
1964
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Terence Hugh Clarke
Conservative
18,762
50.7%
Yes
Frank Ashcroft Judd
Labour
18,265
49.3%
No
1966
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Frank Judd
Labour
18,685
51.7%
Yes
Terence Clarke
Conservative
17,458
48.3%
No
1970
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Frank Judd
Labour
17,169
50.6%
Yes
Terence Clarke
Conservative
16,214
47.7%
No
Leslie Beresford Gauntlett
Independent
579
1.7%
No
Margin Over Time
Winning margin (percentage points) at each election, coloured by the winning party.
Trend
Portsmouth West has been contested at 7 general elections on record since 1950. Parties that have won a seat here over that span: Conservative, Labour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won Portsmouth West in the 1970 general election?
Labour won Portsmouth West in 1970 with 17,169 votes (50.6%), a majority of 955 votes over Conservative in second place.
Which parties have won Portsmouth West since 1950?
Since 1950, Portsmouth West has been won by: Conservative, Labour.
What was the closest result in Portsmouth West?
The closest result on record for Portsmouth West was 1964, when Conservative beat Labour by just 497 votes (1.3 percentage points).