The General Election 2024 saw the political landscape of Southampton and Winchester change dramatically. The area that encompasses the university’s main campus’s is made up of 4 constituencies: Southampton Test, Southampton Itchen, Romsey and Southampton North, and Winchester. Prior to the 4th July, 3/4 of these constituencies were held by the Conservative’s, and now only one stands as Labour and the Liberal Democrats inflicted Conservative defeats in Winchester and Southampton Itchen.
Southampton Itchen: Darren Paffey, Labour
Once a Lecturer and Student at the University of Southampton, Paffey claimed a victory for Labour with 15,782 votes, as he convincingly beat his opposition, Sidney Yankson, who came in at second with 9,677 votes.
In reaction to gaining the seat for Labour, Paffey said, “It’s a real privilege to have been elected as the new Member of Parliament for my home seat of Southampton Itchen. There is a lot of work for the Labour government do to build back our economy, society, and public services, and I’m proud to now play my part in getting the best for our city to make it an even better place to be.”
He went on to describe his path to the House of Commons, “My journey from foster kid, state school student, first in family to have the opportunity to study a degree, to becoming an Associate Professor and now MP is one that I could never have predicted, and one that I hope will inspire others to work hard and pursue their dreams.”
Following this, he pledged that “I’ll work hard to ensure our universities are accessible to all and remain engines of opportunity for those who come to study.”
Romsey and Southampton North: Caroline Nokes, Conservative
Returning MP Caroline Nokes extended her 14 year service to her constituency as she narrowly beat Liberal Democrat opponent Geoff Cooper by 2,191.
First elected in 2010, this marks Nokes’s impressive 5th election victory. However, this year’s election has proven to be her toughest yet in comparison to the consistently convincing victories across the 2010s.
Nokes attributes this victory to these years of dedication, “The result in Romsey and Southampton North was a testament to 14 years hard work as a constituency MP.”
She further highlighted her confident and outgoing approach to this year’s election, “It also did me no harm to have been prepared to speak my mind when others were too afraid to do so, and I shall continue in the same vein.”
Southampton Test: Satvir Kaur, Labour
New MP Satvir Kaur regained the seat for Labour as she convincingly beat Conservative and Reform UK opposition, gaining 44.5% of the vote compared to 18.5% and 14.7% respectively. Once a student at the University of Southampton too, Kaur is yet another alumni who is going on to represent Southampton in Parliament.
Kaur did not give a comment to Wessex Scene, however, upon regaining the seat for Labour she said, “The people of Southampton have made me who I am and tonight they made me their member of parliament and I am completely humbled”.
Kaur challenged the image of a ‘politician’, as she stated “I am not your traditional politician, I don’t look like one, or sound like one, or possibly act like one sometimes.
“I’m the daughter of a market trader and our great city and brilliant people made me who I am and tonight they made this local girl their member of parliament.”
In a direct message to young people, her message was “All I would say to any young person, irrespective of what they are hoping to do, I would say keep dreaming and keep believing.”
Winchester: Danny Chambers, Liberal Democrats
New MP Danny Chambers saw yet another convincing victory over the conservatives, gaining the seat for the Liberal Democrats for the first time since 2005. Receiving just shy of 30,000 votes, Chambers gained nearly double the vote share of his conservative opposition, Flick Drummond, who came in with 16,118 votes.
Chambers also did not give a comment to Wessex Scene, however, in his victory speech he pledged to make Winchester “a happier and a healthier place to live”.
Embodying the Liberal Democrat’s focus on the NHS, Chambers went on to say “we’ve been standing here with our vision that everyone in Winchester should get the physical and mental healthcare they require.”
