Responding to the Portsmouth City Council election results Portsmouth Labour Leader, Stephen Morgan MP said:

“Portsmouth Labour are delighted that a new councillor was elected for us in Charles Dickens and we also gained a seat from the Tories in St Jude last night. Our message of rebuilding our communities and high streets and investment in our city was well received on the doorstep.

Whilst it was a mixed bag of results nationally, it is clear the Portsmouth Tories did badly losing 3 seats across our city. The Tory vote in Portsmouth South in particular is collapsing.

In the election we set out a positive plan to create a city which works for everyone, focusing on issues and ideas rather people and personalities. At a time of great division, we must all work together and focus on keeping our communities united.

On the Council we do not prop up any particular party. Instead we vote on a case by case basis in order to deliver what is best for the people of Portsmouth.

What our city needs right now is open and honest politics, and strong and ambitious leadership, something the Tories and Lib Dems have shown us they can’t deliver for our great city. The people of Portsmouth deserve better”.