Category: Safe Conservative seat

Geography: South East, Hampshire. Part of Portsmouth council area.

Main population centres: Portsmouth.

Profile: Portsmouth is a densely populated city on the south coast, technically situated on a island though the numerous causeways mean it is effectively a peninsula. Portsmouth North contains the northern part of the island and the suburbs to the north, such as Cosham (home of IBM`s UK headquarters) and Drayton. Portsmouth has a strong naval history as the home of the largest Royal Navy base, with defence the main local employer. Portsmouth North contains the Navy Command Headquarters on Whale Island.

Politics: A key Conservative-Labour marginal and bellwether seat, having been won by the party that obtained the largest number of seats at every election since its creation in 1974.