| Colorcode: | D9B3FF |
| Abbreviation: | PIP |
| Leader: | George Madgwick |
| Founder: | George Madgwick |
| Founded: | 2021 |
| Colours: | Violet |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Seats1 Title: | Portsmouth Borough Council |
The Portsmouth Independents Party (PIP) is a local political party based in Portsmouth, England that was formed in 2021 by independent councillor George Madgwick. They currently have nine councillors on the city council.
George 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.[1] Leader and founder George Madgwick also contested the Southwick and Wickham ward of Winchester City Council in 2022, which borders Portsmouth, albeit standing as an independent. [2] This lead 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 Madwick. [3] [4]
In the 2023 elections PIP stood in 13 of 14 city council seats up for election, winning in 3.[5]
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.[6] 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.[7]
PIP is targeting control of the council at the 2026 election.[8]
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;[9] meanwhile, PIP ran a parliamentary candidate, Jacob Short, for the Portsmouth South constituency.[10] He finished last with 733 votes (1.9% of the vote), losing his deposit.
| Year | Votes | % | +/- | Councillors | Control | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 5,952 | 13.0 | No overall control | ||||
| 2023 | 6,995 | 16.2 | 3.2 | No overall control | |||
| 2024 | 9,578 | 23.0 | 6.9 | No overall control | |||