Mike Hancock

Liberal Democrat MP Portsmouth South

Date of birth

9 April 1946

Political profile

Mike Hancock is something of a political veteran.

In the course of a 30 year career he has held elected office for three different parties.

He was first elected as a Labour councillor in 1971 and for the SDP in 1981.

He unsuccessfully fought the Portsmouth South seat for the SDP in 1983, but won it the year after in a by-election.

After losing it again in 1987, he developed his council career and from 1993 to his Commons re-election in 1997, led Hampshire County Council as a Liberal Democrat.

As befits someone who has fought the same seat six times and retained the same council seat over such along period, he is a strongly local politician and speaks and works largely on constituency issues.

He has, however, strong interests in defence issues and on animal welfare.

He also has a strongly partisan streak and is a relentless critic of the Conservative party.

Contact

[e-mail]

www.mikehancock.co.uk

Constituency office 023 9286 1055