Multi-ward hustings - Portsmouth April 29th 2026

In a first for us, our multi-ward hustings - a political pick’n’mix if you like.

We put questions to:-

🟥Tom Coles (Fratton)

🟦Thomas Hoare (Paulsgrove)

🟩Elliott Lee (Charles Dickens)

Reform and the Liberal Democrats were also invited by did not field a candidate to take part.

Questions

What are the top three issues in your ward & how would you fix them?
Traffic and parking are frequent frustrations for residents - how would you tackle them?
What would you do to breathe new life into our shopping areas, or is the high street as we know it dead?
Voter turnout across the city varies significantly, with some wards repeatedly much lower than others. How can this be addressed?
HMOs. Good bad or ugly? Would you seek to improve them, limit them or stop them all together?
What would you see the council do to tackle the knife crime and other violent assaults on our city's streets?
LGR - good or bad thing for Portsmouth?
This year we celebrate the centenary of Portsmouth - what about the city are you most proud?