Meet Charlie Murphy

I was born in Portsmouth and grew up without much money in North End but I have always been drawn to the sea.

Through a sailing club, I have always sailed and by age five I was sailing a dinghy on Portsmouth Harbour.

Later, before I ever got involved in politics, I gave back as a volunteer my sailing club, teaching children how to sail, get active and safely get out on the water.

I know the value of our coastal environment.

We all have our own relationship with the Solent - walking the Prom in Southsea, swimming from the beach, or sailing like me. For many of us it helps us find peace.

It's this which motivates my campaign to stop sewage dumping. The way the Solent is treated - now awash with sewage - is vandalism of an asset that belongs to us all.

But we all need to work.  

I started at 16 in catering before shifting into adult social care. I found that work so rewarding, helping older people keep their independence. 

But then, I got an opportunity that changed my life. 

Eventually, as the pandemic receded, I moved into an administrative role and then on to my current role.  

This is helping housing associations and housebuilders engage positively so we can create more affordable homes that work for local people and which not harm local communities.

Everyone needs a home, and I couldn't be prouder to work on delivering them.

I first started 'political' campaigning back in 2016, with a campaign to save the Aviary in Victoria Park.

At the time, Portsmouth City Council was led by the Conservatives. They wanted to close the Aviary despite its long history as a home for animals which came off of Royal Navy ships.  

In contrast, the practical and positive Lib Dems wanted to save and rejuvenate the Aviary (now done!). I have been campaigning with the Liberal Democrats ever since.

I didn't for a second think of myself as a candidate for local MP!

Yet over the past few years, I've felt our country has taken a turn for the worse. So when I got a call from a city councillors asking me to stand and offer a positive way forward, I felt I had to act.

By January this year, the Portsmouth Liberal Democrats, who run our city well and who won 5 of the 7 wards in Portsmouth South in the recent city elections, had given me their support to challenge our current Labour incumbent and become your next MP.  (The Conservatives are already out of it having got only 11% of the vote in Portsmouth South in the recent local elections.)

I've not looked back since. I have been working tirelessly to speak to people and to hold those in power to account.