IT IS a seat where the constituents are savvy on politics and turn out in force to vote.

Romsey and Southampton North residents suffer no fools when it comes to the general election and have seen a change in their political stance over the last two decades.

The constituency has been controlled by the Conservatives since 2010, when their candidate – Caroline Nokes – stormed on to the scene to oust Liberal Democrat MP Sandra Gidley, who had held the-then Romsey seat for ten years.

The Tory, who is the daughter of Hampshire County Council leader Roy Perry, used her experience in local government to push for the seat seven years ago.

Now the politician has a loyal following of supporters, which was shown two years ago when she strengthened her majority from 4,156 (2010) to 17,712.

However, four more candidates have lined up to take the seat from Ms Nokes, who is in pole-position to be reelected for another term.

Catherine Royce, the Lib Dem candidate, will be hoping to regain her party’s once-strong stance in the constituency after they lost more than 11,000 votes in the last election.

Catherine, who went up against Mr Perry in the county elections last month for Romsey Rural, wants to help local schools fight their funding cuts and support women suffering domestic violence.

And education is something Labour’s Darren Paffey, who battled for the seat two years ago, is also passionate about.

The current cabinet member for education and skills at Southampton City Council will be looking to help his party secure votes in the Tory stronghold whilst promising to improve educational opportunities is the constituency.

Justice and Anti-Corruption Party (JAC) leader Don Jerrard is also keen on the subject of schools.

Born in Bassett, he also stood for the Romsey Rural seat last month, but believes he has more of a chance to push for change on the parliamentary stage.

Locally, he has also promised to demand an immediate inquiry into the safeguarding issues which closed Stanbridge Earls, a school nationally thought as successful for pupils with learning difficulties.

Another candidate standing is Green Party member Ian Callaghan. He stood in the 2015 election, alongside Mr Paffey and Ms Nokes, and despite being drafted in at the last minute, gained a 4.7 per cent share of the vote.

For this election, he believes the main issue affecting the constituency, in which he has lived for 12 years, is Brexit.

This is something that those standing recognise as one of, if not the main, issues in the election.

But Ms Nokes believes Theresa May’s Conservatives are the only party who can get the best deal for the county.

This is a view shared by JAC leader Mr Jerrard, which, he says, means he can concentrate on more local issues.

Nevertheless, Mr Callaghan says his party promises to give voters a second referendum on the terms of the Brexit deal that is negotiated.

Voting takes place on June 8, just 11 days before Brexit talks commence.