Wikipedia

Gerald Vernon-Jackson

Robert Gerald van Cortlandt Vernon-Jackson CBE (born 10 January 1962[1]) is a Liberal Democrat politician in Portsmouth, England. He was the leader of Portsmouth City Council between 2004–2014 and 2018–2023,[2][3] Lord Mayor of Portsmouth for the 2025-26 municipal year,[4] and has served as a councillor for Milton Ward since 2003.[5]

Cllr
Gerald Vernon-Jackson
CBE
Vernon-Jackson, 2025
Lord Mayor of Portsmouth
In office
13 May 2025 – 19 May 2026
DeputyAbdul Kadir
Preceded byJason Fazackarley
Succeeded byAbdul Kadir
Deputy Lord Mayor of Portsmouth
In office
14 May 2024 – 13 May 2025
LeaderJason Fazackarley
Preceded byJason Fazackarley
Succeeded byAbdul Kadir
Leader of Portsmouth City Council
In office
15 May 2018 – 16 May 2023
Preceded byDonna Jones (Con)
Succeeded bySteve Pitt (Lib Dem)
In office
22 June 2004 – 3 June 2014
Preceded byPhil Shaddock (Lib Dem)
Succeeded byDonna Jones (Con)
Chair of the English Liberal Democrats
In office
20 February 2020 – December 2020
Preceded byTahir Maher
Succeeded byAlison Rouse
Member of Portsmouth City Council for Milton Ward
Incumbent
Assumed office
5 May 2003
Preceded byNigel Sizer (Lib Dem)
Personal details
Born (1962-01-10) January 10, 1962 (age 64)
Lymington, Hampshire, England
PartyLiberal Democrats
Spouse
John Jarvis
​
(died 2024)​
University of Southampton, University of Liverpool
OccupationPolitician
Awards
Commander of the British Empire

Personal life

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Vernon-Jackson was born in Hampshire, England. He is the son of Jean Vernon-Jackson MBE, former Chairman of Hampshire County Council and New Forest District Council,[6] and a graduate of the University of Liverpool and University of Southampton with a bachelor's degree in History and a Master's in Social Care, respectively.

Political career

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Vernon-Jackson was an elected member of the Newbury Council from 1995 to 2003, where he served as Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats group. During this period, he served as Head of Office for Newbury MP David Rendel, and the Deputy Director of Campaigns of the Liberal Democrats. He would also contest the European Parliament Election, 1999 as 8th member of the Liberal Democrats list for the South East England constituency, ahead of future MEP Catherine Bearder. In 2003 he was elected to Milton Ward and assumed the Deputy Leadership of the Portsmouth Liberal Democrats Group.[7] In 2004 he became Leader of the Council, a position he held until the 2014 council election.[8][9][10] During this period, the Liberal Democrat administration was accused of covering up an independent report into allegations of sexual harassment made against then-MP Mike Hancock,[11] Vernon-Jackson himself having dismissed the accusations as being motivated by possible financial gain.[12]

In a letter to Michael Gove, minister in charge of no-deal Brexit planning, Vernon-Jackson accused the Government of underestimating the potential strife caused by a no-deal Brexit to Portsmouth docks.[13][14]

During his time in opposition, Vernon-Jackson ran for the Portsmouth South constituency, first in 2015 to succeed Mike Hancock, and then again in 2017 in an attempt to retake the constituency for the Liberal Democrats, however was defeated in both attempts by Flick Drummond and Stephen Morgan, respectively. He stood again in Portsmouth South at the 2019 election,[15] initially placed first in constituency polling against Labour and the Conservative candidates in a poll commissioned by the Liberal Democrats,[16][17] however successive polling commissioned by the Liberal Democrats for the constituency would see Vernon-Jackson slip into third place, where he would ultimately poll on election day. In the 2016 Birthday Honours, Vernon-Jackson was appointed a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to local government.[18][19]

Following the 2023 local elections, Vernon-Jackson stepped down as Leader of the Portsmouth City Council. He was succeeded by Steve Pitt, his Ward Colleague for Milton.[20]

From 2012 to 2017, Vernon-Jackson served as Vice Chair & Lib Dem Group Leader on the Local Government Association. Since January 2020, Vernon-Jackson has been a member of the Liberal Democrats Federal Board, and he was Chair of the English Liberal Democrats from February 2020 to December 2020.[21][22]

Elected for a one year term of office on the 13th May 2025, Vernon-Jackson served as Lord Mayor of Portsmouth until 19th May 2026.[4]

References

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  1. ↑ "UK Polling Report". ukpollingreport.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  2. ↑ "Lib Dems win council leadership". BBC News. 15 May 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  3. ↑ "Portsmouth council leader Gerald Vernon-Jackson steps down". 11 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  4. 1 2 "The current Lord Mayor of Portsmouth". Portsmouth City Council. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  5. ↑ "Councillor details - Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson CBE". Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  6. ↑ "Former county councillor dies after lifetime of public service". Daily Echo. 8 September 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  7. ↑ Smulian, Mark (August 2012). "Gerald Vernon-Jackson" (PDF). C'llr. Local Government Information Unit. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
  8. ↑ "Council minutes, 22 June 2004" (PDF). Portsmouth City Council. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  9. ↑ "Conservatives chosen to run Portsmouth City Council". BBC News. 4 June 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
  10. ↑ "Council minutes, 3 June 2014" (PDF). Portsmouth City Council. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  11. ↑ "MP Mike Hancock 'made unwelcome sexual approaches', lawyer concludes". Guardian. 23 December 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  12. ↑ "Mike Hancock supporter during cover up wants to be Portsmouth MP". Political Scrapbook. Archived from the original on 5 December 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  13. ↑ "Government 'must not crucify Portsmouth' over Brexit". BBC News. 21 August 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  14. ↑ "Portsmouth council leader warns no-deal Brexit could divert trading standards investigators away from dealing with criminals - and could cost authority £300,000 extra a year". The News (Portsmouth). 9 October 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  15. ↑ "Mental health therapist to stand as Lib Dem parliamentary candidate in Portsmouth". www.portsmouth.co.uk. 6 August 2019.
  16. ↑ "Election polling puts Lib Dems beating Labour MP Stephen Morgan in Portsmouth South". www.portsmouth.co.uk. 4 November 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  17. ↑ "2019". Survation. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  18. ↑ "2016 Birthday Honours List". London Gazette. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  19. ↑ "Former Portsmouth leader's pride as he picks up CBE honour at Windsor Castle". The News (Portsmouth). 8 October 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  20. ↑ "Steve Pitt elected as New Portsmouth City Council leader". The News (Portsmouth). 17 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  21. ↑ "Gerald Vernon-Jackson elected new chair of the English Liberal Democrats". Mark Pack. 20 February 2020.
  22. ↑ "When Labour and Lib Dems co-operated to beat the Conservatives: LDN #144". Mark Pack. 21 December 2020.
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