Hemel Hempstead (UK Parliament constituency)

Last updated

Hemel Hempstead
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Hemel Hempstead (UK Parliament constituency)
Boundaries since 2024
East of England - Hemel Hempstead constituency.svg
Boundary of Hemel Hempstead in the East of England
County Hertfordshire
Electorate 70,496 (2023) [1]
Major settlements Hemel Hempstead
Current constituency
Created 1997
Member of Parliament David Taylor (Labour)
SeatsOne
Created from West Hertfordshire
1918–1983
SeatsOne
Type of constituency County constituency
Created from Watford and St Albans
Replaced by Hertfordshire West and Hertfordshire South West [2]

Hemel Hempstead is a constituency in Hertfordshire represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first-past-the-post system. Since 2024, it has been represented by David Taylor of the Labour Party.

Contents

Constituency profile

In its current form (post-2024 boundary changes), the seat covers the new town of Hemel Hempstead which is a significant employment centre, as well as a rural area of the Chilterns to the south-west, including the villages of Bovingdon and Flaunden. Residents are slightly wealthier than the UK average. [3]

History

The constituency was established as a Division of Hertfordshire by the Representation of the People Act 1918, largely created from the northern half of the Watford Division, including Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted and Tring. It also included north-western part of the St Albans Division, around Harpenden.

Harpenden was transferred back to St Albans in 1974 and the constituency was temporarily abolished from 1983 to 1997 during which time it was replaced by West Hertfordshire.

Boundaries and boundary changes

1918–1950

1950–1974

Wheathampstead was transferred back to St Albans. Abbots Langley and Sarratt now included in the new constituency of South West Hertfordshire.

1974–1983

Harpenden and the part of the parishes of Harpenden Rural and Redbourn were transferred back to St Albans.

The constituency was abolished for the 1983 general election. Berkhamsted and the area to the south of Hemel Hempstead, including Kings Langley, was transferred to South West Hertfordshire.  The remainder, including Hemel Hempstead and Tring, formed the new constituency of West Hertfordshire.

1997–2010

Re-established for the 1997 general election from the bulk of the abolished County Constituency of West Hertfordshire (excluding Tring). Kings Langley transferred back from South West Hertfordshire.

Hemel Hempstead (UK Parliament constituency)
Map of boundaries 2010–2024

2010–2024

Minor loss to South West Hertfordshire following revision of local authority wards.

Current

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the composition of the constituency is as follows (as they existed on 1 December 2020):

Moderate changes, with Kings Langley being transferred to South West Hertfordshire, in exchange for the rural Bovingdon, Flaunden and Chipperfield ward. The rural Ashridge and Watling wards to the north were moved to the newly created seat of Harpenden and Berkhamsted.

Members of Parliament

MPs, 1918–1983

Watford and St Albans prior to 1918

ElectionMember [10] Party
1918 Gustavus Talbot Coalition Conservative
1920 JCC Davidson Coalition Conservative
1923 John Freeman Dunn Liberal
1924 JCC Davidson Conservative
1937 by-election Viscountess Davidson Conservative
1959 James Allason Conservative
October 1974 Robin Corbett Labour
1979 Nicholas Lyell Conservative

MPs, 1997–present

West Hertfordshire prior to 1997

ElectionMember [10] Party
1997 Tony McWalter Labour Co-operative
2005 Sir Mike Penning Conservative
2024 David Taylor Labour

Election results since 1997

Hemel Hempstead election results 1983-2024 Hem. Election Results.png
Hemel Hempstead election results 1983–2024

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Hemel Hempstead [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour David Taylor 16,844 38.2 +10.1
Conservative Andrew Williams11,98727.2−27.8
Reform UK Noel Willcox7,68917.4New
Liberal Democrats Sammy Barry-Mears5,09611.6+0.2
Green Sherief Hassan2,4925.6+2.7
Majority 4,85711.0N/A
Turnout 44,10862.1−7.5
Registered electors 71,038
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +18.9

Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result [13]
PartyVote%
Conservative 26,96355.0
Labour 13,80228.1
Liberal Democrats 5,56911.4
Green 1,4322.9
Others1,2992.6
Turnout49,06569.6
Electorate70,496
General election 2019: Hemel Hempstead [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Mike Penning 28,968 56.5 +1.5
Labour Nabila Ahmed14,40528.1−8.8
Liberal Democrats Sammy Barry6,31712.3+6.1
Green Sherief Hassan1,5813.1+1.1
Majority 14,56328.4+10.3
Turnout 51,27169.5−0.2
Registered electors 73,737
Conservative hold Swing +5.2
General election 2017: Hemel Hempstead [15]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Mike Penning 28,735 55.0 +2.1
Labour Mandi Tattershall19,29036.9+13.1
Liberal Democrats Sally Symington3,2336.2+1.3
Green Sherief Hassan1,0242.0−1.4
Majority 9,44518.1−11.0
Turnout 52,28269.7+3.2
Registered electors 75,011
Conservative hold Swing −5.5
General election 2015: Hemel Hempstead [16] [17]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Mike Penning 26,245 52.9 +2.9
Labour Tony Breslin11,82523.8+3.0
UKIP Howard Koch7,24914.6+12.1
Liberal Democrats Rabi Martins2,4024.8−18.1
Green Alan Borgars1,6603.3New
Independent Brian Hall2520.5New
Majority 14,42029.1+2.0
Turnout 49,63366.5−1.5
Registered electors 74,616
Conservative hold Swing −0.1
General election 2010: Hemel Hempstead [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Mike Penning 24,721 50.0 +9.8
Liberal Democrats Richard Grayson 11,31522.9+5.9
Labour Ayfer Orhan10,29520.8−18.9
BNP Janet Price1,6153.3New
UKIP David Alexander1,2542.5−0.7
Independent Mick Young2710.5New
Majority 13,40627.1+26.7
Turnout 49,47168.0+3.5
Registered electors 72,754
Conservative hold Swing +2.0

This was the highest swing from Labour to Conservative in the 2010 general election.

Elections in the 2000s

2005 notional result
PartyVote%
Conservative 18,59140.1
Labour 18,40439.7
Liberal Democrats 7,85617.0
Others1,4833.2
Turnout46,33464.5
Electorate71,891
General election 2005: Hemel Hempstead [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Mike Penning 19,000 40.3 +1.9
Labour Co-op Tony McWalter 18,50139.3−7.3
Liberal Democrats Richard Grayson 8,08917.2+4.4
UKIP Barry Newton1,5183.2+1.1
Majority 4991.1N/A
Turnout 47,10864.4+0.8
Registered electors 73,095
Conservative gain from Labour Co-op Swing +4.6
General election 2001: Hemel Hempstead [20]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Co-op Tony McWalter 21,389 46.6 +0.9
Conservative Paul Ivey17,64738.5−0.6
Liberal Democrats Neil Stuart5,87712.8+0.5
UKIP Barry Newton9702.1New
Majority 3,7428.2+1.6
Turnout 45,88363.7−13.4
Registered electors 72,086
Labour Co-op hold Swing +0.8

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Hemel Hempstead [21]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Co-op Tony McWalter 25,175 45.7 +13.2
Conservative Robert Jones 21,53939.1−10.8
Liberal Democrats Patricia Lindsley6,78912.3−3.0
Referendum Peter Such1,3272.4New
Natural Law Diana M. Harding2620.5
Majority 3,6366.6N/A
Turnout 55,09276.6–5.0
Registered electors 71,468
Labour Co-op gain from Conservative Swing +12.0
1992 notional result
PartyVote%
Conservative 29,24849.8
Labour 19,09032.5
Liberal Democrats 9,00515.4
Others1,3132.2
Turnout58,65682.1
Electorate71,471

Election results 1918–1979

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Hemel Hempstead
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Nicholas Lyell 37,953 48.7 +6.8
Labour Robin Corbett 32,96442.3−0.4
Liberal David Penwarden6,3148.1−7.2
National Front T Walters6490.8New
Majority 4,9896.4N/A
Turnout 77,88084.8+3.1
Registered electors 91,843
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +3.6
General election October 1974: Hemel Hempstead
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Robin Corbett 29,223 42.7 +3.9
Conservative James Allason 28,73842.0+2.9
Liberal CAM Baron10,49715.3−6.9
Majority 4850.7N/A
Turnout 68,45881.7−3.5
Registered electors 83,795
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +0.5
General election February 1974: Hemel Hempstead
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative James Allason 27,572 39.0 −9.2
Labour Robin Corbett 27,38538.8−1.1
Liberal CAM Baron15,68222.2+10.3
Majority 1870.3−8.1
Turnout 70,63985.2+7.2
Registered electors 82,877
Conservative hold Swing −4.0
1970 notional result [22]
PartyVote%
Conservative 30,00048.2
Labour 24,80039.9
Liberal 7,40011.9
Turnout62,20078.0
Electorate79,737
General election 1970: Hemel Hempstead
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative James Allason 40,417 51.98
Labour Peter A. Fletcher28,06736.10
Liberal A. John Wilson9,27411.93
Majority 12,35015.88
Turnout 77,75878.10−6.61
Registered electors 99,561
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Hemel Hempstead
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative James Allason 31,742 44.45
Labour Robin Corbett 29,70441.59
Liberal A. John Whiteside9,97013.96
Majority 2,0382.86
Turnout 71,41684.71+0.19
Registered electors 84,310
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1964: Hemel Hempstead
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative James Allason 31,119 44.85
Labour Gilbert D. Hitchcock26,27337.87
Liberal A. John Whiteside11,98617.28
Majority 4,8466.98
Turnout 69,37884.52
Registered electors 82,087
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Hemel Hempstead
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative James Allason 30,189 49.90
Labour Bernard Floud 21,95436.29
Liberal Margaret Neilson8,35813.81
Majority 8,23513.61
Turnout 70,50185.26
Registered electors 70,962
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1955: Hemel Hempstead
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Frances Davidson 25,648 51.02
Labour Norman MacKenzie 19,51238.81
Liberal Edwin Saich5,11110.17New
Majority 6,13612.21
Turnout 50,27183.77
Registered electors 60,013
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1951: Hemel Hempstead
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Frances Davidson 25,620 58.44
Labour Norman MacKenzie 18,22041.56
Majority 7,40016.88
Turnout 43,84083.80
Registered electors 52,313
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1950: Hemel Hempstead
PartyCandidateVotes%
Conservative Frances Davidson 22,022 50.18
Labour Reg Moss 15,16534.56
Liberal Peter Arthur Stevens6,69615.26
Majority6,85715.62
Turnout 43,88385.07
Registered electors 51,582
Conservative win (new boundaries)

Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Hemel Hempstead [23]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Frances Davidson 19,536 44.2 −13.5
Labour DW Mobbs14,42632.6+18.6
Liberal Thomas Alfred Trotter10,21923.1−5.2
Majority 5,11011.6−17.8
Turnout 44,18171.0+16.0
Registered electors 62,199
Conservative hold Swing −16.0

General Election 1939–40: Another general election was required to take place before the end of 1940. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place from 1939 and by the end of this year, the following candidates had been selected;

Elections in the 1930s

1937 Hemel Hempstead by-election [23]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Frances Davidson 14,992 57.7 −4.8
Liberal Margery Corbett Ashby 7,34728.3+6.3
Labour Charles William James3,65114.0−1.4
Majority 7,64529.4−11.1
Turnout 25,99055.0−14.3
Registered electors
Conservative hold Swing −5.6
General election 1935: Hemel Hempstead [23]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative J. C. C. Davidson 20,074 62.5 −4.7
Liberal Margery Corbett Ashby 7,07822.0−2.6
Labour Charles William James4,95115.4+7.2
Majority 12,99640.5−1.9
Turnout 32,10369.3−7.9
Registered electors 46,290
Conservative hold Swing −1.1
General election 1931: Hemel Hempstead [23]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative J. C. C. Davidson 21,946 67.2 +17.4
Liberal Charles Thomas Le Quesne 8,02124.6−13.7
Labour Albert E.R. Millar2,6778.2−3.7
Majority 13,92542.6+31.1
Turnout 32,64477.2−0.8
Registered electors
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1920s

General election 1929: Hemel Hempstead [23]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Unionist J. C. C. Davidson 15,145 49.8 −7.8
Liberal Charles Thomas Le Quesne 11,63138.3+2.8
Labour Albert E.R. Millar3,62411.9+5.0
Majority 3,51411.5−10.6
Turnout 30,40078.0−2.2
Registered electors 38,957
Unionist hold Swing −5.3
General election 1924: Hemel Hempstead [23]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Unionist J. C. C. Davidson 12,985 57.6 +27.6
Liberal John Freeman Dunn 7,99435.5−14.5
Labour Amy Sayle 1,5536.9New
Majority 4,99122.1N/A
Turnout 22,53280.2+14.4
Registered electors 28,106
Unionist gain from Liberal Swing +21.1
General election 1923: Hemel Hempstead [23]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal John Freeman Dunn 8,892 50.0 New
Unionist J. C. C. Davidson 8,87550.0−17.4
Majority 17±0.0N/A
Turnout 17,76765.8−0.2
Registered electors 26,990
Liberal gain from Unionist Swing
General election 1922: Hemel Hempstead [23]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Unionist J. C. C. Davidson 11,847 67.4 −10.2
Labour John Harper Clynes5,72632.6+10.2
Majority 6,12134.8−20.4
Turnout 17,57366.0+15.6
Registered electors 26,627
Unionist hold Swing −10.2
1920 Hemel Hempstead by-election [23]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
C Unionist J. C. C. Davidson Unopposed
Unionist hold
Cindicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

Elections in the 1910s

General election 1918: Hemel Hempstead [23]
PartyCandidateVotes%
C Unionist Party (UK) Gustavus Arthur Talbot 10,07077.6
Labour Jesse Hawkes2,91322.4
Majority7,15755.2
Turnout 12,98350.4
Registered electors 25,752
Unionist win (new seat)
Cindicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

See also

References

Specific
  1. ↑ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – Eastern". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  2. ↑ "'Hemel Hempstead', Feb 1974 - May 1983". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Archived from the original on 25 August 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  3. ↑ Electoral Calculus https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/fcgi-bin/seatdetails.py?seat=Hemel+Hempstead
  4. ↑ Fraser, Hugh (1918). The Representation of the people act, 1918 : with explanatory notes. University of California Libraries. London : Sweet and Maxwell.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)
  5. ↑ "Representation of the People Act, 1948". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  6. ↑ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1970". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  7. ↑ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  8. ↑ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  9. ↑ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule I Part 2 Eastern region.
  10. 1 2 Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "H" (part 2)
  11. ↑ "Hemel Hempstead - General election results 2024". BBC News. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  12. ↑ Pope, Alex (7 June 2024). "Tory candidate suspended prior to election deadline". BBC News . Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  13. ↑ "Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". Rallings & Thrasher, Professor David Denver (Scotland), Nicholas Whyte (NI) for Sky News, PA, BBC News and ITV News. UK Parliament . Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  14. ↑ "Hemel Hempstead Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  15. ↑ "Hemel Hempstead Parliamentary Constituency - Election 2017". BBC . Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  16. ↑ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  17. ↑ "Statement Of Persons Nominated And Notice Of Poll" (PDF). Acting Returning Officer. 9 April 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  18. ↑ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  19. ↑ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  20. ↑ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  21. ↑ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  22. ↑ Michael Stead. "1970 notional general election & February 1974 general election". BBC. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 British parliamentary election results 1918-1949, Craig, F. W. S.
  24. ↑ Report of the Annual Conference of the Labour Party, 1939
  25. ↑ The Liberal Magazine, 1939
General

Craig, F. W. S. (1983). British parliamentary election results 1918-1949 (3 ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN   0-900178-06-X.

Sources

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