St Albans (UK Parliament constituency)

St Albans
County constituency for the House of Commons
Boundary of St Albans in Hertfordshire
Location of Hertfordshire within England
County	Hertfordshire
Electorate	70,298 (December 2010) [1]
Major settlements	Bricket Wood, How Wood, Park Street, St Albans
Current constituency
Created	1885
Member of Parliament	Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrats)
Seats	One
Created from	Hertfordshire
1554–1852
Seats	Two
Type of constituency	Borough constituency
Created from	Hertfordshire
Replaced by	Hertfordshire

St Albans is a constituency ^{[n 1]} represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2019 by Daisy Cooper, a Liberal Democrat. ^{[n 2]}

This article also describes the parliamentary borough (1554-1852) of the same name, consisting only of the city of St Albans, which elected two MPs by the bloc vote system.

Constituency profile

Electoral Calculus characterises the seat's electorate as "Kind Yuppies", with right-wing economic views but more liberal social attitudes. Incomes and house prices in this seat are well above UK averages. ^[2] The seat voted decisively to remain in the European Union in 2016, with an estimated Remain vote of 62% compared to 48% nationally.

History

Up to 1852

The Parliamentary Borough of St Albans was represented by two MPs in the House of Commons of England from 1554 to 1707, then of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and finally in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 onwards, until it was disenfranchised as a result of electoral corruption in 1852. ^[3]

1885 to date

Results of all deposit-keeping candidates since 1983 in their bid be the MP for St Albans (UK House of Commons).

The constituency was re-established in an enlarged form by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 (which followed on from the Third Reform Act) as one of four Divisions of the abolished three-member Parliamentary County of Hertfordshire, and was formally named as the Mid or St Albans Division of Hertfordshire.

Political history before 1997

Until 1997 the seat was held by one Conservative or another save for the very early 20th century Official Opposition leadership of Henry Campbell-Bannerman and the follow-on first part of his premiership, governing in minority, and later – from 1945 – five of the six years seeing Labour's landslide Attlee ministry.

Political history since 1997

The seat swung towards the left wing on boundary changes effective in 1997, and the founding of the New Labour movement which sought public sector reform and investment with expansion based on international investor-friendly economic growth. The seat followed its projections in line with the large swing led by Tony Blair, to sees its return to a Labour politician. Results, except for a strong Tory surge in 2015 are closer than the 1979–1992 Tory victories forming a complex three-party contest – only once another candidate in this time has reached the deposit (politics)-retaining threshold of 5% of the vote, UKIP at its 2015 peak.

Despite the former Labour MP for the seat, Kerry Pollard, standing there in 2005, 2015 and 2017, he fell varyingly short. The 2019 vote share fell to below that seen in the 1980s, locally, for the party's candidate – the party leader was to the left of the party, Jeremy Corbyn.

The seat has had great fluctuation in Liberal Democrat vote share: 2001 and 2015 were ebbs at below 20% of the vote; in 2010 and 2017 the Liberal Democrat candidate, promisingly, took 4.4% and 10.7% less than the winning Conservative. Liberal Democrat Daisy Cooper went on to win, in 2019. She became first member of a liberal party to represent the constituency since John Bamford Slack in early 1900s.

In December 2023, the Labour Party included the seat in its published list of 211 non-battleground seats, suggesting they did not see it as winnable. ^[4]

Prominent members

The noble and local landowning Grimston family have produced nine members throughout the seat's history. The three first heirs to the Earldom of Verulam have won election in the seat - the latest MP from the family was John Grimston who later became the 6th Earl (died 1973).

Sir Hildred Carlile (died 1942) was a textiles entrepreneur and generous benefactor of Bedford College, University of London.

Francis Fremantle was chairman of the Parliamentary Medical Committee from 1923 to 1943.

Peter Lilley was a frontbench minister in government from 1992 until 1997, the Secretary of State for Social Security, after two years as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

Boundaries and boundary changes

1885–1918

• The Municipal Borough of St Albans;
• The Sessional Divisions of Barnet and St Albans; and
• Parts of the Sessional Divisions of Watford, Hertford and Dacorum. ^[5]

As well from the Borough of St Albans, the seat included the towns of Harpenden, Hatfield and Chipping Barnet.

1918–1945

• The Municipal Borough of St Albans;
• The Urban Districts of Barnet and East Barnet Valley;
• The Rural Districts of Barnet and Hatfield; and
• The Rural District of St Albans civil parishes of Sandridge Rural, St Michael Rural, St Peter Rural, and St Stephen. ^[6]

North-western parts, including Harpenden, transferred to the new Hemel Hempstead Division. South-western corner (Aldenham) transferred to Watford.

1945–1950

• The Municipal Borough of St Albans;
• The Urban District of Welwyn Garden City;
• The Rural District of Hatfield; and
• The Rural District of St Albans civil parishes of Sandridge Rural, St Michael Rural, St Peter Rural, and St Stephen. ^[7]

The Urban Districts of Barnet and East Barnet (formerly East Barnet Valley) and the Rural District of Elstree (formerly Barnet) formed the new Barnet Division. The Urban District of Welwyn Garden City had been formed as a separate local authority which had previously been partly in the Hitchin Division.  Other marginal changes as a result of changes to local authority boundaries.

1950–1955

• The Municipal Borough of St Albans;
• The Urban District of Welwyn Garden City;
• The Rural District of Welwyn; and
• The Rural District of St Albans civil parishes of Sandridge Rural, St Michael Rural, St Peter Rural, St Stephen, and Wheathampstead. ^[8]

The Rural District of Welwyn was transferred from Hitchin and the parish of Wheathampstead from Hemel Hempstead.  The Rural District of Hatfield was transferred to Barnet.

1955–1974

• The Municipal Borough of St Albans; and
• The Rural District of St Albans civil parishes of Colney Heath, London Colney, Sandridge Rural, St Michael Rural, St Stephen, and Wheathampstead.

The Urban District of Welwyn Garden City and the Rural District of Welwyn were transferred to Hertford. (The parish of St Peter Rural had been divided into the parishes of Colney Heath and London Colney).

1974–1983

• The Municipal Borough of St Albans;
• The Urban District of Harpenden; and
• The Rural District of St Albans civil parishes of Harpenden Rural, Redbourn, St Michael Rural, Sandridge, and Wheathampstead. ^[9]

Boundaries moved northwards: Harpenden U.D. and the parishes of Harpenden Rural and Redbourn were transferred in from Hemel Hempstead. The parishes of Colney Heath, London Colney and St Stephen were transferred out to form part of the new constituency of South Hertfordshire.

1983–1997

• The District of St Albans wards of Ashley, Batchwood, Clarence, Colney Heath, Cunningham, Harpenden East, Harpenden North, Harpenden South, Harpenden West, Marshalswick North, Marshalswick South, Redbourn, St Peter's, Sandridge, Sopwell, and Verulam. ^[10]

Minor changes: Colney Heath transferred from abolished South Hertfordshire; Wheathampstead transferred to Welwyn Hatfield.

1997–2010

• The District of St Albans wards of Ashley, Batchwood, Clarence, Colney Heath, Cunningham, London Colney, Marshalswick North, Marshalswick South, Park Street, St Peter's, St Stephen's, Sopwell, and Verulam; and
• The District of Three Rivers ward of Bedmond. ^[11]

Moved southwards again, gaining London Colney from Hertsmere, Park Street and St Stephen's from Watford and the Three Rivers District ward of Bedmond from South West Hertfordshire. Northern parts, including Harpenden, formed part of the new constituency of Hitchin and Harpenden.

2010–present

Map of current boundaries

• The City of St Albans wards of Ashley, Batchwood, Clarence, Colney Heath, Cunningham, London Colney, Marshalswick North, Marshalswick South, Park Street, St Peter's, St Stephen, Sopwell, and Verulam; and
• The Three Rivers District ward of Bedmond and Primrose Hill. ^[12]

Marginal adjustments to bring the parliamentary boundaries in line with those of local government wards, which had changed since the 1995 review. ^[13]

The seat is in Hertfordshire, England. Specifically, it comprises the cathedral city of St Albans and some of the surrounding countryside, mainly to the south of the city.

Neighbouring seats, clockwise from north, are: Hitchin and Harpenden, Welwyn Hatfield, Hertsmere, Watford, and Hemel Hempstead.

Proposed

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, enacted by the Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023, the composition of the constituency from the next general election, due by January 2025, will be unchanged except the small part currently in the District of Three Rivers, which will be transferred to South West Hertfordshire. ^[14]

Following a local government boundary review which came into effect in May 2022, ^{[15] [16]} the constituency will now comprise the following wards of the City of St Albans from the next general election:

• Batchwood; Bernards Heath; Clarence; Colney Heath; Cunningham; Hill End; London Colney; Marshalswick East & Jersey Farm (majority); Marshalswick West (nearly all); Park Street; St Peters; St Stephen (nearly all); Sopwell; Verulam (nearly all). ^[17]

Members of Parliament

MPs 1553–1640

Parliament	First member	Second member
1553 (Oct)	John Maynard	Thomas Johnson [18]
1554 (Apr)	Thomas Wendy	Oliver Starkey [18]
1554 (Nov)	John Maynard	Oliver Starkey [18]
1555	John Astley	Robert Stepneth [18]
1558	Henry Heydon	Francis Southwell [18]
1559 (Jan)	Christopher Smith	John Dodmer [19]
1562–3	Robert Wroth [20]	Roger Carew [19]
1571	William Skipwith	George Ferrers [19]
1572 (Apr)	Henry Cocke	Charles Smythe [19]
1584	Henry Maynard	Humphrey Coningsby [19]
1586 (Oct)	Henry Maynard	Humphrey Coningsby [19]
1588 (Oct)	Henry Maynard	Humphrey Coningsby [19]
1593	Henry Maynard	Humphrey Coningsby [19]
1597 (Oct)	Henry Maynard	Humphrey Coningsby [19]
1601	Francis Bacon, sat for Ipswich, replaced Nov 1601 by Henry Frowick	Adolphus Carey [19]
1604	Sir Francis Bacon, sat for Ipswich repl. by Tobie Matthew	Adolphus Carey
1610	Sir Thomas Parry	Sir Henry Helmes
1614	Sir Francis Bacon, sat for Cambridge University repl. by Thomas Perient	Henry Finch
1620	Sir Thomas Richardson	Robert Shute
1621	Sir Thomas Richardson	Henry Meautys
1624	Sir Arthur Capell	Sir John Luke
1625	Sir Charles Morrison, 1st Baronet	Sir John Luke
1626	Sir Charles Morrison, 1st Baronet	Sir Edward Goring
1628	Sir John Jennings	Robert Kirkham
1629–1640	No Parliaments summoned

MPs 1640–1852

Year		First member	First party		Second member	Second party
April 1640		Richard Coningsby			Sir John Jennings	Parliamentarian
November 1640		Edward Wingate	Parliamentarian
1642					Richard Jennings	Parliamentarian
December 1648	Wingate and Jennings excluded in Pride's Purge - both seats vacant
1653	St Albans was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament
1654		Alban Cox		St Albans had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate
1656
January 1659					Richard Jennings
May 1659	Not represented in the restored Rump
April 1660		William Foxwist			Richard Jennings
1661		Thomas Arris
1668					Samuel Grimston
February 1679		Sir Thomas Blount			John Gape
August 1679					Samuel Grimston
1685		Captain George Churchill [21]			Thomas Docwra
1689					Sir Samuel Grimston
January 1701					Joshua Lomax
March 1701					John Gape
1705					Admiral Henry Killigrew
1708		John Gape			Joshua Lomax
1710					William Grimston [22]
1713		William Hale [23]
1714		John Gape
1715		William Hale
1717		Joshua Lomax
1722		William Gore			William Clayton
1727		The Viscount Grimston			Caleb Lomax
1730 by-election					Thomas Gape
1733 by-election					John Merrill
1734		Sir Thomas Aston			Thomas Ashby
1741		James West [24]
1743 by-election					Hans Stanley
1747					Sir Peter Thompson
1754					Hon. James Grimston [25]
1761					Viscount Nuneham
1768		(Sir) Richard Sutton [26]			John Radcliffe
1780		William Charles Sloper
1783 by-election					The Viscount Grimston
1784					Hon. William Grimston
1790		Hon. Richard Bingham [27]	Tory [28]		John Calvert
1796					Thomas Bucknall	Tory [28]
June 1800 by-election		William Stephen Poyntz	Whig [28]
1802					Hon. James Grimston	Tory [28]
1807		Joseph Thompson Halsey	Whig [28]
1809 by-election					Daniel Giles	Whig [28]
1812					Christopher Smith	Tory [28]
February 1818 by-election		William Tierney Robarts	Whig [28]
June 1818					Lord Charles Spencer-Churchill	Tory [28]
1820					Christopher Smith	Tory [28]
1821 by-election		Sir Henry Wright-Wilson	Tory [28]
1826		John Easthope	Whig [28]
1830		Viscount Grimston	Tory [28]		Charles Tennant	Whig [28]
1831		Sir Francis Vincent, Bt	Whig [28]		Richard Godson	Whig [28] [29]
1832					Henry George Ward	Whig [28]
1835		Hon. Edward Grimston	Conservative [28]
1837					George Muskett	Whig [28] [30] [31] [32]
February 1841 by-election		William Hare	Whig [28] [31] [32]
June 1841					George Repton	Conservative [28]
1846 by-election		Benjamin Bond Cabbell	Conservative
1847		Alexander Raphael	Whig [33]
1850 by-election		Jacob Bell	Whig [34] [35] [36]
1852	Constituency disfranchised for corruption

MPs since 1885

Election	Member [37]	Party [38] [39]
1885	James Grimston		Conservative
1892	Vicary Gibbs		Conservative
1904 by-election	John Slack		Liberal
1906	Sir Hildred Carlile		Conservative
1919 by-election	Sir Francis Fremantle		Conservative
1943 by-election [40]	John Grimston		Conservative
1945	Cyril Dumpleton		Labour
1950	John Grimston		Conservative
1959	Sir Victor Goodhew		Conservative
1983	Peter Lilley		Conservative
1997	Kerry Pollard		Labour
2005	Anne Main		Conservative
2019	Daisy Cooper		Liberal Democrats

Election results

Elections in the 2020s

Next general election: St Albans

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Daisy Cooper [41]
	Labour	Sophia Adams Bhatti [42]
	Reform UK	John Dowdle [43]
	SDP	Stewart Slattery [44]
	Conservative	James Spencer [45]
Majority
Turnout
Registered electors
			Swing

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: St Albans ^{[46] [47]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Daisy Cooper	28,867	50.1	+17.7
	Conservative	Anne Main	22,574	39.2	–3.9
	Labour	Rebecca Lury	5,000	8.7	–14.3
	Green	Simon Grover	1,004	1.7	+0.2
	Independent	Jules Sherrington	154	0.3	New
Majority			6,293	10.9	N/A
Turnout			57,599	78.1	–0.2
	Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative		Swing	+10.8

General election 2017: St Albans ^[48]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Anne Main	24,571	43.1	–3.5
	Liberal Democrats	Daisy Cooper	18,462	32.4	+13.9
	Labour	Kerry Pollard	13,137	23.0	–0.3
	Green	Jack Easton	828	1.5	–2.2
Majority			6,109	10.7	–12.6
Turnout			56,998	78.3	+6.3
	Conservative hold		Swing	–8.7

General election 2015: St Albans ^{[49] [50]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Anne Main	25,392	46.6	+5.8
	Labour	Kerry Pollard	12,660	23.3	+5.7
	Liberal Democrats	Sandy Walkington	10,076	18.5	–17.9
	UKIP	Chris Wright	4,271	7.8	+4.0
	Green	Jack Easton	2,034	3.7	+2.3
Majority			12,732	23.3	+18.9
Turnout			54,433	72.0	–3.4
	Conservative hold		Swing	+0.1

General election 2010: St Albans ^{[51] [52] [53]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	Anne Main	21,533	40.8
	Liberal Democrats	Sandy Walkington	19,228	36.4
	Labour	Roma Mills	9,288	17.6
	UKIP	John Stocker	2,028	3.8
	Green	Jack Easton	758	1.4
Majority			2,305	4.4
Turnout			52,835	75.4
	Conservative hold

• This constituency underwent boundary changes between the 2005 and 2010 general elections and thus calculation of change in vote share is not meaningful

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: St Albans ^{[54] [55]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Anne Main	16,953	37.3	+2.1
	Labour	Kerry Pollard	15,592	34.3	–11.1
	Liberal Democrats	Michael Green	11,561	25.4	+7.5
	UKIP	Richard Evans	707	1.6	+0.2
	St Albans Party	Janet Girsman	430	0.9	New
	Independent	Mark Reynolds	219	0.5	New
Majority			1,361	3.0	N/A
Turnout			45,462	70.00	+3.7
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing	+6.6

General election 2001: St Albans ^{[56] [57]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Kerry Pollard	19,889	45.4	+3.4
	Conservative	Charlie Elphicke	15,423	35.2	+2.0
	Liberal Democrats	Nick Rijke	7,847	17.9	–3.1
	UKIP	Chris Sherwin	602	1.4	New
Majority			4,466	10.2	+1.4
Turnout			43,761	66.3	–11.2
	Labour hold		Swing	+0.7

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: St Albans ^{[58] [59]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	Kerry Pollard	21,338	42.0
	Conservative	David Rutley	16,879	33.2
	Liberal Democrats	Anthony Rowlands	10,692	21.0
	Referendum	Jim Warrilow	1,619	3.2
	Rainbow Dream Ticket	Sari Craigen	166	0.3
	Natural Law	Ian Docker	111	0.2
Majority			4,459	8.8
Turnout			50,805	77.5
	Labour gain from Conservative

• This constituency underwent boundary changes between the 1992 and 1997 general elections and thus calculation of change in vote share is not meaningful

General election 1992: St Albans ^{[60] [61]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Peter Lilley	32,709	52.8	+0.3
	Liberal Democrats	Monica Howes	16,305	26.3	–8.2
	Labour	Kerry Pollard	12,016	19.4	+7.9
	Green	Craig Simmons	734	1.2	–0.1
	Natural Law	David Lucas	161	0.3	New
Majority			16,404	26.5	+8.5
Turnout			61,925	83.5	+3.3
	Conservative hold		Swing	–4.3

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: St Albans ^{[62] [63]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Peter Lilley	31,726	52.5	+0.4
	Liberal	Alexander Walkington	20,845	34.5	–2.5
	Labour Co-op	Tony McWalter	6,922	11.5	+0.6
	Green	Elaine Field	788	1.3	New
	CPRP	William Pass	110	0.2	New
Majority			10,881	18.0	+2.9
Turnout			60,391	80.2	+1.9
	Conservative hold		Swing	+1.5

General election 1983: St Albans ^{[64] [65]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	Peter Lilley	29,676	52.1
	Liberal	Alexander Walkington	21,115	37.0
	Labour	Rita Austin	6,213	10.9
Majority			8,561	15.1
Turnout			57,004	78.3
	Conservative hold

• This constituency underwent boundary changes between the 1979 and 1983 general elections and thus calculation of change in vote share is not meaningful

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: St Albans ^{[66] [67]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Victor Goodhew	31,301	53.1	+8.1
	Liberal	David Michael Picton	14,057	23.8	–3.1
	Labour Co-op	Ronald John Greaves	13,638	23.1	–5.1
Majority			17,244	29.3	+12.5
Turnout			58,996	80.4	+2.4
	Conservative hold		Swing	+5.6

General election October 1974: St Albans ^{[67] [68]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Victor Goodhew	24,436	45.0	–0.2
	Labour	Edwin Hudson	15,301	28.2	+4.1
	Liberal	Charles Anthony Shaw	14,614	26.9	-3.8
Majority			9,135	16.8	+2.3
Turnout			54,351	78.0	–6.6
	Conservative hold		Swing	–2.15

General election February 1974: St Albans ^{[67] [69]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	Victor Goodhew	26,345	45.2
	Liberal	Charles Anthony Shaw	17,924	30.7
	Labour	Daniel Lipman Bernstein	14,077	24.1
Majority			8,421	14.5
Turnout			58,356	84.6
	Conservative hold

• This constituency underwent boundary changes between the 1970 and February 1974 general elections and thus calculation of change in vote share is not meaningful.

General election 1970: St Albans ^[70]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Victor Goodhew	24,503	51.5	+3.8
	Labour	Christopher Hubert Beaumont	16,629	35.0	–6.6
	Liberal	Charles Anthony Shaw	6,439	13.5	+2.8
Majority			7,874	16.5	+10.4
Turnout			47,571	76.2	–6.8
	Conservative hold		Swing	+5.3

Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: St Albans ^[71]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Victor Goodhew	22,260	47.7	–0.3
	Labour	Keith Kyle	19,428	41.6	+5.3
	Liberal	Julian J Wates	4,977	10.7	–5.0
Majority			2,832	6.1	–5.6
Turnout			46,665	83.0	+0.4
	Conservative hold		Swing	–2.8

General election 1964: St Albans ^[72]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Victor Goodhew	22,063	48.0	–4.9
	Labour	Bruce Douglas-Mann	16,672	36.3	+2.8
	Liberal	William Glanville Brown	7,231	15.7	+2.1
Majority			5,391	11.7	–7.7
Turnout			45,966	82.6	–0.2
	Conservative hold		Swing	–3.9

Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: St Albans ^[73]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Victor Goodhew	23,157	52.9	–4.6
	Labour	Lawrence William Carroll	14,650	33.5	–9.0
	Liberal	WA Newton Jones	5,948	13.6	New
Majority			8,507	19.4	+4.4
Turnout			52,823	82.8	+3.5
	Conservative hold		Swing	+2.2

General election 1955: St Albans ^[74]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	John Grimston	21,828	57.5
	Labour	Renée Short	16,107	42.5
Majority			5,721	15.0
Turnout			37,935	79.3
	Conservative hold

• This constituency underwent boundary changes between the 1951 and 1955 general elections and thus calculation of change in vote share is not meaningful

General election 1951: St Albans ^[75]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	John Grimston	28,602	54.5	+7.3
	Labour	John McKnight	23,911	45.5	+2.8
Majority			4,691	9.0	+4.5
Turnout			52,513	84.1	–0.9
	Conservative hold		Swing	+2.2

General election 1950: St Albans ^[76]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Conservative	John Grimston	24,733	47.2
	Labour	Cyril Dumpleton	22,351	42.7
	Liberal	Deryck Abel	5,280	10.1
Majority			2,382	4.5
Turnout			52,464	85.0
	Conservative gain from Labour

• This constituency underwent boundary changes between the 1945 and 1950 general elections and thus calculation of change in vote share is not meaningful

Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: St Albans

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	Cyril Dumpleton	24,241	46.5
	Conservative	John Grimston	22,362	42.8
	Liberal	Enid Lakeman	5,601	10.7
Majority			1,879	3.7
Turnout			50,384	72.6
	Labour gain from Conservative

• This constituency underwent boundary changes between the 1935 and 1945 general elections and thus calculation of change in vote share is not meaningful

1943 St Albans by-election ^[39]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	John Grimston	Unopposed
	Conservative hold

Elections in the 1930s

General election 1935: St Albans ^[39]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Francis Fremantle	33,743	67.5	–10.6
	Labour	Hugh Franklin	16,233	35.5	+13.6
Majority			17,510	35.0	–21.2
Turnout			49,976	62.6	–9.3
	Conservative hold		Swing	–10.6

General election 1931: St Albans ^[39]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Francis Fremantle	36,690	78.1	+30.0
	Labour	Monica Whately	10,289	21.9	–5.7
Majority			26,401	56.2	+35.7
Turnout			46,979	71.9	–0.7
	Conservative hold		Swing	+17.8

Elections in the 1920s

General election 1929: St Albans ^[39]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Unionist	Francis Fremantle	20,436	48.1	–19.4
	Labour	Monica Whately	11,699	27.6	–4.9
	Liberal	George Gordon Honeyman	10,299	24.3	New
Majority			8,737	20.5	–14.5
Turnout			41,434	72.6	+2.3
	Unionist hold		Swing	–7.25

General election 1924: St Albans ^[39]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Unionist	Francis Fremantle	18,004	67.5	+19.8
	Labour	Frank Herbert	8,862	32.5	+6.0
Majority			9,322	35.0	+13.8
Turnout			26,864	70.3	+1.5
	Unionist hold		Swing	+6.9

General election 1923: St Albans ^[39]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Unionist	Francis Fremantle	11,968	47.7	–10.1
	Labour	Christopher Thomson	6,640	26.5	–15.7
	Liberal	Harry Krauss Nield	6,469	25.8	New
Majority			5,328	21.2	+5.6
Turnout			25,077	68.8	-2.3
	Unionist hold		Swing	+2.8

General election 1922: St Albans ^[39]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Unionist	Francis Fremantle	14,594	57.8	+12.0
	Labour	John W. Brown	10,662	42.2	–0.2
Majority			3,932	15.6	+12.2
Turnout			25,256	71.1	+8.3
	Unionist hold		Swing	+6.1

Fremantle

Elections in the 1910s

1919 St Albans by-election ^{[39] [77]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
C	Unionist	Francis Fremantle	9,621	45.8	N/A
	Labour	John W. Brown	8,908	42.4	New
	Liberal	Milner Gray	2,474	11.8	New
Majority			713	3.4	N/A
Turnout			21,003	62.8	N/A
	Unionist hold		Swing	N/A
Cindicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

General election 1918: St Albans ^[39]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
C	Unionist	Hildred Carlile	Unopposed
	Unionist hold
Cindicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

Phillimore

General election, December 1910: St Albans ^[38]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Hildred Carlile	6,899	59.1	+1.0
	Liberal	Robert Charles Phillimore	4,777	40.9	–1.0
Majority			2,122	18.2	+2.0
Turnout			11,676	83.8	–6.6
	Conservative hold		Swing	+1.0

General election, January 1910: St Albans ^[38]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Hildred Carlile	7,323	58.1	+5.6
	Liberal	Henry Roscoe Beddoes	5,271	41.9	–5.6
Majority			2,052	16.2	+11.2
Turnout			12,594	90.4	+10.1
	Conservative hold		Swing	+5.6

Elections in the 1900s

General election 1906: St Albans ^[38]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Hildred Carlile	5,856	52.5	N/A
	Liberal	John Bamford Slack	5,304	47.5	N/A
Majority			552	5.0	N/A
Turnout			11,160	89.3	N/A
Registered electors			12,497
	Conservative hold		Swing	N/A

Slack

1904 St Albans by-election ^[38]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	John Bamford Slack	4,757	50.7	New
	Conservative	Vicary Gibbs	4,635	49.3	N/A
Majority			132	1.4	N/A
Turnout			9,382	81.5	N/A
Registered electors			11,518
	Liberal gain from Conservative		Swing	N/A

General election 1900: St Albans ^[38]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Vicary Gibbs	Unopposed
	Conservative hold

Elections in the 1890s

General election 1895: St Albans ^[38]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Vicary Gibbs	Unopposed
	Conservative hold

Gibbs

General election 1892: St Albans ^[38]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Vicary Gibbs	3,417	45.1	N/A
	Liberal	Thomas Morgan Harvey [78]	2,573	34.0	New
	Ind. Conservative	William Henry Bingham-Cox	1,580	20.9	New
Majority			844	11.1	N/A
Turnout			7,570	78.3	N/A
Registered electors			9,672
	Conservative hold		Swing	N/A

Elections in the 1880s

General election 1886: St Albans ^[38]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	James Grimston	Unopposed
	Conservative hold

General election 1885: St Albans ^[38]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	James Grimston	4,108	57.5
	Liberal	John Coles	3,037	42.5
Majority			1,071	15.0
Turnout			7,145	81.7
Registered electors			8,741
	Conservative win (new seat)

Elections in the 1850s

On 3 May 1852, the borough was disenfranchised after a Royal Commission found proof of extensive bribery. The electorate was incorporated into Hertfordshire. ^[79]

By-election, 24 December 1850: St Albans ^[79]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Whig	Jacob Bell	276	65.2	−5.0
	Conservative	Robert Carden	147	34.8	+5.0
Majority			129	30.4	+28.4
Turnout			423	87.6	+0.5
Registered electors			483
	Whig hold		Swing	−5.0

• Caused by Raphael's death

Elections in the 1840s

General election 1847: St Albans ^{[79] [80]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Whig	Alexander Raphael	295	31.8	+4.6
	Conservative	George Repton	276	29.8	−27.1
	Whig	John Wilks	230	24.8	+9.0
	Whig	Frederick Craven [81]	126	13.6	N/A
Turnout			464 (est)	87.1 (est)	−3.5
Registered electors			532
Majority			19	2.0	+1.3
	Whig hold		Swing	+9.1
Majority			46	5.0	+1.8
	Conservative hold		Swing	−27.1

By-election, 11 August 1846: St Albans ^[79]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Benjamin Bond Cabbell	264	63.9	−7.0
	Whig	William Hare	149	36.1	+6.9
Majority			115	27.8	N/A
Turnout			413	76.3	−14.3
Registered electors			541
	Conservative gain from Whig		Swing	−7.0

• Caused by Hare's appointment as a Lord-in-Waiting to Queen Victoria

General election 1841: St Albans ^{[28] [79]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	George Repton	288	30.4	−8.5
	Whig	William Hare	258	27.2	+8.5
	Conservative	Henry Thomas Worley	251	26.5	+2.9
	Whig	George Alfred Muskett	150	15.8	−2.9
Turnout			482	90.6	−3.7
Registered electors			532
Majority			30	3.2	+1.7
	Conservative hold		Swing	−5.7
Majority			7	0.7	−13.1
	Whig hold		Swing	+5.7

By-election, 9 February 1841: St Albans ^{[28] [79]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Whig	William Hare	252	55.1	+17.7
	Conservative	Benjamin Bond Cabbell	205	44.9	−17.6
Majority			47	10.2	N/A
Turnout			457	85.9	−8.4
Registered electors			532
	Whig gain from Conservative		Swing	+17.7

• Caused by Grimston's resignation by accepting the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds

Elections in the 1830s

General election 1837: St Albans ^{[28] [79]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Edward Grimston⋅	361	38.9	−2.1
	Whig	George Alfred Muskett	347	37.4	+5.2
	Conservative	Benjamin Bond Cabbell	219	23.6	−3.2
Turnout			561	94.3	c. +13.1
Registered electors			595
Majority			14	1.5	−7.3
	Conservative hold		Swing	−2.4
Majority			128	13.8	+8.4
	Whig hold		Swing	+5.3

General election 1835: St Albans ^{[28] [79]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Edward Grimston⋅	362	41.0	+25.5
	Whig	Henry George Ward	284	32.2	−36.7
	Conservative	William Horsley Beresford [82]	237	26.8	+11.3
Turnout			c. 442	c. 81.2	c. −15.8
Registered electors			544
Majority			78	8.8	N/A
	Conservative gain from Whig		Swing	+22.0
Majority			47	5.4	+2.9
	Whig hold		Swing	−36.8

General election 1832: St Albans ^{[28] [79]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Whig	Francis Vincent	392	35.3	−2.2
	Whig	Henry George Ward	373	33.6	−2.5
	Tory	William Turner	345	31.1	+4.7
Majority			28	2.5	−7.2
Turnout			637	97.0	c. +9.5
Registered electors			657
	Whig hold		Swing	−2.3
	Whig hold		Swing	−2.4

General election 1831: St Albans ^{[28] [83]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Whig	Francis Vincent	421	37.5	+8.9
	Whig	Richard Godson	406	36.1	+10.3
	Tory	James Grimston	297	26.4	−19.2
Majority			109	9.7	+6.9
Turnout			656	c. 87.5	c. +4.4
Registered electors			c. 750
	Whig hold		Swing	+9.3
	Whig gain from Tory		Swing	+10.0

General election 1830: St Albans ^{[28] [83]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Tory	James Grimston	495	45.6
	Whig	Charles Tennant	311	28.6
	Whig	Henry Gally Knight	280	25.8
Turnout			623	c. 83.1
Registered electors			c. 750
Majority			184	17.0
	Tory hold
Majority			31	2.8
	Whig hold

See also

• List of parliamentary constituencies in Hertfordshire

Notes

1. A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
2. As with all constituencies, its registered electors elect one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.

References

1. "Electorate Figures - Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Archived from the original on 6 November 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
2. Electoral Calculus https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/fcgi-bin/calcwork23.py?seat=Reigate
3. Reform Act 1867
4. Belger, Tom (8 December 2023). "Labour selections: Full list of 211 'non-battleground' seats now open to applications". labourlist.org. Archived from the original on 9 December 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
5. Great Britain, Incorporated Council of Law Reporting for England and Wales. The public general acts. unknown library. Proprietors of the Law Journal Reports, 1884.
6. Fraser, Hugh (1918). The Representation of the people act, 1918 : with explanatory notes. University of California Libraries. London : Sweet and Maxwell.
7. "H of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Order, 1945 | Vote UK Forum". vote-2012.proboards.com. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
8. "Representation of the People Act, 1948". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
9. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1970". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
10. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
11. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
12. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/1681)". legislation.gov.uk. The National Archives . Retrieved 21 August 2013.
13. "Fifth Periodical Report, Volume 1" (PDF). Boundary Commission for England. 2007. p. 335. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
14. "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule I Part 2 Eastern region.
15. LGBCE. "St Albans | LGBCE". www.lgbce.org.uk. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
16. "The St Albans (Electoral Changes) Order 2021".
17. "New Seat Details - St Albans". www.electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
18. "History of Parliament" . Retrieved 2 October 2011.
19. "History of Parliament" . Retrieved 2 October 2011.
20. "Wroth, Robert"  . Dictionary of National Biography . London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
21. Admiral from 1702
22. Created The Viscount Grimston (in the Peerage of Ireland), November 1719
23. On petition (in a dispute over the franchise), Hale was found not to have been duly elected
24. Pages 118 to 120,Lewis Namier, The Structure of Politics at the Accession of George III (2nd edition - London: St Martin's Press, 1957)
25. The 2nd Viscount Grimston (in the Peerage of Ireland) from October 1756
26. Richard Sutton was created a baronet, 1772
27. Styled Lord Bingham from October 1795, when his father was raised to an Earldom
28. Stooks Smith, Henry. (1973) [1844-1850]. Craig, F. W. S. (ed.). The Parliaments of England (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. pp.  147–149. ISBN   0-900178-13-2.
29. Stooks Smith, Henry (1845). The Parliaments of England, from 1st George I., to the Present Time. Vol II: Oxfordshire to Wales Inclusive. London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. p. 133. Retrieved 30 November 2018– via Google Books.
30. Mosse, Richard Bartholomew (1838). The Parliamentary Guide: a concise history of the Members of both Houses, etc. p. 197. Retrieved 30 November 2018– via Google Books.
31. "Elections Decided" . Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser. 10 July 1841. p. 6. Retrieved 30 November 2018– via British Newspaper Archive.
32. "Newry Telegraph" . 3 July 1841. p. 3. Retrieved 30 November 2018– via British Newspaper Archive.
33. Kennedy, David (30 January 2018). "From Madras to Surbiton. Alexander Raphael, Unbeaton Champion, 1775–1850". Kingston History Research. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
34. "St Albans" . Newcastle Courant . 27 December 1850. p. 3. Retrieved 12 May 2018– via British Newspaper Archive.
35. "Summary" . Liverpool Mercury . 27 December 1850. p. 8. Retrieved 12 May 2018– via British Newspaper Archive.
36. "St. Alban's Election" . Northern Star and Leeds General Advertiser . 28 December 1850. p. 17. Retrieved 12 May 2018– via British Newspaper Archive.
37. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "S" (part 1)
38. Craig, F. W. S. (1989) [1974]. British parliamentary election results 1885–1918 (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 297. ISBN   0-900178-27-2.
39. Craig, F. W. S. (1983) [1969]. British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3rd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 375. ISBN   0-900178-06-X.
40. New M.P. For St. Albans, The Times, October 06, 1943
41. "It's unanimous: St Albans Lib Dem members vote to re-select Daisy Cooper as General Election candidate". St Albans Liberal Democrats. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
42. https://twitter.com/EofELabour/status/1765380788705485084.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
43. "Find My PPC (Eastern England)" (PDF). Reform UK . Retrieved 15 December 2023.
44. "GENERAL ELECTION CANDIDATES". SDP . Retrieved 21 December 2023.
45. "St Albans: Meet Conservative candidate James Spencer". The Herts Advertiser. 28 September 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
46. "Statement of Persons Nominated (St Albans Constituency)" (PDF). stalbans.gov.uk. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
47. "St Albans parliamentary constituency - Election 2019" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
48. "2017 Parliamentary Election Results". St Albans City and District Council. 16 June 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
49. "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
50. "2015 Parliamentary Election Results". St Albans City and District Council. 8 May 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
51. "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
52. "City & District of St Albans - Statement of persons nominated" (PDF).
53. "UK General Election results May 2010". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
54. "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
55. "UK General Election results May 2005". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
56. "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
57. "General Election result, June 2001". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
58. "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
59. "General Election result, May 1997". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
60. "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
61. "UK General Election results April 1992". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
62. "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
63. "UK General Election results 1987". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
64. "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
65. "UK General Election results June 1983". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
66. "UK General Election results May 1979". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
67. "'St Albans', Feb 1974 - May 1983". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
68. "UK General Election results October 1974". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
69. "UK General Election results February 1974". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
70. "UK General Election results June 1970". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
71. "UK General Election results March 1966". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
72. "UK General Election results October 1964". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
73. "UK General Election results October 1959". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
74. "UK General Election results May 1955". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
75. "UK General Election results October 1951". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
76. "UK General Election results February 1950". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
77. Large Labour Vote At St. Albans, Seat Held By Coalition, The Times, Wednesday 24 December 1919, page 10
78. Moore, Julie Patricia (September 2010). The Impact of Agricultural Depression and Land Ownership Change on the County of Hertfordshire, c.1870-1914 (PDF) (PhD). University of Hertfordshire. p. 214.
79. Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (e-book) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. p. 261. ISBN   978-1-349-02349-3.
80. "Wilks and Independence" . Hertford Mercury and Reformer. 24 July 1847. p. 1. Retrieved 30 November 2018– via British Newspaper Archive.
81. "St Albans" . Bedfordshire Mercury. 31 July 1847. p. 3. Retrieved 30 November 2018– via British Newspaper Archive.
82. "Page 1" . Bucks Herald. 3 January 1835. Retrieved 24 April 2020– via British Newspaper Archive.
83. Fisher, David R. "St. Albans". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 24 April 2020.

Sources

• Robert Beatson, A Chronological Register of Both Houses of Parliament (London: Longman, Hurst, Res & Orme, 1807)
• D Brunton & D H Pennington, Members of the Long Parliament (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1954)
• Cobbett's Parliamentary history of England, from the Norman Conquest in 1066 to the year 1803 (London: Thomas Hansard, 1808)
• F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (2nd edition, Aldershot: Parliamentary Research Services, 1989)
• Henry Stooks Smith, The Parliaments of England from 1715 to 1847 (2nd edition, edited by FWS Craig - Chichester: Parliamentary Reference Publications, 1973)
• Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "S" (part 1)

External links

• 2005 voting statistics from the BBC
• 2001 and 1997 voting statistics from the BBC
• OBV
• Coverage from The Times

51°44′24″N0°20′13″W / 51.740°N 0.337°W / 51.740; -0.337