Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1950 onwards
South West Hertfordshire |
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County constituency for the House of Commons |
Boundaries since 2024 |
Boundary of South West Hertfordshire in the East of England |
County | Hertfordshire |
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Electorate | 71,552 (2023)[1] |
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Major settlements | Rickmansworth Kings Langley |
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Current constituency |
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Created | 1950 |
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Member of Parliament | Gagan Mohindra (Conservative) |
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Seats | One |
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Created from | Watford and Hemel Hempstead[2] |
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South West Hertfordshire is a constituency[n 1][n 2] in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament, represented since 2019 by Gagan Mohindra, a Conservative.
Constituency profile
This seat used to form a thin strip along the south-west border of Hertfordshire from South Oxhey in the south, through interspersed settlements and countryside to Tring in the north. Settlements in the constituency also included Berkhamsted, Chipperfield, Chorleywood, Croxley Green, Moor Park, Sarratt and Rickmansworth.
Elevated and bordering Greater London and Buckinghamshire, this part of Hertfordshire is for its residents mostly middle-class suburbia, an established haven for commuters who travel from the outer reaches of the London Underground's Metropolitan line or two railways from London which serve different parts of the seat: the West Coast Main Line and Aylesbury Line. A substantial proportion of land is occupied by farms and hillside woodland.[3]
Workless claimants were in November 2012 significantly lower than the national average of 3.8%, at 1.6% of the population based on a statistical compilation by The Guardian.[4]
It is estimated that 51% of the seat voted Remain in the 2016 EU referendum.
Boundaries and boundary changes
1950–1974
The constituency was formed from the Watford Division of Hertfordshire, excluding the part comprising the Municipal Borough of Watford. It also included the parishes of Abbots Langley and Sarratt, transferred from Hemel Hempstead.
1974–1983
- The Urban Districts of Bushey, Chorleywood, and Rickmansworth; and
- The Rural District of Watford civil parishes of Abbots Langley, Sarratt, and Watford Rural.[6]
The parish of Aldenham in the Rural District of Watford was transferred to the new constituency of South Hertfordshire.
1983–1997
- The District of Three Rivers wards of Ashridge, Bedmond, Carpenders Park, Chorleywood, Chorleywood West, Croxley Green, Croxley Green North, Croxley Green South, Hayling, Langleybury, Maple Cross and West Hyde, Mill End, Money Hill, Moor Park, Northwood, Oxhey Hall, Rickmansworth, and Sarratt; and
- The District of Dacorum wards of Berkhamsted Central, Berkhamsted East, Berkhamsted West, Bovingdon and Flaunden, Chipperfield, Kings Langley, and Northchurch.[7]
The parts of the District of Dacorum, including Berkhamsted, were transferred from the abolished constituency of Hemel Hempstead. Abbots Langley was transferred to Watford and Bushey to the new constituency of Hertsmere.
1997–2010
- The District of Three Rivers wards of Ashridge, Chorleywood, Chorleywood West, Croxley Green, Croxley Green North, Croxley Green South, Hayling, Maple Cross and West Hyde, Mill End, Money Hill, Moor Park, Northwood, Rickmansworth, and Sarratt; and
- The District of Dacorum wards of Aldbury and Wigginton, Berkhamsted Central, Berkhamsted East, Berkhamsted West, Bovingdon and Flaunden, Chipperfield, Northchurch, Tring Central, Tring East, and Tring West.[8]
Map of boundaries 2010-2024
Gained Tring from the abolished constituency of West Hertfordshire. Kings Langley transferred to a re-established Hemel Hempstead, Bedmond to St Albans, and three further wards in the Three Rivers District to Watford.
2010–2024
- The District of Three Rivers wards of Chorleywood East, Chorleywood West, Croxley Green, Croxley Green North, Croxley Green South, Hayling, Maple Cross and Mill End, Moor Park and Eastbury, Northwood, Penn, Rickmansworth, Rickmansworth West, and Sarratt; and
- The District of Dacorum wards of Aldbury and Wigginton, Berkhamsted Castle, Berkhamsted East, Berkhamsted West, Bovingdon, Flaunden and Chipperfield, Northchurch, Tring Central, Tring East, and Tring West.[9]
Minor gain from Hemel Hempstead 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):
- The Borough of Dacorum ward of Kings Langley.
- The District of Three Rivers.[10]
The constituency saw major changes with the bulk of the parts currently in the Borough of Dacorum, including the towns of Berkhamsted and Tring, forming part of the newly created constituency of Harpenden and Berkhamsted. The Bovingdon, Flaunden and Chipperfield ward went to Hemel Hempstead in exchange for the Kings Langley ward. The parts of the District of Three Rivers not previously within the constituency were transferred primarily from Watford, with a small area from St Albans.
Members of Parliament
Watford prior to 1950
Elections
Elections in the 2020s
General election 2024: South West Hertfordshire Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Gagan Mohindra[12] | 16,458 | 34.1 | −18.1 |
| Liberal Democrats | Sally Symington[13] | 12,002 | 24.9 | +12.2 |
| Labour | Alex Sufit[14] | 9,637 | 20.0 | +3.9 |
| Reform UK | Keith Steers[15] | 6,790 | 14.1 | N/A |
| Green | Narinder Sian[16] | 2,532 | 5.2 | +3.7 |
| Party of Women | Bernadette O'Malley[17] | 295 | 0.6 | N/A |
| Rejoin EU | Victor Silkin[18] | 232 | 0.5 | N/A |
| SDP | Michael McGetrick[19] | 158 | 0.3 | N/A |
| UK Voice | Ketankumar Pipaliya[18] | 150 | 0.3 | N/A |
Majority | 4,456 | 9.2 | −14.4 |
Turnout | 48,254 | 67.6 | −3.5 |
Registered electors | 71,353 | | |
| Conservative hold | Swing | –15.2 | |
Elections in the 2010s
2019 notional result[20] |
Party | Vote | % |
| Conservative | 26,548 | 52.2 |
| Others | 8,925 | 17.5 |
| Labour | 8,182 | 16.1 |
| Liberal Democrats | 6,460 | 12.7 |
| Green | 763 | 1.5 |
|
Turnout | 50,878 | 71.1 |
Electorate | 71,552 |
General election 2019: South West Hertfordshire[21] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Gagan Mohindra | 30,327 | 49.6 | –8.3 |
| Independent | David Gauke | 15,919 | 26.0 | +26.0 |
| Labour | Ali Aklakul | 7,228 | 11.8 | –13.9 |
| Liberal Democrats | Sally Symington | 6,251 | 10.2 | –1.5 |
| Green | Tom Pashby | 1,466 | 2.4 | –0.2 |
Majority | 14,408 | 23.6 | –8.6 |
Turnout | 61,191 | 76.1 | +0.6 |
| Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 2017: South West Hertfordshire[22] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | David Gauke | 35,128 | 57.9 | +1.0 |
| Labour | Robert Wakely | 15,578 | 25.7 | +9.4 |
| Liberal Democrats | Christopher Townsend | 7,078 | 11.7 | +1.4 |
| Green | Paul De Hoest | 1,576 | 2.6 | –1.9 |
| UKIP | Mark Anderson | 1,293 | 2.1 | –9.4 |
Majority | 19,550 | 32.2 | –8.4 |
Turnout | 60,653 | 75.5 | +3.6 |
| Conservative hold | Swing | –4.2 | |
General election 2015: South West Hertfordshire[23][24][25] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | David Gauke | 32,608 | 56.9 | +2.7 |
| Labour | Simon Diggins | 9,345 | 16.3 | +4.8 |
| UKIP | Mark Anderson | 6,603 | 11.5 | +8.9 |
| Liberal Democrats | Nigel Quinton | 5,872 | 10.3 | –17.6 |
| Green | Charlotte Pardy | 2,583 | 4.5 | N/A |
| Common Sense Party | Graham Cartmell | 256 | 0.4 | N/A |
Majority | 23,263 | 40.6 | +14.3 |
Turnout | 57,267 | 71.9 | –0.6 |
| Conservative hold | Swing | –1.1 | |
General election 2010: South West Hertfordshire[26] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | David Gauke | 30,773 | 54.2 | +7.2 |
| Liberal Democrats | Christopher Townsend | 15,853 | 27.9 | –2.1 |
| Labour | Harry Mann | 6,526 | 11.5 | –9.3 |
| UKIP | Mark Benson | 1,450 | 2.6 | +0.4 |
| BNP | Deirdre Gates | 1,302 | 2.3 | N/A |
| Independent | James Hannaway | 846 | 1.5 | N/A |
Majority | 14,920 | 26.29 | +9.3 |
Turnout | 56,750 | 72.53 | |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +4.66 | |
Elections in the 2000s
General election 2005: South West Hertfordshire[27] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | David Gauke | 23,494 | 46.9 | +2.6 |
| Liberal Democrats | Edward Featherstone | 15,021 | 30.0 | +3.7 |
| Labour | Kerron Cross | 10,466 | 20.9 | –6.1 |
| UKIP | Colin Rodden | 1,107 | 2.2 | +0.4 |
Majority | 8,473 | 16.9 | –0.4 |
Turnout | 50,088 | 68.5 | +4.0 |
| Conservative hold | Swing | –0.5 | |
General election 2001: South West Hertfordshire[28] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Richard Page | 20,933 | 44.3 | –1.7 |
| Labour | Graham Dale | 12,752 | 27.0 | –0.9 |
| Liberal Democrats | Edward Featherstone | 12,431 | 26.3 | +4.0 |
| UKIP | Colin Dale-Mills | 847 | 1.8 | N/A |
| ProLife Alliance | Julia Goffin | 306 | 0.6 | N/A |
Majority | 8,181 | 17.3 | –0.8 |
Turnout | 47,269 | 64.5 | –12.8 |
| Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Elections in the 1990s
General election 1997: South West Hertfordshire[29] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Richard Page | 25,462 | 46.0 | –11.0 |
| Labour | Mark Wilson | 15,441 | 27.9 | +8.5 |
| Liberal Democrats | Ann Shaw | 12,381 | 22.3 | –0.8 |
| Referendum | Timothy Millward | 1,853 | 3.3 | N/A |
| Natural Law | Christopher Adamson | 274 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
Majority | 10,021 | 18.1 | –15.8 |
Turnout | 55,411 | 77.3 | –6.6 |
| Conservative hold | Swing | –9.8 | |
General election 1992: South West Hertfordshire[30][31] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Richard Page | 33,825 | 57.0 | +1.2 |
| Liberal Democrats | A Shaw | 13,718 | 23.1 | –5.8 |
| Labour | AP Gale | 11,512 | 19.4 | +4.1 |
| Natural Law | CJ Adamson | 281 | 0.5 | N/A |
Majority | 20,107 | 33.9 | +7.0 |
Turnout | 59,336 | 83.7 | +6.0 |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +3.5 | |
Elections in the 1980s
General election 1987: South West Hertfordshire[32] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Richard Page | 32,791 | 55.8 | +2.2 |
| Liberal | Ian Murray Blair | 17,007 | 28.9 | –3.1 |
| Labour | Ian Willmore | 8,966 | 15.3 | +1.4 |
Majority | 15,784 | 26.9 | +5.3 |
Turnout | 58,764 | 77.7 | +1.9 |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +2.6 | |
General election 1983: South West Hertfordshire[33] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Richard Page | 30,217 | 53.6 | –1.1 |
| Liberal | Ian Murray Blair | 18,023 | 32.0 | +15.8 |
| Labour | Edward Playfair | 7,818 | 13.9 | –13.9 |
| Independent | M Luton | 307 | 0.5 | N/A |
Majority | 12,194 | 21.6 | –5.4 |
Turnout | 56,365 | 75.8 | –3.9 |
| Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Elections in the 1970s
- Note: ACMFT stands for the Anti Common Market and Free Trade Party.
- Resignation of Dodsworth 24 October 1979
General election 1979: South West Hertfordshire Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Geoffrey Dodsworth | 33,112 | 54.69 | |
| Labour | Tony Colman | 16,784 | 27.72 | |
| Liberal | G Cass | 9,808 | 16.20 | |
| National Front | P Graves | 839 | 1.39 | N/A |
Majority | 16,328 | 26.97 | |
Turnout | 60,543 | 79.74 | |
| Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1970: South West Hertfordshire Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Gilbert Longden | 32,661 | 50.32 | |
| Labour | Bruce Grocott | 24,214 | 37.31 | |
| Liberal | John W.S. Jarrett | 7,489 | 11.54 | |
| Independent Resident | Ronald Skilton | 542 | 0.84 | N/A |
Majority | 8,447 | 13.01 | |
Turnout | 64,906 | 75.66 | |
| Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Elections in the 1960s
General election 1966: South West Hertfordshire Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Gilbert Longden | 28,378 | 45.66 | |
| Labour | S. John Chapman | 25,186 | 40.52 | |
| Liberal | Peter A.S. Benton | 8,590 | 13.82 | |
Majority | 3,192 | 5.14 | |
Turnout | 62,154 | 83.12 | |
| Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Elections in the 1950s
General election 1955: South West Hertfordshire Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Gilbert Longden | 28,847 | 56.87 | |
| Labour | Wyndham Thomas (town planner) | 21,878 | 43.13 | |
Majority | 6,969 | 13.74 | |
Turnout | 50,725 | 81.31 | |
| Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1951: South West Hertfordshire Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Gilbert Longden | 27,049 | 58.75 | |
| Labour | Lawrence Allaker | 18,991 | 41.25 | |
Majority | 8,058 | 17.50 | |
Turnout | 46,040 | 85.02 | |
| Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1950: South West Hertfordshire Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Gilbert Longden | 23,608 | 55.37 | |
| Labour | Lawrence Allaker | 14,913 | 34.98 | |
| Liberal | George C Middleton | 4,114 | 9.65 | |
Majority | 8,695 | 20.39 | |
Turnout | 42,635 | 86.10 | |
| Conservative win (new seat) |
See also
Notes
- ^ A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
- ^ As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.
References
- ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – Eastern". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- ^ Craig, F.W.S., ed. (1972). Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1985-1972. Chichester, Sussex: Political Reference Publications. ISBN 0-900178-09-4.
- ^ England, Historic. "Search the List – Find listed buildings – Historic England". list.english-heritage.org.uk.
- ^ Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
- ^ "Representation of the People Act, 1948". Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
- ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1970". Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
- ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983". Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
- ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995". Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
- ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007". Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
- ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule I Part 2 Eastern region.
- ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "H" (part 3)
- ^ "Gagan Mohindra readopted as the Conservative candidate for South West Hertfordshire". gaganmohindra.org. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- ^ "Sally Symington Selected as Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for South West Herts". nickhollinghurst.org. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ Labour East [@EofELabour] (12 March 2024). "Congratulations Alex Sufit, Labour's Parliamentary candidate for South West Hertfordshire!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "South West Hertfordshire Constituency". Reform UK.
- ^ "Our Candidates". Retrieved 2 June 2024.
- ^ "Who can I vote for at the 2024 general election in South West Herts?". Watford Observer. 6 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ a b Wagstaffe, Joanne (7 June 2024). "UK Parliamentary Election Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll" (PDF). Three Rivers District Council. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ "General Election Candidates". SDP. 6 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Hertfordshire South West Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
- ^ "Election 2017 – Hertfordshire South West". BBC. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
- ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- ^ "Statement Of Persons Nominated And Notice Of Poll". Acting Returning Officer. 9 April 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
- ^ "Hertfordshire South West parliamentary constituency – Election 2017". BBC.
- ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "UK General Election results April 1992". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
- ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
External links
- South West Hertfordshire UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK
- South West Hertfordshire UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK
- South West Hertfordshire UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK
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Green Party (1) | |
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Authority control databases: People | |
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51°40′N 0°28′W / 51.67°N 0.47°W / 51.67; -0.47