South West Hertfordshire (UK Parliament constituency)

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.

South West Hertfordshire
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Boundary of South West Hertfordshire in Hertfordshire
Location of Hertfordshire within England
CountyHertfordshire
Electorate78,269 (December 2010)[1]
Major settlementsBerkhamsted
Rickmansworth
Tring
Current constituency
Created1950
Member of ParliamentGagan Mohindra (Conservative)
Number of membersOne
Created fromWatford and Hemel Hempstead[2]

Constituency profile

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 Urban Districts of Bushey, Chorleywood, and Rickmansworth, and the Rural District of Watford.[5]

The constituency was formed from the former Watford Division of Hertfordshire, excluding the part comprising the Municipal Borough of Watford.  Also included the parishes of Abbots Langley and Sarratt, transferred from Hemel Hempstead.

1974–1983: The Urban Districts of Bushey, Chorleywood, and Rickmansworth, and in the Rural District of Watford the 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 County 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, Northwick, 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 County Constituency of Hemel Hempstead.  Abbots Langley was transferred to Watford and Bushey to the new County 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, Northwick, 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]

Gained Tring from the abolished County Constituency of West Hertfordshire.  Kings Langley transferred to the re-established County Constituency of Hemel Hempstead, Bedmond to St Albans, and three wards in the Three Rivers District to Watford.

2010–present: The District of Three Rivers wards of Ashridge, Chorleywood East, Chorleywood West, Croxley Green, Croxley Green North, Croxley Green South, Hayling, Maple Cross and Mill End, Moor Park and Eastbury, Northwick, 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.

This seat forms 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 include Berkhamsted, Chipperfield, Chorleywood, Croxley Green, Moor Park, Sarratt and Rickmansworth.

Members of Parliament
ElectionMember[10] PartyNotes
1950 Gilbert Longden Conservative
Feb 1974 Geoffrey Dodsworth Conservative Resigned October 1979
1979 by-election Richard Page Conservative
2005 David Gauke Conservative Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (2017–2018)
Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor (2018–2019)
September 2019 Independent Whip removed for voting to stop a No Deal Brexit
2019 Gagan Mohindra Conservative

Elections

Elections in the 2010s
General election 2019: South West Hertfordshire[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gagan Mohindra 30,327 49.6 8.4
Independent David Gauke 15,919 26.0 N/A
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 23.5 8.7
Turnout 61,191 76.1 1.3
Conservative hold Swing
General election 2017: South West Hertfordshire[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Gauke 35,128 57.9 1.1
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[13][14][15]
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 9.0
Liberal Democrats Nigel Quinton 5,872 10.3 17.7
Green Charlotte Pardy 2,583 4.5 N/A
Common Sense Party Graham Cartmell 256 0.4 N/A
Majority 23,263 40.6 14.4
Turnout 57,267 71.9 0.6
Conservative hold Swing 1.1
General election 2010: South West Hertfordshire[16]
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 1.5
Majority 14,920 26.29
Turnout 56,750 72.53
Conservative hold Swing 4.66

Elections in the 2000s
General election 2005: South West Hertfordshire[17]
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[18]
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
Turnout 47,269 64.5 12.1
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s
General election 1997: South West Hertfordshire[19]
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
Turnout 55,411 77.3 6.5
Conservative hold Swing 9.8
General election 1992: South West Hertfordshire[20][21]
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 0.5
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[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Page 32,791 55.80
Liberal Ian Murray Blair 17,007 28.94
Labour Ian Willmore 8,966 15.26
Majority 15,784 26.86
Turnout 77.69
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1983: South West Hertfordshire[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Page 30,217 53.61
Liberal Ian Murray Blair 18,023 31.98
Labour E Playfair 7,818 13.87
Independent M Luton 307 0.54
Majority 12,194 21.63
Turnout 75.79
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s
By-election 13 December 1979: South West Hertfordshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Page 17,031 45.9 8.8
Labour Susan Ann Reeves 10,259 27.7 0.0
Liberal Dane Clouston 8,752 23.6 7.4
Ecology Nigel Jeskins 602 1.6 N/A
ACMFT David Bundy 288 0.8 N/A
Independent Nigel Ffooks 143 0.4 N/A
Majority 6,772 18.2 8.8
Turnout 37,075 48.3 31.4
Conservative hold Swing
Registered electors 76,776
  • 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
Majority 16,328 26.97
Turnout 79.74
Conservative hold Swing
General election October 1974: South West Hertfordshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Geoffrey Dodsworth 24,939 42.63
Labour ALC Cohen 19,098 32.64
Liberal JES Jarrett 14,470 24.73
Majority 5,841 9.98
Turnout 76.99
Conservative hold Swing
General election February 1974: South West Hertfordshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Geoffrey Dodsworth 26,563 42.15
Labour JE Mitchell 18,465 29.30
Liberal JES Jarrett 17,987 28.54
Majority 8,098 12.85
Turnout 83.78
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
Majority 8,447 13.01
Turnout 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 83.12
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1964: South West Hertfordshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gilbert Longden 28,308 45.77
Labour Syd Bidwell 22,237 35.96
Liberal R. Douglas Brown 11,301 18.27
Majority 6,071 9.82
Turnout 83.01
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s
General election 1959: South West Hertfordshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gilbert Longden 29,724 50.8
Labour Anthony John Whiteside 19,487 33.3
Liberal Desmond Banks 9,278 15.9
Majority 10,237 17.5
Turnout 58,489 84.4
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1955: South West Hertfordshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gilbert Longden 28,847 56.87
Labour Wyndham Thomas 21,878 43.13
Majority 6,969 13.74
Turnout 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 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 86.10
Conservative hold Swing

See also

Notes and references
Notes
  1. A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
  2. 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
  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. Craig, F.W.S., ed. (1972). Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1985-1972. Chichester, Sussex: Political Reference Publications. ISBN 0-900178-09-4.
  3. England, Historic. "Search the List – Find listed buildings – Historic England". list.english-heritage.org.uk.
  4. Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
  5. "Representation of the People Act, 1948". Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  6. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1970". Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  7. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983". Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  8. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995". Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  9. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007". Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  10. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "H" (part 3)
  11. "Hertfordshire South West Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  12. "Election 2017 – Hertfordshire South West". =BBC. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  13. "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  14. "Statement Of Persons Nominated And Notice Of Poll". Acting Returning Officer. 9 April 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  15. "Hertfordshire South West parliamentary constituency – Election 2017". BBC.
  16. "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  17. "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  18. "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  19. "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  20. "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  21. "UK General Election results April 1992". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  22. "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  23. "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.

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