South West Hertfordshire (UK Parliament constituency)

South West Hertfordshire
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Boundaries since 2024
Boundary of South West Hertfordshire in the East of England
CountyHertfordshire
Electorate71,552 (2023)[1]
Major settlementsRickmansworth, Kings Langley and Chorleywood
Current constituency
Created1950
Member of ParliamentGagan Mohindra (Conservative)
SeatsOne
Created fromWatford and Hemel Hempstead[2]

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

Since the 2024 United Kingdom general election, at which major boundary changes instigated by the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies took effect, this seat has consisted of the entirety of the Three Rivers District, plus the single ward of Kings Langley from the Dacorum district.[3]

The constituency surrounds the constituency (and town) of Watford on three sides, taking in the town of Rickmansworth and the villages of Abbots Langley, Chorleywood, Croxley Green, Heronsgate, Kings Langley, Leavesden, Loudwater, Maple Cross and South Oxhey.

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. Much of the constituency is within the Greater London Built-up Area, though it also contains Green Belt land.

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.[5]

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.[6]

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.[7]

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.[8]

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 constituency saw major changes with the bulk of the portion of the previous iteration of seat 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. Only 55% of the electorate of the former constituency remained in the redrawn seat, and only 63% of the redrawn seat's electorate came from the previous version of the constituency[10]

Members of Parliament

Watford prior to 1950

Election Member[11] Party
1950 Gilbert Longden Conservative
Feb 1974 Geoffrey Dodsworth Conservative
1979 by-election Richard Page Conservative
2005 David Gauke Conservative
September 2019 Independent
December 2019 Gagan Mohindra Conservative

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: South West Hertfordshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gagan Mohindra 16,458 34.1 −18.1
Liberal Democrats Sally Symington 12,002 24.9 +12.2
Labour Alex Sufit 9,637 20.0 +3.9
Reform UK Keith Steers 6,790 14.1 N/A
Green Narinder Sian 2,532 5.2 +3.7
Party of Women Bernadette O'Malley 295 0.6 N/A
Rejoin EU Victor Silkin 232 0.5 N/A
SDP Michael McGetrick 158 0.3 N/A
UK Voice Ketankumar Pipaliya 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[12]
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[13]
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[14]
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[15][16][17]
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[18]
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[19]
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[20]
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[21]
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[22][23]
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[24]
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[25]
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

By-election 13 December 1979: South West Hertfordshire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Page 17,031 45.94 −8.75
Labour Susan Ann Reeves 10,259 27.67 −0.05
Liberal Dane Clouston 8,752 23.61 +7.41
Ecology Nigel Jeskins 602 1.62 N/A
ACMFT David Bundy 288 0.78 N/A
Independent Nigel Ffooks 143 0.39 N/A
Majority 6,772 18.27 −8.70
Turnout 37,075 48.30 −31.44
Registered electors 76,776
Conservative hold Swing −3.8
  • 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 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 9.99
Turnout 58,507 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 63,015 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 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
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 9.81
Turnout 61,846 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 −6.1
Labour Anthony John Whiteside 19,487 33.3 −9.8
Liberal Desmond Banks 9,278 15.9 N/A
Majority 10,237 17.5 +3.8
Turnout 58,489 84.4 +3.1
Conservative hold Swing
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

  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. ^ "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.
  2. ^ Craig, F.W.S., ed. (1972). Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1985-1972. Chichester, Sussex: Political Reference Publications. ISBN 0-900178-09-4.
  3. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – Eastern". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  4. ^ "Representation of the People Act, 1948". Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  5. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1970". Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  6. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983". Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  7. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995". Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  8. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007". Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  9. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule I Part 2 Eastern region.
  10. ^ House of Commons Library https://commonslibrary.shinyapps.io/new_constituencies_insight/. Retrieved 27 August 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help).
  11. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "H" (part 3)
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ "Hertfordshire South West Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  14. ^ "Election 2017 – Hertfordshire South West". BBC. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  15. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  16. ^ "Statement Of Persons Nominated And Notice Of Poll". Acting Returning Officer. 9 April 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  17. ^ "Hertfordshire South West parliamentary constituency – Election 2017". BBC.
  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. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  23. ^ "UK General Election results April 1992". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  24. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  25. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.

51°40′N 0°28′W / 51.67°N 0.47°W / 51.67; -0.47

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