Hemel Hempstead is a constituency in Hertfordshire represented in the

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of the

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. It elects one

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(MP) by the

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system. Since

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, it has been represented by Mike Penning, a member of the Conservative Party.

Constituency profile

The seat covers the

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of Hemel Hempstead which is a significant employment centre, as well as a rural area of the Chilterns to the north. Residents are slightly wealthier than the UK average.

History

The constituency was established as a Division of Hertfordshire by the

Representation of the People Act 1918 The Representation of the People Act 1918 was an Act of Parliament passed to reform the electoral system in Great Britain and Ireland. It is sometimes known as the Fourth Reform Act. The Act extended the franchise in parliamentary elections, als ...

, largely created from the northern half of the

Watford Watford () is a town and Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough in Hertfordshire, England, 15 miles northwest of Central London, on the River Colne, Hertfordshire, River Colne. Initially a small market town, the Grand Junction Canal en ...

Division, including

Hemel Hempstead Hemel Hempstead () is a town in the Dacorum district in Hertfordshire, England, northwest of London, which is part of the Greater London Urban Area. The population at the 2011 census was 97,500. Developed after the Second World War as a n ...

, Berkhamsted and Tring. It also included north-western part of the

St Albans St Albans () is a cathedral city in Hertfordshire, England, east of Hemel Hempstead and west of Hatfield, north-west of London, south-west of Welwyn Garden City and south-east of Luton. St Albans was the first major town on the old Roma ...

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: The Municipal Borough of Hemel Hempstead, the Urban Districts of Berkhamsted, Harpenden, and Tring, the Rural Districts of Berkhamsted and Hemel Hempstead, in the Rural District of St Albans the parishes of Harpenden Rural, Redbourn, and Wheathampstead, and in the Rural District of Watford the parishes of Abbots Langley and Sarratt. 1950–1974: The Municipal Borough of Hemel Hempstead, the Urban Districts of Berkhamsted, Harpenden, and Tring, the Rural Districts of Berkhamsted and Hemel Hempstead, and in the Rural District of St Albans the parishes of Harpenden Rural and Redbourn. Parish of Wheathampstead transferred back to St Albans. Parishes of

Abbots Langley Abbots Langley is a large village and civil parish in the English county of Hertfordshire. It is an old settlement and is mentioned (under the name of Langelai) in the Domesday Book. Economically the village is closely linked to Watford and was f ...

and Sarratt included in the new County Constituency of South West Hertfordshire. 1974–1983: The Municipal Borough of Hemel Hempstead, the Urban Districts of Berkhamsted and Tring, and the Rural Districts of Berkhamsted and Hemel Hempstead. The Urban District of Harpenden and the part of the Rural District of St Albans (parishes of Harpenden Rural and Redbourn) now transferred back to St Albans. The constituency was abolished for the

1983 general election The following elections occurred in the year 1983. Africa * 1983 Cameroonian parliamentary election * 1983 Equatorial Guinean legislative election * 1983 Kenyan general election * 1983 Malagasy parliamentary election * 1983 Malawian general e ...

. 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 County Constituency of West Hertfordshire. 1997–2010: The District of Dacorum wards of Adeyfield East, Adeyfield West, Ashridge, Bennetts End, Boxmoor, Central, Chaulden, Crabtree, Cupid Green, Flamstead and Markyate, Gadebridge, Grove Hill, Highfield, Kings Langley, Leverstock Green, Nash Mills, South, and Warners End. 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. 2010–present: The District of Dacorum wards of Adeyfield East, Adeyfield West, Apsley, Ashridge, Bennetts End, Boxmoor, Chaulden and Shrubhill, Corner Hall, Gadebridge, Grove Hill, Hemel Hempstead Central, Highfield and St Paul's, Kings Langley, Leverstock Green, Nash Mills, Warners End, Watling, and Woodhall. Minor loss to South West Hertfordshire following revision of local authority wards.

Members of Parliament

MPs, 1918–1983

MPs, 1997–present

Elections

Elections in the 2010s

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

Elections in the 2000s

Elections in the 1990s

Elections in the 1970s

Elections in the 1960s

Elections in the 1950s

Elections in the 1940s

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; *Conservative: Frances Davidson *Liberal: Ian Davidson *Labour: A W HarperThe Liberal Magazine, 1939

Elections in the 1930s

Elections in the 1920s

Elections in the 1910s

References

;Specific ;General Craig, F. W. S. (1983). British parliamentary election results 1918-1949 (3 ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. .

Sources

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Hemel Hempstead (Uk Parliament Constituency) Parliamentary constituencies in Hertfordshire Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom established in 1918 Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom disestablished in 1983 Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom established in 1997 Politics of Dacorum