Hertsmere (UK Parliament constituency)


Hertsmere is a constituency in Hertfordshire, England, represented in the House of Commons since 2015 by Oliver Dowden of the Conservative Party. He is currently the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

Constituency profile

Just beyond the boundaries of Greater London and with fast railway lines into the capital, Hertsmere is an archetypal middle-class, mixed economy, Home Counties district with many commuters to London, considered by most to be well within the London Commuter Belt. It has the third highest Jewish population of any seat in the country, at just over 14%.
The Aldenham East ward, assessed as the least deprived of 8414 wards in England in IMD2000 of the year 2000, is in the constituency. A minority of wards of Borehamwood have Labour councillors and the seat has proved to date to be a Conservative safe seat, although Labour came relatively closer in their landslide national victories of 1997 and 2001. A close result for second place occurred in 2010, with only 661 votes separating the Labour and Liberal Democrat candidates.

Boundaries and composition

1983–1997: The Borough of Hertsmere, and the City of St Albans ward of London Colney.
The New County Constituency was formed largely from the bulk of the abolished County Constituency of South Hertfordshire.  Also included is the area comprising the former Urban District of Bushey, transferred from South West Hertfordshire.
1997–present: The Borough of Hertsmere.
Since 1997 the constituency is coterminous with the borough of Hertsmere, in southern Hertfordshire. Hertsmere consists of the major towns and villages of Bushey, Radlett, Potters Bar and Borehamwood, elevated settlements above the headwaters of the River Colne which forms much of the northern border. Bushey borders Watford and the London Borough of Harrow to the west and south west, while Potters Bar borders Barnet and Broxbourne on the east. Borehamwood is just south-east of the centre, the largest town in the constituency — in the north and centre is Radlett, separated by two large villages and farms from St Albans to the north.
Following their review of parliamentary representation in Hertfordshire, the Boundary Commission recommended no changes to constituency boundaries for the 2010 general election. The seat has electoral wards:
This safe Conservative constituency was created in 1983 from the former seat of South Hertfordshire. The former Cabinet minister Cecil Parkinson, who previously represented South Hertfordshire, was the MP from the seat's creation until his retirement in 1992. James Clappison held the seat from 1992 until his decision to stand down from parliament at the 2015 general election. The seat was subsequently won by Oliver Dowden.

Elections

Elections in the 2010s

Elections in the 2000s

Elections in the 1990s

Elections in the 1980s