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Hemel Hempstead is a constituency in Hertfordshire represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first-past-the-post system. Since 2024, it has been represented by David Taylor of the Labour Party.

Constituency profile

Hemel Hempstead is a constituency located in Hertfordshire within the borough of Dacorum. It covers the large town of Hemel Hempstead, which has a population of around 100,000,[3] and the outlying village of Bovingdon. Hemel Hempstead was traditionally an agricultural market town but was greatly expanded after being designated as a new town in 1947. This earmarked the town for development to accommodate overspill from London, which is located around 24 miles (39 km) south-east of Hemel Hempstead. The constituency has average levels of wealth; there is some deprivation in the neighbourhood of Highfield whilst the rural and outer suburban areas are affluent.[4] House prices are higher than the national and East of England averages.[5]

Residents of Hemel Hempstead have average levels of education, income and professional employment.[5] White people made up 83% of the population at the 2021 census, identical to the nationwide proportion. Asians were the largest ethnic minority group at 8%.[6] At the borough council, the town’s central neighbourhoods are represented mostly by Liberal Democrats with some Labour Party councillors, whilst the outer suburbs and rural areas elected Conservatives. At the county council, which held elections more recently, Reform UK gained representation in the town’s outer suburbs. An estimated 56% of voters in Hemel Hempstead supported leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum, higher than the nationwide figure of 52%.[5]

History

The constituency was established as a Division of Hertfordshire by the Representation of the People Act 1918, largely created from the northern half of the Watford Division, including Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted and Tring. It also included north-western part of the St Albans 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;
  • The Rural District of St Albans parishes of Harpenden Rural, Redbourn, and Wheathampstead; and
  • The Rural District of Watford parishes of Abbots Langley and Sarratt.[7]

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
  • The Rural District of St Albans parishes of Harpenden Rural and Redbourn.[8]

Wheathampstead was transferred back to St Albans. Abbots Langley and Sarratt now included in the new 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.[9]

Harpenden and the part of the parishes of Harpenden Rural and Redbourn were transferred back to St Albans.

The constituency was abolished for the 1983 general election. 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 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.[10]

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.

Map
Map of boundaries 2010–2024

2010–2024

  • 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.[11]

Minor loss to South West Hertfordshire following revision of local authority wards.

Current

Further to the 2023 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 District of Dacorum wards of: Adeyfield East; Adeyfield West; Apsley and Corner Hall; Bennetts End; Bovingdon, Flaunden and Chipperfield; Boxmoor; Chaulden and Warners End; Gadebridge; Grovehill; Hemel Hempstead Town; Highfield; Leverstock Green; Nash Mills; Woodhall Farm.[12]

Moderate changes, with Kings Langley being transferred to South West Hertfordshire, in exchange for the rural Bovingdon, Flaunden and Chipperfield ward. The rural Ashridge and Watling wards to the north were moved to the newly created seat of Harpenden and Berkhamsted.

Members of Parliament

MPs, 1918–1983

Watford and St Albans prior to 1918

Election Member[13] Party
1918 Gustavus Talbot Coalition Conservative
1920 JCC Davidson Coalition Conservative
1923 John Freeman Dunn Liberal
1924 JCC Davidson Conservative
1937 by-election Viscountess Davidson Conservative
1959 James Allason Conservative
October 1974 Robin Corbett Labour
1979 Nicholas Lyell Conservative

MPs, 1997–present

West Hertfordshire prior to 1997

Election Member[13] Party
1997 Tony McWalter Labour Co-operative
2005 Sir Mike Penning Conservative
2024 David Taylor Labour

Election results since 1997

Hemel Hempstead election results 1983–2024

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Hemel Hempstead[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Taylor 16,844 38.2 +10.1
Conservative Andrew Williams 11,987 27.2 −27.8
Reform Noel Willcox 7,689 17.4 New
Liberal Democrats Sammy Barry-Mears 5,096 11.6 +0.2
Green Sherief Hassan 2,492 5.6 +2.7
Majority 4,857 11.0 N/A
Turnout 44,108 62.1 −7.5
Registered electors 71,038
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +18.9
  • Jaymey McIvor was originally selected as the Conservative candidate, but was suspended by the party “pending the outcome of an investigation.”[15]

Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result[16]
Party Vote %
Conservative 26,963 55.0
Labour 13,802 28.1
Liberal Democrats 5,569 11.4
Green 1,432 2.9
Others 1,299 2.6
Turnout 49,065 69.6
Electorate 70,496
General election 2019: Hemel Hempstead[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Mike Penning 28,968 56.5 +1.5
Labour Nabila Ahmed 14,405 28.1 −8.8
Liberal Democrats Sammy Barry 6,317 12.3 +6.1
Green Sherief Hassan 1,581 3.1 +1.1
Majority 14,563 28.4 +10.3
Turnout 51,271 69.5 −0.2
Registered electors 73,737
Conservative hold Swing +5.2
General election 2017: Hemel Hempstead [18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Mike Penning 28,735 55.0 +2.1
Labour Mandi Tattershall 19,290 36.9 +13.1
Liberal Democrats Sally Symington 3,233 6.2 +1.3
Green Sherief Hassan 1,024 2.0 −1.4
Majority 9,445 18.1 −11.0
Turnout 52,282 69.7 +3.2
Registered electors 75,011
Conservative hold Swing −5.5
General election 2015: Hemel Hempstead[19][20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Mike Penning 26,245 52.9 +2.9
Labour Tony Breslin 11,825 23.8 +3.0
UKIP Howard Koch 7,249 14.6 +12.1
Liberal Democrats Rabi Martins 2,402 4.8 −18.1
Green Alan Borgars 1,660 3.3 New
Independent Brian Hall 252 0.5 New
Majority 14,420 29.1 +2.0
Turnout 49,633 66.5 −1.5
Registered electors 74,616
Conservative hold Swing −0.1
General election 2010: Hemel Hempstead[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Mike Penning 24,721 50.0 +9.8
Liberal Democrats Richard Grayson 11,315 22.9 +5.9
Labour Ayfer Orhan 10,295 20.8 −18.9
BNP Janet Price 1,615 3.3 New
UKIP David Alexander 1,254 2.5 −0.7
Independent Mick Young 271 0.5 New
Majority 13,406 27.1 +26.7
Turnout 49,471 68.0 +3.5
Registered electors 72,754
Conservative hold Swing +2.0

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

Elections in the 2000s

2005 notional result
Party Vote %
Conservative 18,591 40.1
Labour 18,404 39.7
Liberal Democrats 7,856 17.0
Others 1,483 3.2
Turnout 46,334 64.5
Electorate 71,891
General election 2005: Hemel Hempstead[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Mike Penning 19,000 40.3 +1.9
Labour Co-op Tony McWalter 18,501 39.3 −7.3
Liberal Democrats Richard Grayson 8,089 17.2 +4.4
UKIP Barry Newton 1,518 3.2 +1.1
Majority 499 1.1 N/A
Turnout 47,108 64.4 +0.8
Registered electors 73,095
Conservative gain from Labour Co-op Swing +4.6
General election 2001: Hemel Hempstead[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Tony McWalter 21,389 46.6 +0.9
Conservative Paul Ivey 17,647 38.5 −0.6
Liberal Democrats Neil Stuart 5,877 12.8 +0.5
UKIP Barry Newton 970 2.1 New
Majority 3,742 8.2 +1.6
Turnout 45,883 63.7 −13.4
Registered electors 72,086
Labour Co-op hold Swing +0.8

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Hemel Hempstead[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Tony McWalter 25,175 45.7 +13.2
Conservative Robert Jones 21,539 39.1 −10.8
Liberal Democrats Patricia Lindsley 6,789 12.3 −3.0
Referendum Peter Such 1,327 2.4 New
Natural Law Diana M. Harding 262 0.5
Majority 3,636 6.6 N/A
Turnout 55,092 76.6 –5.0
Registered electors 71,468
Labour Co-op gain from Conservative Swing +12.0
1992 notional result
Party Vote %
Conservative 29,248 49.8
Labour 19,090 32.5
Liberal Democrats 9,005 15.4
Others 1,313 2.2
Turnout 58,656 82.1
Electorate 71,471

Election results 1918–1979

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Hemel Hempstead
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Nicholas Lyell 37,953 48.7 +6.8
Labour Robin Corbett 32,964 42.3 −0.4
Liberal David Penwarden 6,314 8.1 −7.2
National Front T Walters 649 0.8 New
Majority 4,989 6.4 N/A
Turnout 77,880 84.8 +3.1
Registered electors 91,843
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +3.6
General election October 1974: Hemel Hempstead
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Robin Corbett 29,223 42.7 +3.9
Conservative James Allason 28,738 42.0 +2.9
Liberal CAM Baron 10,497 15.3 −6.9
Majority 485 0.7 N/A
Turnout 68,458 81.7 −3.5
Registered electors 83,795
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +0.5
General election February 1974: Hemel Hempstead
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Allason 27,572 39.0 −9.2
Labour Robin Corbett 27,385 38.8 −1.1
Liberal CAM Baron 15,682 22.2 +10.3
Majority 187 0.3 −8.1
Turnout 70,639 85.2 +7.2
Registered electors 82,877
Conservative hold Swing −4.0
1970 notional result[25]
Party Vote %
Conservative 30,000 48.2
Labour 24,800 39.9
Liberal 7,400 11.9
Turnout 62,200 78.0
Electorate 79,737
General election 1970: Hemel Hempstead
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Allason 40,417 51.98
Labour Peter A. Fletcher 28,067 36.10
Liberal A. John Wilson 9,274 11.93
Majority 12,350 15.88
Turnout 77,758 78.10 −6.61
Registered electors 99,561
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Hemel Hempstead
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Allason 31,742 44.45
Labour Robin Corbett 29,704 41.59
Liberal A. John Whiteside 9,970 13.96
Majority 2,038 2.86
Turnout 71,416 84.71 +0.19
Registered electors 84,310
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1964: Hemel Hempstead
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Allason 31,119 44.85
Labour Gilbert D. Hitchcock 26,273 37.87
Liberal A. John Whiteside 11,986 17.28
Majority 4,846 6.98
Turnout 69,378 84.52
Registered electors 82,087
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Hemel Hempstead
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Allason 30,189 49.90
Labour Bernard Floud 21,954 36.29
Liberal Margaret Neilson 8,358 13.81
Majority 8,235 13.61
Turnout 70,501 85.26
Registered electors 70,962
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1955: Hemel Hempstead
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Frances Davidson 25,648 51.02
Labour Norman MacKenzie 19,512 38.81
Liberal Edwin Saich 5,111 10.17 New
Majority 6,136 12.21
Turnout 50,271 83.77
Registered electors 60,013
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1951: Hemel Hempstead
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Frances Davidson 25,620 58.44
Labour Norman MacKenzie 18,220 41.56
Majority 7,400 16.88
Turnout 43,840 83.80
Registered electors 52,313
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1950: Hemel Hempstead
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative Frances Davidson 22,022 50.18
Labour Reg Moss 15,165 34.56
Liberal Peter Arthur Stevens 6,696 15.26
Majority 6,857 15.62
Turnout 43,883 85.07
Registered electors 51,582
Conservative win (new boundaries)

Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Hemel Hempstead[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Frances Davidson 19,536 44.2 −13.5
Labour DW Mobbs 14,426 32.6 +18.6
Liberal Thomas Alfred Trotter 10,219 23.1 −5.2
Majority 5,110 11.6 −17.8
Turnout 44,181 71.0 +16.0
Registered electors 62,199
Conservative hold Swing −16.0

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;

Elections in the 1930s

1937 Hemel Hempstead by-election[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Frances Davidson 14,992 57.7 −4.8
Liberal Margery Corbett Ashby 7,347 28.3 +6.3
Labour Charles William James 3,651 14.0 −1.4
Majority 7,645 29.4 −11.1
Turnout 25,990 55.0 −14.3
Registered electors
Conservative hold Swing −5.6
General election 1935: Hemel Hempstead[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative J. C. C. Davidson 20,074 62.5 −4.7
Liberal Margery Corbett Ashby 7,078 22.0 −2.6
Labour Charles William James 4,951 15.4 +7.2
Majority 12,996 40.5 −1.9
Turnout 32,103 69.3 −7.9
Registered electors 46,290
Conservative hold Swing −1.1
General election 1931: Hemel Hempstead[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative J. C. C. Davidson 21,946 67.2 +17.4
Liberal Charles Thomas Le Quesne 8,021 24.6 −13.7
Labour Albert E.R. Millar 2,677 8.2 −3.7
Majority 13,925 42.6 +31.1
Turnout 32,644 77.2 −0.8
Registered electors
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1920s

General election 1929: Hemel Hempstead[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist J. C. C. Davidson 15,145 49.8 −7.8
Liberal Charles Thomas Le Quesne 11,631 38.3 +2.8
Labour Albert E.R. Millar 3,624 11.9 +5.0
Majority 3,514 11.5 −10.6
Turnout 30,400 78.0 −2.2
Registered electors 38,957
Unionist hold Swing −5.3
General election 1924: Hemel Hempstead[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist J. C. C. Davidson 12,985 57.6 +27.6
Liberal John Freeman Dunn 7,994 35.5 −14.5
Labour Amy Sayle 1,553 6.9 New
Majority 4,991 22.1 N/A
Turnout 22,532 80.2 +14.4
Registered electors 28,106
Unionist gain from Liberal Swing +21.1
General election 1923: Hemel Hempstead[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Freeman Dunn 8,892 50.0 New
Unionist J. C. C. Davidson 8,875 50.0 −17.4
Majority 17 ±0.0 N/A
Turnout 17,767 65.8 −0.2
Registered electors 26,990
Liberal gain from Unionist Swing
General election 1922: Hemel Hempstead[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist J. C. C. Davidson 11,847 67.4 −10.2
Labour John Harper Clynes 5,726 32.6 +10.2
Majority 6,121 34.8 −20.4
Turnout 17,573 66.0 +15.6
Registered electors 26,627
Unionist hold Swing −10.2
1920 Hemel Hempstead by-election[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C Unionist J. C. C. Davidson Unopposed
Unionist hold
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

Elections in the 1910s

General election 1918: Hemel Hempstead[26]
Party Candidate Votes %
C Unionist Party (UK) Gustavus Arthur Talbot 10,070 77.6
Labour Jesse Hawkes 2,913 22.4
Majority 7,157 55.2
Turnout 12,983 50.4
Registered electors 25,752
Unionist win (new seat)
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

See also

References

Specific
  1. ^ “The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – Eastern”. Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  2. ^ “‘Hemel Hempstead’, Feb 1974 – May 1983″. ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Archived from the original on 25 August 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  3. ^ “Town population 2021”. City Population. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  4. ^ “Constituency data: Deprivation in England”. commonslibrary.parliament.uk. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  5. ^ a b c Electoral Calculus https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/fcgi-bin/seatdetails.py?seat=Hemel+Hempstead
  6. ^ “2021 census results: Ethnic groups in your constituency”. commonslibrary.parliament.uk. 4 July 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  7. ^ Fraser, Hugh (1918). The Representation of the people act, 1918 : with explanatory notes. University of California Libraries. London : Sweet and Maxwell.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)
  8. ^ “Representation of the People Act, 1948”. www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  9. ^ “The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1970”. www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  10. ^ “The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995”. www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  11. ^ “The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007”. www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  12. ^ “The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023”. Schedule I Part 2 Eastern region.
  13. ^ a b Leigh Rayment’s Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with “H” (part 2)
  14. ^ “Hemel Hempstead – General election results 2024”. BBC News. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  15. ^ Pope, Alex (7 June 2024). “Tory candidate suspended prior to election deadline”. BBC News. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  16. ^ “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.
  17. ^ “Hemel Hempstead Parliamentary constituency”. BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  18. ^ “Hemel Hempstead Parliamentary Constituency – Election 2017”. BBC. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  19. ^ “Election Data 2015”. Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  20. ^ “Statement Of Persons Nominated And Notice Of Poll” (PDF). Acting Returning Officer. 9 April 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  21. ^ “Election Data 2010”. Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  22. ^ “Election Data 2005”. Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  23. ^ “Election Data 2001”. Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  24. ^ “Election Data 1997”. Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  25. ^ Michael Stead. “1970 notional general election & February 1974 general election”. BBC. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h i j British parliamentary election results 1918-1949, Craig, F. W. S.
  27. ^ Report of the Annual Conference of the Labour Party, 1939
  28. ^ The Liberal Magazine, 1939
General

Craig, F. W. S. (1983). British parliamentary election results 1918-1949 (3 ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.

Sources

  • Craig, F. W. S. (1983) [1969]. British parliamentary election results 1918-1949 (3rd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.