Welwyn Hatfield (UK Parliament constituency)
Welwyn Hatfield | |
---|---|
TBC) | |
Seats | One |
Created from | Hertford and St Albans |
Welwyn Hatfield is a constituency[n 1] in Hertfordshire represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2005 by Grant Shapps, a Conservative who currently serves as Secretary of State for Defence.
Constituency profile
The area has a higher than average proportion of managers, professionals and retired people than much of Greater London.[2] The seat has a strong local economy, with extensive retail and industrial/commercial premises, particularly in Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield. Two of the four largest Hertfordshire economic towns, Stevenage and St Albans are also close by. Accordingly, workless claimants who were registered jobseekers were in November 2012 significantly lower than the national average of 3.8%, at 2.4% of the population based on a statistical compilation by The Guardian.[3]
History
The seat was created for the February 1974 general election following the second periodic review of Westminster constituencies, as Welwyn and Hatfield. It was formed from parts of the abolished constituency of Hertford. For the 1983 general election, the constituency was renamed in line with the recently created District of Welwyn Hatfield.
Political history
Despite its short history, the seat has seen two parties serve it, with two
The 2005 majority more than tripled on the second election of Grant Shapps, in 2010, from a historically breakable (in the constituency) majority of 5,946 votes to the 26th largest Conservative share of the vote,[4] which on standard uniform swing seen in elections since 1931 represented a safe seat, but a 5% swing to Labour in 2017 means the seat is somewhat marginal again, needing a 7.1% swing to become Labour.
Prominent frontbenchers
The first MP ended his term in the Commons as the member for Welwyn Hatfield before which he was Defence Minister from 1970 to 1972 then a Foreign Office Minister until February 1974 - later that year
During five years of the
Boundaries and boundary changes
1974–1983
- The Urban District of Welwyn Garden City; and
- The Rural Districts of Hatfield and Welwyn.[7]
In April 1974 these local authorities were abolished and were merged into the Welwyn Hatfield District.
1983–1997
- The District of Welwyn Hatfield wards of Brookmans Park and Little Heath, Haldens, Handside, Hatfield Central, Hatfield East, Hatfield North, Hatfield South, Hollybush, Howlands, Peartree, Sherrards, Welham Green and Redhall, Welwyn East, and Welwyn West; and
- The City of St Albans ward of Wheathampstead.
Wheathampstead had formerly been in the St Albans parliamentary constituency. The Welwyn Hatfield ward of Northaw was included in the new Broxbourne parliamentary constituency.[8]
1997–2010
As above minus
2010–2024
- The District of Welwyn Hatfield wards of Brookmans Park and Little Heath, Haldens, Handside, Hatfield Central, Hatfield East, Hatfield North, Hatfield South, Hatfield West, Hollybush, Howlands, Panshanger, Peartree, Sherrards, Welham Green, Welwyn North, and Welwyn South.
Contents updated to reflect local authority boundary review. Northaw remained in the Broxbourne constituency.[10]
Current
- The District of Welwyn Hatfield wards of Brookmans Park and Little Heath, Haldens, Handside, Hatfield Central, Hatfield East, Hatfield South West, Hatfield Villages, Hollybush, Howlands, Panshanger, Peartree, Sherrards, Welham Green and Hatfield South, Welwyn East, and Welwyn West.
The District of Welwyn Hatfield ward of Northaw and Cuffley was transferred from Broxbourne to Hertsmere.
Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the composition of the constituency is unchanged, except for very minor modifications due to ward boundary revisions.[11]
Members of Parliament
For elections prior to 1974, see Hertford and St Albans.
Election | Member[12] | Party | |
---|---|---|---|
Feb 1974 | Lord Balniel | Conservative | |
Oct 1974 | Helene Hayman
|
Labour | |
1979 | Christopher Murphy | Conservative | |
1987 | David Evans | Conservative | |
1997 | Melanie Johnson | Labour | |
2005 | Grant Shapps | Conservative |
Elections
Elections in the 2020s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Reform UK | Jack Aaron | ||||
Green | Sarah Butcher | ||||
Labour | Andrew Lewin | ||||
Liberal Democrats | John Munro | ||||
Conservative | Grant Shapps | ||||
Majority | |||||
Turnout |
Elections in the 2010s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Grant Shapps | 27,394 | 52.6 | +1.6 | |
Labour | Rosie Newbigging | 16,439 | 31.6 | -5.2 | |
Liberal Democrats | Paul Zukowskyj | 6,602 | 12.7 | +5.3 | |
Green | Oliver Sayers | 1,618 | 3.1 | +1.5 | |
Majority | 10,955 | 21.0 | +6.8 | ||
Turnout | 52,053 | 69.5 | -1.5 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | +3.4 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Grant Shapps | 26,374 | 51.0 | +0.6 | |
Labour | Anawar Miah | 19,005 | 36.8 | +10.7 | |
Liberal Democrats | Nigel Quinton | 3,836 | 7.4 | +1.1 | |
UKIP | Dean Milliken | 1,441 | 2.8 | –10.3 | |
Green | Christianne Sayers | 835 | 1.6 | –1.9 | |
Independent
|
Melvyn Jones | 178 | 0.3 | New | |
Majority | 7,369 | 14.2 | –10.1 | ||
Turnout | 51,669 | 71.0 | +2.5 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | −5.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Grant Shapps | 25,281 | 50.4 | −6.6 | |
Labour | Anawar Miah | 13,128 | 26.1 | +4.7 | |
UKIP | Arthur Stevens | 6,556 | 13.1 | +9.7 | |
Liberal Democrats | Hugh Annand | 3,140 | 6.3 | −10.1 | |
Green | Marc Scheimann | 1,742 | 3.5 | +1.6 | |
Independent
|
Michael Green | 216 | 0.4 | New | |
TUSC | Richard Shattock | 142 | 0.3 | New | |
Majority | 12,153 | 24.3 | -11.3 | ||
Turnout | 50,205 | 68.5 | +0.5 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | −5.7 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Grant Shapps | 27,894 | 57.0 | +7.4 | |
Labour | Mike Hobday | 10,471 | 21.4 | -14.9 | |
Liberal Democrats | Paul Zukowskyj | 8,010 | 16.4 | +2.2 | |
UKIP | David Platt | 1,643 | 3.4 | New | |
Green | Jill Weston | 796 | 1.9 | New | |
Independent | Nigel Parker | 158 | 0.3 | New | |
Majority | 17,423 | 35.6 | +22.3 | ||
Turnout | 48,972 | 68.0 | −0.2 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | +11.1 |
Elections in the 2000s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Grant Shapps | 22,172 | 49.6 | +9.2 | |
Labour | Melanie Johnson | 16,226 | 36.3 | −6.9 | |
Liberal Democrats | Sara Bedford | 6,318 | 14.1 | 0.0 | |
Majority | 5,946 | 13.3 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 44,716 | 68.1 | +4.2 | ||
Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +8.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Melanie Johnson | 18,484 | 43.2 | −3.9 | |
Conservative | Grant Shapps | 17,288 | 40.4 | +3.9 | |
Liberal Democrats | Daniel Cooke | 6,021 | 14.1 | +0.6 | |
UKIP | Malcolm Biggs | 798 | 1.9 | New | |
ProLife Alliance | Fiona Pinto | 230 | 0.5 | 0.0 | |
Majority | 1,196 | 2.8 | -7.8 | ||
Turnout | 42,821 | 63.9 | −14.7 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | −3.9 |
Elections in the 1990s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Melanie Johnson | 24,936 | 47.1 | +11.1 | |
Conservative | David Evans | 19,341 | 36.5 | −11.0 | |
Liberal Democrats | Rodney Schwartz | 7,161 | 13.5 | −2.5 | |
Residents Association
|
Victor Cox | 1,263 | 2.4 | New | |
ProLife Alliance | Helen Harrold | 267 | 0.5 | New | |
Majority | 5,595 | 10.6 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 52,968 | 78.6 | -5.7 | ||
Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +11.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | David Evans | 29,447 | 48.4 | +2.8 | |
Labour | Ray Little | 20,982 | 34.5 | +8.1 | |
Liberal Democrats | Robin Parker | 10,196 | 16.7 | −10.6 | |
Natural Law | Eva Lucas | 264 | 0.4 | New | |
Majority | 8,465 | 13.9 | −4.4 | ||
Turnout | 60,889 | 84.3 | +3.4 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | −2.7 |
Elections in the 1980s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | David Evans | 27,164 | 45.6 | –2.1 | |
SDP | Lindsay Granshaw | 16,261 | 27.3 | +0.8 | |
Labour | Chris Pond | 15,699 | 26.4 | +0.6 | |
Ind. Conservative
|
Bruce Dyson | 401 | 0.7 | New | |
Majority | 10,903 | 18.3 | –2.9 | ||
Turnout | 59,525 | 80.9 | +1.5 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | -1.4 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Christopher Murphy | 27,498 | 47.7 | –0.9 | |
SDP | Lindsay Granshaw | 15,252 | 26.5 | New | |
Labour | John France | 14,898 | 25.8 | –16.9 | |
Majority | 12,246 | 21.2 | +15.4 | ||
Turnout | 57,648 | 79.4 | -5.6 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Elections in the 1970s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Christopher Murphy | 28,892 | 48.59 | ||
Labour | Helene Hayman
|
25,418 | 42.75 | ||
Liberal | J Hurd | 4,688 | 7.88 | ||
National Front | P Ruddock | 459 | 0.77 | New | |
Majority | 3,474 | 5.84 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 59,457 | 84.99 | |||
Conservative gain from Labour | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Helene Hayman
|
23,339 | 42.76 | ||
Conservative | Robert Lindsay | 22,819 | 41.81 | ||
Liberal | PH Robinson | 8,418 | 15.42 | ||
Majority | 520 | 0.95 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 54,576 | 81.28 | |||
Labour gain from Conservative | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Robert Lindsay | 22,581 | 39.85 | ||
Labour | CW Sewell | 21,166 | 37.35 | ||
Liberal | P Robinson | 12,923 | 22.80 | ||
Majority | 1,415 | 2.50 | |||
Turnout | 56,670 | 85.32 | |||
Conservative win (new seat) |
See also
- List of parliamentary constituencies in Hertfordshire
- List of parliamentary constituencies in the East of England (region)
Notes
- county constituency(for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
- Scottish representative peer
References
- ^ "Welwyn Hatfield CC" (PDF). Boundary Commission for England. June 2023. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
- ^ "Local statistics - Office for National Statistics". www.ons.gov.uk.
- ^ Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
- ^ The Electoral Commission 2010 results
- ^ "The Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk.
- ^ "Grant Shapps replaces Suella Braverman as home secretary". BBC News. 20 October 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
- ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1970". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
- ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
- ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
- ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
- ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule I Part 2 Eastern region.
- ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "W" (part 2)
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll". Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council. 7 June 2024. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ "Welwyn Hatfield - 2019 general election". UK Parliament. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ "Statement as to persons nominated and notice of poll". Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council. 11 May 2017. Archived from the original on 14 June 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
- ^ "Welwyn Hatfield - 2017 general election". UK Parliament. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ "Statement as to persons nominated and notice of poll". Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council. 9 April 2015. Archived from the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
- ^ "Welwyn Hatfield - 2015 general election". UK Parliament. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ "Welwyn Hatfield - 2010 general election". UK Parliament. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
- ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.