Hertford (UK Parliament constituency)

The Parliamentary Borough of Hertford was represented by two MPs in the House of Commons of England from 1298 to 1707, then in the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and finally in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 onwards. Under the Boundary Act 1868 (31 & 32 Vict. c. 46), its representation was reduced to one MP.{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/statutesunitedk31britgoog|title=The Statutes of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland [1807-1868/69]|last=Great Britain|date=1868|publisher=His Majesty's statute and law printers|others=unknown library}}

The Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 (which followed on from the Representation of the People Act 1884) abolished the parliamentary borough and it gave its name to one of four divisions of the abolished three-member Parliamentary County of Hertfordshire, and was formally named as the Eastern or Hertford Division of Hertfordshire.

As well as the Borough of Hertford, the enlarged constituency included the towns of Ware, Bishop's Stortford and Hoddesdon. It remained largely unchanged until 1955, but was radically altered for the 1955 general election. It was abolished in 1974.

• The Borough of Hertford;
• The Sessional Divisions of Bishop's Stortford and Cheshunt;
• Parts of the Sessional Divisions of Hertford and Ware; and
• In the Sessional Division of Aldbury, the parishes of Great Hadham and Little Hadham.{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/publicgeneralac01walegoog|title=The public general acts|last=Great Britain|first=Incorporated Council of Law Reporting for England and Wales|publisher=Proprietors of the Law Journal Reports, 1884|others=unknown library|language=en}}

• The Borough of Hertford;
• The Urban Districts of Bishop's Stortford, Cheshunt, Hoddesdon, Sawbridgeworth, and Ware;
• The Rural Districts of Hadham and Ware; and
• The Rural District of Hertford parishes of Bayford, Bengeo Rural, Bengeo Urban, Bramfield, Brickendon Liberty, Brickendon Rural, Hertingfordbury, Little Amwell, Little Berkhamsted, St Andrew Rural, St John Rural, Stapleford, and Tewin.{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/representationof00frasrich|title=The Representation of the people act, 1918 : with explanatory notes|last=Fraser|first=Hugh|date=1918|publisher=London : Sweet and Maxwell|others=University of California Libraries}}

Minor changes to boundaries.

• The Borough of Hertford;
• The Urban Districts of Bishop's Stortford, Cheshunt, Hoddesdon, Sawbridgeworth, and Ware;
• The Rural District of Ware;
• The Rural District of Braughing parishes of Albury, Braughing, Brent Pelham, Furneux Pelham, High Wych, Little Hadham, Much Hadham, Stocking Pelham, and Thorley; and
• The Rural District of Hertford parishes of Bayford, Bengeo Rural, Bengeo Urban, Bramfield, Brickendon Liberty, Brickendon Rural, Hertingfordbury, Little Amwell, Little Berkhamsted, St Andrew Rural, St John Rural, Stapleford, and Tewin.{{Cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1948/65/contents/enacted/data.htm|title=Representation of the People Act, 1948|website=www.legislation.gov.uk|language=en|access-date=2019-02-23}}

Nominal changes only to reflect restructuring of rural districts.

• The Borough of Hertford;
• The Urban District of Welwyn Garden City; and
• The Rural Districts of Hatfield, Hertford, and Welwyn.{{Cite book|title=Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1885-1972;|last=S.|first=Craig, Fred W.|date=1972|publisher=Political Reference Publications|isbn=0900178094|location=Chichester|oclc=539011}}

Significant changes with only the Municipal Borough and the part of the Rural District of Hertford retained. The remainder of the constituency formed the basis of the new County Constituency of East Hertfordshire. The Urban District of Welwyn Garden City and the Rural District of Welwyn were transferred from St Albans; the Rural District of Hatfield from Barnet; and the remainder of the Rural District of Hertford from Hitchin.

The constituency was abolished in the redistribution taking effect for the February 1974 general election. The Municipal Borough and Rural District of Hertford were included in the new constituency of Hertford and Stevenage, with remaining areas forming the new constituency of Welwyn and Hatfield.

{{Incomplete list|date=August 2008}}

{{Election box begin no change | title=General election 1830: Hertford

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = Thomas Slingsby Duncombe

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Tories (British political party)

|candidate = Henry Chetwynd-Talbot

}}

{{Election box registered electors no change|

|reg. electors = {{circa|800}}

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

|winner = Whigs (British political party)

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

|winner = Tories (British political party)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change | title=General election 1831: Hertford

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = Thomas Slingsby Duncombe

|votes = 492

|percentage = 37.7

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = John Currie (MP)|John Currie

|votes = 431

|percentage = 33.0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Tories (British political party)

|candidate = Henry Chetwynd-Talbot

|votes = 383

|percentage = 29.3

}}

{{Election box majority no change|

|votes = 48

|percentage = 3.7

}}

{{Election box turnout no change|

|votes = 739

|percentage = {{circa|92.4}}

}}

{{Election box registered electors no change|

|reg. electors = {{circa|800}}

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

|winner = Whigs (British political party)

}}

{{Election box gain with party link no swing

|winner = Whigs (British political party)

|loser = Tories (British political party)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1832: Hertford

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Tories (British political party)

|candidate = Henry Chetwynd-Talbot

|votes = 432

|percentage = 32.5

|change = +17.9

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Tories (British political party)

|candidate = Philip Stanhope

|votes = 381

|percentage = 28.7

|change = +14.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Radicals (UK)

|candidate = Thomas Slingsby Duncombe

|votes = 329

|percentage = 24.8

|change = −12.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Radicals (UK)

|candidate = John Eden Spalding

|votes = 186

|percentage = 14.0

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 52

|percentage = 3.9

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 671

|percentage = 95.9

|change = {{circa|+3.5}}

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 700

}}

{{Election box gain with party link

|winner = Tories (British political party)

|loser = Whigs (British political party)

|swing = +12.2

}}

{{Election box gain with party link

|winner = Tories (British political party)

|loser = Whigs (British political party)

|swing = +10.3

}}

{{Election box end}}

The 1832 election was later declared void, but a new writ was not issued during the course of the parliament.

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1835: Hertford

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Philip Stanhope

|votes = 359

|percentage = 35.7

|change = +7.0

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = William Cowper

|votes = 327

|percentage = 32.5

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Henry Chetwynd-Talbot

|votes = 321

|percentage = 31.9

|change = −0.6

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 616

|percentage = 97.3

|change = +1.4

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 633

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 32

|percentage = 3.2

|change = −0.7

}}

{{Election box hold with party link

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 6

|percentage = 0.6

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box gain with party link

|winner = Whigs (British political party)

|loser = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1837: Hertford

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = William Cowper

|votes = 378

|percentage = 38.5

|change = +6.0

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Philip Stanhope

|votes = 306

|percentage = 31.2

|change = −36.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Radicals (UK)

|candidate = John Currie (MP)|John Currie

|votes = 297

|percentage = 30.3

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 580

|percentage = 91.9

|change = −5.4

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 631

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 72

|percentage = 7.3

|change = +6.7

}}

{{Election box hold with party link

|winner = Whigs (British political party)

|swing = +21.2

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 9

|percentage = 0.9

|change = −2.3

}}

{{Election box hold with party link

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = −21.2

}}

{{Election box end}}

Cowper was appointed as a commissioner of Greenwich Hospital, requiring a by-election.

{{Election box begin | title=By-election, 20 May 1839: Hertford

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = William Cowper

|votes = 297

|percentage = 51.7

|change = +13.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Walter Townsend-Farquhar

|votes = 278

|percentage = 48.3

|change = +17.1

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 19

|percentage = 3.4

|change = −3.9

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 575

|percentage = 92.9

|change = +1.0

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 619

}}

{{Election box hold with party link

|winner = Whigs (British political party)

|swing = −2.0

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1841: Hertford

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = William Cowper

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Philip Stanhope

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 607

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

|winner = Whigs (British political party)

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

Cowper was appointed a Civil Lord of the Admiralty, requiring a by-election.

{{Election box begin | title=By-election, 11 July 1846: Hertford

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = William Cowper

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

|winner = Whigs (British political party)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1847: Hertford

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = William Cowper

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Philip Stanhope

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 567

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

|winner = Whigs (British political party)

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1852: Hertford

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = William Cowper

|votes = 301

|percentage = 32.3

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Radicals (UK)

|candidate = Thomas Chambers

|votes = 235

|percentage = 25.2

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Philip Stanhope

|votes = 213

|percentage = 22.9

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Charles Dimsdale{{cite news|title=Hertford Borough Election|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000352/18520710/002/0002|access-date=14 May 2018|work=Hertford Mercury and Reformer|date=10 July 1852|page=2|via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

|votes = 182

|percentage = 19.5

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 466 (est)

|percentage = 68.0 (est)

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 685

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 66

|percentage = 7.1

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box hold with party link

|winner = Whigs (British political party)

|swing = N/A

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 22

|percentage = 2.3

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box gain with party link no swing

|winner = Radicals (UK)

|loser = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = N/A

}}

{{Election box end}}

Cowper was appointed Civil Lord of the Admiralty, requiring a by-election.

{{Election box begin | title=By-election, 1 January 1853: Hertford

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = William Cowper

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

|winner = Whigs (British political party)

}}

{{Election box end}}

Cowper was appointed president of the General Board of Health, requiring a by-election.

{{Election box begin | title=By-election, 14 August 1855: Hertford

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = William Cowper

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

|winner = Whigs (British political party)

}}

{{Election box end}}

Cowper was appointed Vice-President of the Committee of the Council on Education, requiring a by-election.

{{Election box begin | title=By-election, 9 February 1857: Hertford

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = William Cowper

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

|winner = Whigs (British political party)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1857: Hertford

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = William Cowper

|votes = 301

|percentage = 37.2

|change = +4.9

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Walter Townsend-Farquhar

|votes = 273

|percentage = 33.7

|change = −8.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Radicals (UK)

|candidate = Thomas Chambers

|votes = 235

|percentage = 29.0

|change = +3.8

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 405 (est)

|percentage = 65.2 (est)

|change = −2.8

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 620

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 28

|percentage = 3.5

|change = −3.6

}}

{{Election box hold with party link

|winner = Whigs (British political party)

|swing = +4.6

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 38

|percentage = 4.7

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box gain with party link

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|loser = Radicals (UK)

|swing = −6.3

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1859: Hertford

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = William Cowper

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Walter Townsend-Farquhar

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 530

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

Cowper was appointed Vice-President of the Board of Trade, requiring a by-election.

{{Election box begin | title=By-election, 19 August 1859: Hertford

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = William Cowper

|votes = 281

|percentage = 57.9

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Robert Dimsdale

|votes = 204

|percentage = 42.1

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 77

|percentage = 15.8

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 485

|percentage = 91.5

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 530

}}

{{Election box hold with party link

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

|swing = N/A

}}

{{Election box end}}

Cowper was appointed First Commissioner of Works and Public Buildings, requiring a by-election.

{{Election box begin | title=By-election, 13 February 1860: Hertford

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = William Cowper

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1865: Hertford

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = William Cowper

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Walter Townshend-Farquhar

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 543

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

Townshend-Farquhar's death caused a by-election.

{{Election box begin | title=By-election, 30 June 1866: Hertford

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Robert Dimsdale

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

Seat reduced to one member

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1868: Hertford

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Robert Dimsdale

|votes = 434

|percentage = 55.7

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Frederick Waymouth Gibbs{{cite news|title=Hertford Election|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000352/18681114/028/0001|access-date=18 February 2018|work=Hertford Mercury and Reformer|date=14 November 1868|page=1|via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

|votes = 345

|percentage = 44.3

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 89

|percentage = 11.4

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 779

|percentage = 84.5

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 922

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

File:Arthur James Balfour00.jpg was MP for Hertford between 1874 and 1885, and later Prime Minister.|203x203px]]

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1874: Hertford

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Arthur Balfour

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 1,041

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1880: Hertford {{cite book|editor1-last=Craig|editor1-first=F. W. S.|editor-link=F. W. S. Craig|title=British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885|date=1977|publisher=Macmillan Press|location=London|isbn=978-1-349-02349-3|edition=1st|type=e-book}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Arthur Balfour

|votes =564

|percentage = 58.5

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Edward Ernest Bowen{{cite news|title=Hertford|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000540/18800320/044/0012|access-date=29 November 2017|work=The Scotsman|date=20 Mar 1880|page=12|via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

|votes = 400

|percentage = 41.5

|change = New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 164

|percentage = 17.0

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 964

|percentage = 89.2

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 1,081

}}

{{Election box hold with party link

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = N/A

}}

{{Election box end}}

Balfour was appointed President of the Local Government Board, requiring a by-election.

{{Election box begin | title=By-election, 30 Jun 1885: Hertford

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Arthur Balfour

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

Image:Abel Smith (1829–1898).jpg

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1885: Hertford The Liberal Year Book, 1907

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Abel Smith

|votes =4,263

|percentage = 58.1

|change = −0.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Henry Cowper

|votes = 3,072

|percentage = 41.9

|change = +0.4

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 1,191

|percentage = 16.2

|change = −0.8

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 7,335

|percentage = 83.0

|change = −6.2

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 8,840

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = −0.4

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1886: Hertford The Liberal Year Book, 1907

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Abel Smith

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1892: Hertford The Liberal Year Book, 1907{{cite book|editor1-last=Craig|editor1-first=FWS|title=British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918|date=1974|publisher=Macmillan Press|location=London|isbn=9781349022984}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Abel Smith

|votes =4,276

|percentage = 60.3

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Edwin Robert Speirs

|votes = 2,818

|percentage = 39.7

|change = New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 1,458

|percentage = 20.6

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 7,094

|percentage = 75.8

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 9,355

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = N/A

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1895: Hertford The Liberal Year Book, 1907

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Abel Smith

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

Smith's death caused a by-election.

File:Charles Spencer, 6th Earl Spencer.jpg

{{Election box begin | title=1898 Hertford by-electionThe Liberal Year Book, 1907

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Evelyn Cecil

|votes =4,118

|percentage = 51.7

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Charles Spencer

|votes = 3,850

|percentage = 48.3

|change = New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 268

|percentage = 3.4

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 7,968

|percentage = 77.4

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 10,301

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = N/A

}}

{{Election box end}}

Image:Abel Henry Smith.jpg

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1900: Hertford The Liberal Year Book, 1907{{cite book|editor1-last=Craig|editor1-first=FWS|title=British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918|date=1974|publisher=Macmillan Press|location=London|isbn=9781349022984}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Abel Henry Smith

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

File:Charles_Roden_Buxton.jpg

{{Election box begin | title=General election 1906: Hertford The Liberal Year Book, 1907

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Abel Henry Smith

|votes =4,836

|percentage = 50.4

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Charles Buxton

|votes = 4,756

|percentage = 49.6

|change = New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 80

|percentage = 0.8

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 9,592

|percentage = 86.2

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 11,124

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = N/A

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election January 1910: Hertford Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1918{{cite book|editor1-last=Craig|editor1-first=FWS|title=British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918|date=1974|publisher=Macmillan Press|location=London|isbn=9781349022984}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = John Rolleston

|votes = 6,147

|percentage = 58.0

|change = +7.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Edmund Broughton Barnard

|votes = 4,455

|percentage = 42.0

|change = −7.6

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 1,692

|percentage = 16.0

|change = +15.2

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 10,602

|percentage = 89.6

|change = +3.4

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 11,838

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = +7.6

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election December 1910: Hertford Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1918

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = John Rolleston

|votes =5,594

|percentage = 57.0

|change = −1.0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = George Strachan Pawle

|votes = 4,226

|percentage = 43.0

|change = +1.0

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 1,368

|percentage = 14.0

|change = −2.0

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 9,820

|percentage = 83.0

|change = −6.6

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 12,684

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = −1.0

}}

{{Election box end}}

General Election 1914–15:

Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;

• Unionist: John Rolleston
• Liberal:
• Independent: W. H. Rolfe

File:Billing portrait.jpg

{{Election box begin |

|title=1916 Hertford by-electionDebrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1918

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Independent (politician)

|candidate = Noel Pemberton Billing

|votes = 4,590

|percentage = 56.3

|change = New

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Unionist Party (UK)

|candidate = Brodie Henderson

|votes =3,559

|percentage = 43.7

|change = −13.3

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 1,031

|percentage = 12.6

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 8,149

|percentage = 64.2

|change = −18.8

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 12,684

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Independent (politician)

|loser = Unionist Party (UK)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1918: Hertford British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, F W S Craig

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Independent (politician)

|candidate = Noel Pemberton-Billing

|votes = 9,628

|percentage = 52.1

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = National Party (UK, 1917)

|candidate = *Edmund Broughton Barnard

|votes = 7,158

|percentage = 38.8

|change = −18.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Cyril Harding

|votes = 1,679

|percentage = 9.1

|change = New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 2,470

|percentage = 13.3

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 18,465

|percentage = 57.4

|change = −25.6

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 32,158

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Independent (politician)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

* Barnard was also the nominee of the National Farmers' Union

{{Election box begin | title=1921 Hertford by-electionBritish Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, F W S Craig

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Anti-Waste League

|candidate = *Murray Sueter

|votes = 12,329

|percentage = 68.9

|change = New

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Unionist Party (UK)

|candidate = Hildred Carlile

|votes = 5,553

|percentage = 31.1

|change = New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 6,776

|percentage = 37.8

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 17,882

|percentage = 55.1

|change = −2.3

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 32,426

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Anti-Waste League

|loser = Independent (politician)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

* Sueter was also the nominee of the Independent Parliamentary Group.

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1922: Hertford British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, F W S Craig

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Unionist Party (UK)

|candidate = Murray Sueter

|votes = 11,406

|percentage = 63.6

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Thomas Greenwood

|votes = 6,534

|percentage = 36.4

|change = New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 4,872

|percentage = 27.2

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 17,940

|percentage = 54.1

|change = −3.3

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 33,184

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Unionist Party (UK)

|loser = Anti-Waste League

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1923: Hertford British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Unionist Party (UK)

|candidate = Murray Sueter

|votes = 10,660

|percentage = 52.2

|change = −11.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Thomas Greenwood

|votes = 9,763

|percentage = 47.8

|change = +11.4

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 897

|percentage = 4.4

|change = −22.8

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 20,423

|percentage = 60.6

|change = +6.5

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 33,704

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Unionist Party (UK)

|swing = −11.4

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1924: HertfordBritish Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, F W S Craig

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Unionist Party (UK)

|candidate = Murray Sueter

|votes = 14,582

|percentage = 60.0

|change = +7.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Thomas Morris Davies

|votes = 5,828

|percentage = 24.0

|change = −23.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Ernest Selley

|votes = 3,885

|percentage = 16.0

|change = New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 8,754

|percentage = 36.0

|change = +31.6

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 24,295

|percentage = 70.8

|change = +10.2

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 34,315

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Unionist Party (UK)

|swing = +15.8

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1929: HertfordBritish Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, F W S Craig

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Unionist Party (UK)

|candidate = Murray Sueter

|votes = 13,525

|percentage = 39.5

|change = −20.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Independent (politician)

|candidate = Noel Pemberton Billing

|votes = 10,149

|percentage = 29.6

|change = New

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Thomas Evander Evans

|votes = 6,419

|percentage = 18.7

|change = −5.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Roger S Edwards

|votes = 4,193

|percentage = 12.2

|change = −3.8

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 3,376

|percentage = 9.9

|change = −26.1

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 34,286

|percentage = 74.7

|change = +3.9

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 45,893

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Unionist Party (UK)

|swing = −7.6

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1931: Hertford British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, F W S Craig

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Murray Sueter

|votes = 25,751

|percentage = 78.4

|change = +38.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Roger S Edwards

|votes = 7,092

|percentage = 21.6

|change = +9.4

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 18,659

|percentage = 56.8

|change = +46.9

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 32,843

|percentage = 69.1

|change = −5.6

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = +14.7

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1935: Hertford British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, F W S Craig

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Murray Sueter

|votes = 21,193

|percentage = 64.8

|change = −13.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Roger S Edwards

|votes = 11,492

|percentage = 35.2

|change = +13.6

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 9,701

|percentage = 29.6

|change = −27.2

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 32,685

|percentage = 62.5

|change = −6.6

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = −11.7

}}

{{Election box end}}

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: Murray Sueter
• Labour: Mitchell W. GordonReport of the Annual Conference of the Labour Party, 1939

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1945: HertfordBritish Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, F W S Craig

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Derek Walker-Smith

|votes = 19,877

|percentage = 43.3

|change = −21.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Lynton Scutts

|votes = 17,349

|percentage = 37.9

|change = +2.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Thomas Peter Hughes

|votes = 7,587

|percentage = 16.6

|change =new

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Independent (politician)

|candidate =Arthur Bernard Swain

|votes = 1,005

|percentage = 2.2

|change =new

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 2,528

|percentage = 5.4

|change = −24.2

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 45,818

|percentage = 70.4

|change = +7.9

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = −12.1

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1950: HertfordBritish Parliamentary Election Results 1950-1973, F W S Craig{{cite web|last1=Kimber|first1=Richard|title=UK General Election results February 1950|url=http://politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge50/i11.htm|website=Political Science Resources|access-date=11 April 2016}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Derek Walker-Smith

|votes = 25,074

|percentage = 45.90

|change = +2.60

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Lynton Scutts

|votes = 19,324

|percentage = 35.37

|change = −2.53

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Thomas Peter Hughes

|votes = 10,234

|percentage = 18.73

|change = +2.13

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 5,750

|percentage = 10.53

|change = +5.13

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 54,632

|percentage = 83.18

|change = +12.78

}}

{{Election box registered electors

|reg. electors = 65,683

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = +2.57

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1951: Hertford{{cite web|last1=Kimber|first1=Richard|title=UK General Election results 1951

|url=http://politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge51/i11.htm|website=Political Science Resources|access-date=11 April 2016}}{{Cite book|title=The Times' Guide to the House of Commons|year=1951}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Derek Walker-Smith

|votes = 30,519

|percentage = 56.28

|change = +10.38

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Co-operative

|candidate = Richard Marsh

|votes = 23,708

|percentage = 43.72

|change = +8.35

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 6,811

|percentage = 12.56

|change = +2.03

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 54,227

|percentage = 80.80

|change = −2.38

}}

{{Election box registered electors

|reg. electors = 67,110

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = +1.02

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1955: Hertford{{cite web|last1=Kimber|first1=Richard|title=UK General Election results 1955

|url=http://politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge55/i11.htm|website=Political Science Resources|access-date=11 April 2016}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Robert Lindsay

|votes = 25,014

|percentage = 56.79

|change = +0.51

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = John McKnight

|votes = 19,030

|percentage = 43.21

|change = −0.51

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 5,984

|percentage = 13.58

|change = +1.02

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 44,044

|percentage = 82.24

|change = +1.44

}}

{{Election box registered electors

|reg. electors = 53,556

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = +0.51

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1959: Hertford{{cite web|last1=Kimber|first1=Richard|title=UK General Election results 1959

|url=http://politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge59/i11.htm|website=Political Science Resources|access-date=11 April 2016}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Robert Lindsay

|votes = 31,418

|percentage = 58.17

|change = +1.38

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Gerald D Southgate

|votes = 22,597

|percentage = 41.83

|change = −1.38

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 8,821

|percentage = 16.34

|change = +2.76

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 54,015

|percentage = 84.26

|change = +2.02

}}

{{Election box registered electors

|reg. electors = 64,106

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = +1.38

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1964: Hertford{{cite web|last1=Kimber|first1=Richard|title=UK General Election results 1964|url=http://politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge64/i11.htm|website=Political Science Resources|access-date=11 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304112821/http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge64/i11.htm|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Robert Lindsay

|votes = 29,134

|percentage = 46.23

|change = −11.94

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Thomas A Deacon

|votes = 25,161

|percentage = 39.93

|change = −1.90

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Anna Harman

|votes = 8,722

|percentage = 13.84

|change = New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 3,973

|percentage = 6.30

|change = −10.04

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 63,017

|percentage = 84.64

|change = +0.38

}}

{{Election box registered electors

|reg. electors = 74,450

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = −5.02

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1966: Hertford{{cite web|last1=Kimber|first1=Richard|title=UK General Election results 1966

|url=http://politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge66/i11.htm|website=Political Science Resources|access-date=11 April 2016}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Robert Lindsay

|votes = 32,302

|percentage = 50.62

|change = +3.79

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Peter Nurse

|votes = 31,508

|percentage = 49.38

|change = +9.45

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 794

|percentage = 1.24

|change = −5.06

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 63,810

|percentage = 83.70

|change = −0.94

}}

{{Election box registered electors

|reg. electors = 76,234

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = −2.83

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1970: Hertford{{cite web|last1=Kimber|first1=Richard|title=UK General Election results 1970

|url=http://politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge70/i10.htm|website=Political Science Resources|access-date=11 April 2016}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Robert Lindsay

|votes = 36,494

|percentage = 52.58

|change = +1.96

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Yvonne Sieve

|votes = 26,924

|percentage = 38.79

|change = −10.59

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = John Melling

|votes = 5,994

|percentage = 8.64

|change = New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 9,570

|percentage = 13.79

|change = +12.55

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 69,412

|percentage = 78.08

|change = −5.62

}}

{{Election box registered electors

|reg. electors = 88,900

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = +6.28

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{reflist}}

• Robert Beatson, A Chronological Register of Both Houses of Parliament (London: Longman, Hurst, Res & Orme, 1807) [https://books.google.com/books?id=Gh2wKY2rkDUC&q=Return+of+Members+of+Parliament]
• D. Brunton & D. H. Pennington, Members of the Long Parliament (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1954)
• Cobbett's Parliamentary history of England, from the Norman Conquest in 1066 to the year 1803 (London: Thomas Hansard, 1808) [https://web.archive.org/web/20150904125310/http://www2.odl.ox.ac.uk/gsdl/cgi-bin/library?e=p-000-00---0modhis06--00-0-0-0prompt-10---4------0-1l--1-en-50---20-about---00001-001-1-1isoZz-8859Zz-1-0&a=d&cl=CL1]
• F. W. S. Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (2nd edition, Aldershot: Parliamentary Research Services, 1989)
• F W S Craig, "British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949" (Glasgow: Political Reference Publications, 1969)
• Henry Stooks Smith, The Parliaments of England from 1715 to 1847 (2nd edition, edited by FWS Craig - Chichester: Parliamentary Reference Publications, 1973)
• {{Rayment-hc|h|3|date=March 2012}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hertford (Uk Parliament Constituency)}}

Category:Parliamentary constituencies in Hertfordshire (historic)

Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom disestablished in 1974

Category:Hertford