Hitchin and Harpenden (UK Parliament constituency)
{{Short description|Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1997–2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2013}}
{{Infobox UK constituency main
|name = Hitchin and Harpenden
|parliament = uk
|map1 = HitchinHarpenden2007
|map2 =
|map_entity = Hertfordshire
|map_year =
|year = 1997
|abolished = 2024
|type = County
|previous = North Hertfordshire
St Albans
Welwyn Hatfield
|next = Hitchin
Harpenden and Berkhamsted
|electorate = 74,189 (December 2010){{cite web
|url=http://www.boundarycommissionforengland.org.uk/electoral-figures/electoral-figures.htm
|title=Electorate Figures – Boundary Commission for England
|date=4 March 2011
|work=2011 Electorate Figures
|publisher=Boundary Commission for England
|access-date=13 March 2011
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101106204053/http://www.boundarycommissionforengland.org.uk/electoral-figures/electoral-figures.htm
|archive-date=6 November 2010
}}
|mp = Bim Afolami
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|region = England
|county = Hertfordshire
|european = East of England
|towns = Hitchin, Harpenden, Wheathampstead,
|elects_howmany = One
}}
Hitchin and Harpenden was a constituency{{#tag:ref|A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)|group= n}} represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament from 1997 general election until 2024 general election.{{#tag:ref|As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.|group= n}} The seat was represented by the Conservative Party for the duration of its existence.
Following its abolition in 2024, the contents of the constituency were distributed to the new seats of Hitchin and Harpenden and Berkhamsted.{{Cite web |title=The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume one: Report – Eastern {{!}} Boundary Commission for England |url=https://boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk/2023-review/2023-review-volume-one-report/the-2023-review-of-parliamentary-constituency-boundaries-in-england-volume-one-report-eastern/ |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk}}
History
The constituency was created for the 1997 general election from parts of several former Hertfordshire seats. Prior to 1997, Hitchin was included in the abolished North Hertfordshire constituency and Harpenden in the St Albans constituency, while the village of Wheathampstead was part of the Welwyn Hatfield constituency.
The seat's first MP was Peter Lilley, a former Secretary of State for various government departments in the Major ministry in the 1990s, who had previously represented St Albans from 1983 to 1997. He announced he would not contest the seat at the 2017 general election.{{cite web|url=http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/hitchin-and-harpenden-mp-peter-lilley-announces-his-decision-to-stand-down-after-34-years/story-30294974-detail/story.html|title=Hitchin MP announces his decision to stand down after 34 years|date=26 April 2017}}{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He was succeeded in 2017 by Bim Afolami of the Conservatives, who retained it at the 2019 general election, albeit with a reduced majority.
The seat was abolished at the 2024 general election, and was divided between the new seats of Hitchin (containing 54.9% of the abolished seat's electorate) and Harpenden and Berkhamsted (containing the remaining 45.1%). Afolami attempted to seek re-election in Hitchin, but was defeated by the Labour candidate Alistair Strathern.
Boundaries
{{maplink|raw={{Wikipedia:Map data/Hitchin and Harpenden (UK Parliament constituency)}}|frame=yes|frame-width=220|frame-height=220|text=Map of boundaries 2010-2024}}
=1997–2010=
- The District of North Hertfordshire wards of Ashbrook, Bearton, Cadwell, Highbury, Hitchwood, Hoo, Kimpton, Offa, Oughton, Priory, and Walsworth; and
- The City of St Albans wards of Harpenden East, Harpenden North, Harpenden South, Harpenden West, Redbourn, Sandridge, and Wheathampstead.{{Cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1995/1626/made/data.htm|title=The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995|website=www.legislation.gov.uk|language=en|access-date=2019-02-25}}
=2010–2024=
- The District of North Hertfordshire wards of Cadwell, Graveley and Wymondley, Hitchin Bearton, Hitchin Highbury, Hitchin Oughton, Hitchin Priory, Hitchin Walsworth, Hitchwood, Hoo, Kimpton, and Offa; and
- The City of St Albans wards of Harpenden East, Harpenden North, Harpenden South, Harpenden West, Redbourn, Sandridge, and Wheathampstead.{{Cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/1681/made/data.htm|title=The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007|website=www.legislation.gov.uk|access-date=2019-02-25}}
Minor gain from North East Hertfordshire due to revision of local authority wards.
=Abolition=
Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat was abolished for the 2024 general election, with its contents distributed to two new constituencies:
- Parts in the District of North Hertfordshire, including Hitchin incorporated into the re-established constituency of Hitchin, which forms a cross-county boundary seat with parts of Central Bedfordshire
- Parts in the City of St Albans, including Harpenden incorporated into the newly created seat of Harpenden and Berkhamsted
Members of Parliament
| class="wikitable" | |
| colspan="2"|Election | Member{{Rayment-hc|h|3|date=March 2012}}
!Party |
|---|---|
| style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| 1997 | |
| style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| 2017 |
Election results
=Elections in the 2010s=
{{Election box begin|title=General election 2019: Hitchin and Harpenden{{cite news |title=Hitchin & Harpenden Parliamentary constituency |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000749 |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC |access-date=19 November 2019}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = Bim Afolami
|votes = 27,719
|percentage = 47.1
|change = −6.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate = Sam Collins
|votes = 20,824
|percentage = 35.4
|change = +24.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = Kay Tart
|votes = 9,959
|percentage = 16.9
|change = −15.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Christian Peoples Alliance
|candidate = Sid Cordle
|votes = 268
|percentage = 0.5
|change = +0.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Advance Together
|candidate = Peter Marshall
|votes = 101
|percentage = 0.2
|change = New
}}
{{Election box majority
|votes = 6,895
|percentage = 11.7
|change = −8.8
}}
{{Election box turnout
|votes = 58,921
|percentage = 77.1
|change = −0.3
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
|winner = Conservative Party (UK)
|swing = −15.4
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin
|title=General election 2017: Hitchin and Harpenden
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = Bim Afolami{{cite web |url=http://www.hertsad.co.uk/news/general-election-2017-conservatives-name-parliamentary-candidate-for-hitchin-and-harpenden-1-5006380 |title=General Election 2017: Conservatives name parliamentary candidate for Hitchin and Harpenden |work=The Herts Advertiser |date=6 May 2017 |access-date=9 May 2017 |archive-date=23 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223224338/http://www.hertsad.co.uk/news/general-election-2017-conservatives-name-parliamentary-candidate-for-hitchin-and-harpenden-1-5006380 |url-status=dead }}
|votes = 31,189
|percentage = 53.1
|change = −3.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|votes = 19,158
|percentage = 32.6
|change = +12.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|votes = 6,236
|percentage = 10.6
|change = +2.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Green Party of England and Wales
|votes = 1,329
|percentage = 2.3
|change = −3.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Independent (politician)
{{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}
|votes = 629
|percentage = 1.1
|change = New
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Christian Peoples Alliance
|votes = 242
|percentage = 0.4
|change = New
}}
{{Election box majority
|votes = 12,031
|percentage = 20.5
|change = −15.8
}}
{{Election box turnout
|votes = 58,783
|percentage = 77.4
|change = +8.5
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
|winner = Conservative Party (UK)
|swing = −7.9
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin
|title=General election 2015: Hitchin and Harpenden{{cite web|title=Election Data 2015|url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt|publisher=Electoral Calculus|access-date=17 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017112223/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt|archive-date=17 October 2015}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000749 | title=Harpenden & Hitching parliamentary constituency – Election 2015 – BBC news | work=bbc.co.uk}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = Peter Lilley
|votes = 31,488
|percentage = 56.9
|change = +2.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = Rachel Burgin
|votes = 11,433
|percentage = 20.6
|change = +7.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = UK Independence Party
|candidate = John Stocker
|votes = 4,917
|percentage = 8.9
|change = +5.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate = Pauline Pearce
|votes = 4,484
|percentage = 8.1
|change = −18.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Green Party of England and Wales
|candidate = Richard Wise
|votes = 3,053
|percentage = 5.5
|change = +4.0
}}
{{Election box majority
|votes = 20,055
|percentage = 36.3
|change = +8.4
}}
{{Election box turnout
|votes = 55,375
|percentage = 68.9
|change = −5.2
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
|winner = Conservative Party (UK)
|swing = +2.3
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin
|title=General election 2010: Hitchin and Harpenden{{cite web|title=Election Data 2010|url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2010.txt|publisher=Electoral Calculus|access-date=17 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726162034/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2010.txt|archive-date=26 July 2013}}{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/constituency/c22.stm |title=Hitchin and Harpenden |date=7 May 2010 |work=Election 2010 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=4 May 2010}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = Peter Lilley
|votes = 29,869
|percentage = 54.6
|change = +4.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Liberal Democrats (UK)|candidate=Nigel Quinton|votes=14,598|percentage=26.7|change=+0.9}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Labour Party (UK)|candidate=Oliver de Botton|votes=7,413|percentage=13.6|change=−8.8}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=UK Independence Party|candidate=Graham Wilkinson|votes=1,633|percentage=3.0|change=+1.3}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Green Party of England and Wales|candidate=Richard Wise|votes=807|percentage=1.5|change=New}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Independent (politician)|candidate=Margaret Henderson|votes=109|percentage=0.2|change=New}}
{{Election box candidate|
|party = Citizens for Undead Rights and Equality
|candidate = Simon Byron
|votes = 108
|percentage = 0.2
|change = New
}}
{{Election box candidate|
|party = Your Right to Democracy
|candidate = Eric Hannah
|votes = 90
|percentage = 0.2
|change = New
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Independent (politician)|candidate=Peter Rigby|votes=50|percentage=0.1|change=−0.3}}
{{Election box majority|votes=15,271|percentage=27.9|change=+3.9}}
{{Election box turnout|votes=54,707|percentage=74.1|change=+5.4}}
{{Election box hold with party link
|winner = Conservative Party (UK)
|swing = +2.5
}}
{{Election box end}}
=Elections in the 2000s=
{{Election box begin
|title=General election 2005: Hitchin and Harpenden}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = Peter Lilley
|votes = 23,627
|percentage = 49.9
|change = +2.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Liberal Democrats (UK)|candidate=Hannah Hedges|votes=12,234|percentage=25.8|change=+7.8}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Labour Party (UK)|candidate=Paul Orrett|votes=10,499|percentage=22.2|change=−10.3}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=UK Independence Party|candidate=John Saunders|votes=828|percentage=1.7|change=+0.4}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Independent (politician)|candidate=Peter Rigby|votes=199|percentage=0.4|change=−0.4}}
{{Election box majority|votes=11,393|percentage=24.1|change=+9.3}}
{{Election box turnout|votes=47,387|percentage=70.5|change=+3.6}}
{{Election box hold with party link
|winner = Conservative Party (UK)
|swing = −2.6
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin
|title=General election 2001: Hitchin and Harpenden}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = Peter Lilley
|votes = 21,271
|percentage = 47.3
|change = +1.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = Alan Amos
|votes = 14,608
|percentage = 32.5
|change = −0.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate = John Murphy
|votes = 8,076
|percentage = 18.0
|change = −2.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = UK Independence Party
|candidate = John Saunders
|votes = 606
|percentage = 1.3
|change = New
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Independent (politician)
|candidate = Peter Rigby
|votes = 363
|percentage = 0.8
|change = New
}}
{{Election box majority
|votes = 6,663
|percentage = 14.8
|change = +2.0
}}
{{Election box turnout
|votes = 44,924
|percentage = 66.9
|change = −11.1
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
|winner = Conservative Party (UK)
|swing = +1.0
}}
{{Election box end}}
=Elections in the 1990s=
{{Election box begin
|title=General election 1997: Hitchin and Harpenden}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = Peter Lilley
|votes = 24,038
|percentage = 45.9
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = Rosemary Sanderson
|votes = 17,367
|percentage = 33.1
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate = Chris J. White
|votes = 10,515
|percentage = 20.1
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Natural Law Party
|candidate = David R.H. Cooke
|votes = 290
|percentage = 0.6
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Socialist Party (England and Wales)
|candidate = Jim D.O. Horton
|votes = 217
|percentage = 0.4
|change =
}}
{{Election box majority
|votes = 6,671
|percentage = 12.8
|change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
|votes = 52,427
|percentage = 78.0
|change =
}}
{{Election box new seat win|
|winner = Conservative Party (UK)
}}
{{Election box end}}
See also
Notes
{{Reflist|group=n}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://mapit.mysociety.org/area/13153.html Hitchin and Harpenden UK Parliament constituency] (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK
- [https://mapit.mysociety.org/area/65724.html Hitchin and Harpenden UK Parliament constituency] (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK
{{Constituencies in the East of England}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|51.83|N|0.21|W|type:landmark_region:GB|display=title}}
Category:Parliamentary constituencies in Hertfordshire (historic)
Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom established in 1997
Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom disestablished in 2024