Hertford (UK Parliament constituency)

Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1801–1974

Hertford

Former county constituency
for the House of Commons
County| Hertfordshire
Major settlements| Hertford
1885–1974 (1974)
Seats| One
Replaced by| Hertford & Stevenage
1298–1885
Seats| Two (1298-1868), One (1868-1885)
Type of constituency| Borough constituency

Hertford was the name of a parliamentary constituency in Hertfordshire, which elected Members of Parliament (MPs) from 1298 until 1974.

## History

[edit]

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.[1]

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.

## Boundaries and boundary changes

[edit]

### 1885–1918

[edit]

* 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.[2]

### 1918–1950

[edit]

* 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.[3]

Minor changes to boundaries.

### 1950–1955

[edit]

* 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.[4]

Nominal changes only to reflect restructuring of rural districts.

### 1955–1974

[edit]

* The Borough of Hertford;
* The Urban District of Welwyn Garden City; and
* The Rural Districts of Hatfield, Hertford, and Welwyn.[5]

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.

## Members of Parliament

[edit]

### Hertford borough (1298–1885)

[edit]

#### 1298–1640

[edit]

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (August 2008)

|

Parliament | First member | Second member

|
|

1376 | Constituency franchise lapsed
1624 | Constituency re-enfranchised by Parliament
1624 | William Ashton | Thomas Fanshawe
1625 | William Ashton | Thomas Fanshawe
1626 | Sir William Harrington | Sir Capell Bedell
1628 | Sir Edward Howard ennobled
and replaced by Sir Charles Morrison | Sir Thomas Fanshawe
1629 | John Carey, Viscount Rochford | Sir Thomas Fanshawe
1629–1640 | No Parliaments summoned

#### 1640–1868

[edit]

Year |  | First member | First party |  | Second member | Second party

|
|
|
|
|
|

April 1640 |  | Viscount Cranborne | Parliamentarian |  | Sir Thomas Fanshawe | Royalist
November 1640
November 1643  | Fanshawe disabled from sitting - seat vacant
1645  |  | William Leman |
December 1648  | Cranborne not recorded as sitting after Pride's Purge
1653  | Hertford was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament
1654 |  | Isaac Pulter |  | Hertford had only one seat in the First and
Second Parliaments of the Protectorate
1656
January 1659 |  | James Cowper |
May 1659 |  | Not represented in the restored Rump
April 1660  |  | Arthur Sparke |  |  | James Cowper |
1661  |  | Sir Edward Turnor |  |  | Thomas Fanshawe |
1673  |  | Sir Thomas Byde |
1675  |  | Edmund Feilde |
1677  |  | Sir John Gore |
February 1679  |  | Sir Charles Caesar |
September 1679  |  | Sir William Cowper |
1685  |  | Sir Francis Boteler |
1689  |  | Sir William Cowper |
1690  |  | Sir William Leman |
1695  |  | William Cowper |
January 1701  |  | Charles Caesar |  |  | Thomas Filmer |
February 1701  |  | Richard Goulston |
1705  |  | Sir Thomas Clarke |
1708  |  | William Monson |
1710  |  | Charles Caesar |  |  | Richard Goulston |
1715 [6] |  | Sir Thomas Clarke |  |  | John Boteler |
1722  |  | Edward Harrison |  |  | Charles Caesar[7] |
1723  |  | Sir Thomas Clarke |
1727  |  | George Harrison |
1734  |  | Nathaniel Brassey |
1741  |  | George Harrison |
1759  |  | George Cowper |
1761  |  | John Calvert |  |  | Timothy Caswall |
1768  |  | William Cowper |
1770  |  | Paul Feilde |
1780  |  | Thomas, Baron Dimsdale[8] |  |  | William Baker |
1784  |  | John Calvert |
1790  |  | Nathaniel, Baron Dimsdale[8] |
1802  |  | Hon. Edward Spencer Cowper | Whig[9] |  | Nicolson Calvert | Whig[9]
1817  |  | James Gascoyne-Cecil | Tory[9]
1823  |  | Thomas Byron | Tory[10]
1826  |  | Thomas Slingsby Duncombe | Whig[9]
1830  |  | Henry Chetwynd-Talbot | Tory[9]
1831  |  | John Currie | Whig[9]
1832 [11] |  | Henry Chetwynd-Talbot | Tory[9] |  | Philip Stanhope | Tory[9]
1832  | writ suspended: both seats vacant until 1835[11]
1835  |  | Hon. William Cowper | Whig[12][13][14][9] |  | Philip Stanhope | Conservative[9]
1852  |  | Thomas Chambers | Radical[15][16][17]
1857  |  | Sir Walter Townshend-Farquhar | Conservative
1859  |  | Liberal
1866  |  | Robert Dimsdale | Conservative
1868 | Representation reduced to one MP

#### 1868–1885

[edit]

Election |  | Member | Party

|
|
|

1868 |  | Robert Dimsdale | Conservative
1874 |  | Arthur Balfour | Conservative
1885 | Constituency abolished; name transferred to county division

### Hertford county constituency (1885–1974)

[edit]

Election |  | Member | Party

|
|
|

1885 |  | Abel Smith | Conservative
1898 by-election |  | Evelyn Cecil | Conservative
1900 |  | Abel Henry Smith | Conservative
Jan. 1910 |  | Sir John Rolleston | Conservative
1916 by-election |  | Noel Pemberton Billing | Independent
1918 |  | Silver Badge Party
1921 by-election |  | (Sir) Murray Sueter | Anti-Waste League/Independent Parliamentary Group
1922 |  | Conservative
1945 |  | Sir Derek Walker-Smith | Conservative
1955 |  | Robert Lindsay | Conservative
Feb. 1974 | Constituency abolished - see Hertford and Stevenage

## Elections

[edit]

### Elections in the 1830s

[edit]

General election 1830: Hertford[9][10] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Whig | Thomas Slingsby Duncombe | Unopposed
| Tory | Henry Chetwynd-Talbot | Unopposed
Registered electors | c. 800 |
| Whig hold
| Tory hold
General election 1831: Hertford[9][10] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Whig | Thomas Slingsby Duncombe | 492  | 37.7
| Whig | John Currie (MP)  | 431  | 33.0
| Tory | Henry Chetwynd-Talbot | 383  | 29.3
Majority  | 48  | 3.7
Turnout | 739  | c. 92.4
Registered electors | c. 800 |
| Whig hold
| Whig gain from Tory
General election 1832: Hertford[9][18] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Tory | Henry Chetwynd-Talbot | 432  | 32.5  | +17.9
| Tory | Philip Stanhope | 381  | 28.7  | +14.1
| Radical | Thomas Slingsby Duncombe | 329  | 24.8  | −12.9
| Radical | John Eden Spalding  | 186  | 14.0  | N/A
Majority | 52  | 3.9  | N/A
Turnout | 671  | 95.9  | c. +3.5
Registered electors | 700  |  |
| Tory gain from Whig | Swing | +12.2  |
| Tory gain from Whig | Swing | +10.3  |

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

General election 1835: Hertford[9][18] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Philip Stanhope | 359  | 35.7  | +7.0
| Whig | William Cowper | 327  | 32.5  | N/A
| Conservative | Henry Chetwynd-Talbot | 321  | 31.9  | −0.6
Turnout | 616  | 97.3  | +1.4
Registered electors | 633  |  |
Majority | 32  | 3.2  | −0.7
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |
Majority | 6  | 0.6  | N/A
| Whig gain from Conservative | Swing |  |
General election 1837: Hertford[9][18] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | William Cowper | 378  | 38.5  | +6.0
| Conservative | Philip Stanhope | 306  | 31.2  | −36.4
| Radical | John Currie (MP)  | 297  | 30.3  | N/A
Turnout | 580  | 91.9  | −5.4
Registered electors | 631  |  |
Majority | 72  | 7.3  | +6.7
| Whig hold | Swing | +21.2  |
Majority | 9  | 0.9  | −2.3
| Conservative hold | Swing | −21.2  |

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

By-election, 20 May 1839: Hertford[9][18] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | William Cowper | 297  | 51.7  | +13.2
| Conservative | Walter Townsend-Farquhar | 278  | 48.3  | +17.1
Majority | 19  | 3.4  | −3.9
Turnout | 575  | 92.9  | +1.0
Registered electors | 619  |  |
| Whig hold | Swing | −2.0  |

### Elections in the 1840s

[edit]

General election 1841: Hertford [18][9][10] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | William Cowper | Unopposed
| Conservative | Philip Stanhope | Unopposed
Registered electors | 607  |  |
| Whig hold
| Conservative hold

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

By-election, 11 July 1846: Hertford [18] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | William Cowper | Unopposed
| Whig hold
General election 1847: Hertford [18] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | William Cowper | Unopposed
| Conservative | Philip Stanhope | Unopposed
Registered electors | 567  |  |
| Whig hold
| Conservative hold

### Elections in the 1850s

[edit]

General election 1852: Hertford [18] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | William Cowper | 301  | 32.3  | N/A
| Radical | Thomas Chambers | 235  | 25.2  | N/A
| Conservative | Philip Stanhope | 213  | 22.9  | N/A
| Conservative | Charles Dimsdale[19] | 182  | 19.5  | N/A
Turnout | 466 (est)  | 68.0 (est)  | N/A
Registered electors | 685  |  |
Majority | 66  | 7.1  | N/A
| Whig hold | Swing | N/A |
Majority | 22  | 2.3  | N/A
| Radical gain from Conservative

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

By-election, 1 January 1853: Hertford [18] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | William Cowper | Unopposed
| Whig hold

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

By-election, 14 August 1855: Hertford [18] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | William Cowper | Unopposed
| Whig hold

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

By-election, 9 February 1857: Hertford [18] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | William Cowper | Unopposed
| Whig hold
General election 1857: Hertford [18] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | William Cowper | 301  | 37.2  | +4.9
| Conservative | Walter Townsend-Farquhar | 273  | 33.7  | −8.7
| Radical | Thomas Chambers | 235  | 29.0  | +3.8
Turnout | 405 (est)  | 65.2 (est)  | −2.8
Registered electors | 620  |  |
Majority | 28  | 3.5  | −3.6
| Whig hold | Swing | +4.6  |
Majority | 38  | 4.7  | N/A
| Conservative gain from Radical | Swing | −6.3  |
General election 1859: Hertford [18] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | William Cowper | Unopposed
| Conservative | Walter Townsend-Farquhar | Unopposed
Registered electors | 530  |  |
| Liberal hold
| Conservative hold

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

By-election, 19 August 1859: Hertford [18] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | William Cowper | 281  | 57.9  | N/A
| Conservative | Robert Dimsdale | 204  | 42.1  | N/A
Majority | 77  | 15.8  | N/A
Turnout | 485  | 91.5  | N/A
Registered electors | 530  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | N/A |

### Elections in the 1860s

[edit]

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

By-election, 13 February 1860: Hertford [18] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | William Cowper | Unopposed
| Liberal hold
General election 1865: Hertford [18] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | William Cowper | Unopposed
| Conservative | Walter Townshend-Farquhar | Unopposed
Registered electors | 543  |  |
| Liberal hold
| Conservative hold

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

By-election, 30 June 1866: Hertford [18] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Robert Dimsdale | Unopposed
| Conservative hold

Seat reduced to one member

General election 1868: Hertford [18] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Robert Dimsdale | 434  | 55.7  | N/A
| Liberal | Frederick Waymouth Gibbs[20] | 345  | 44.3  | N/A
Majority | 89  | 11.4  | N/A
Turnout | 779  | 84.5  | N/A
Registered electors | 922  |  |
| Conservative hold

### Elections in the 1870s

[edit]

Arthur Balfour was MP for Hertford between 1874 and 1885, and later Prime Minister. General election 1874: Hertford [18] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Arthur Balfour | Unopposed
Registered electors | 1,041  |  |
| Conservative hold

### Elections in the 1880s

[edit]

General election 1880: Hertford [18] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Arthur Balfour | 564  | 58.5  | N/A
| Liberal | Edward Ernest Bowen[21] | 400  | 41.5  | New
Majority | 164  | 17.0  | N/A
Turnout | 964  | 89.2  | N/A
Registered electors | 1,081  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | N/A |

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

By-election, 30 Jun 1885: Hertford [18] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Arthur Balfour | Unopposed
| Conservative hold
Smith General election 1885: Hertford [22][23] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Abel Smith | 4,263  | 58.1  | −0.4
| Liberal | Henry Cowper | 3,072  | 41.9  | +0.4
Majority | 1,191  | 16.2  | −0.8
Turnout | 7,335  | 83.0  | −6.2
Registered electors | 8,840  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | −0.4  |
General election 1886: Hertford [22][23] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Abel Smith | Unopposed
| Conservative hold

### Elections in the 1890s

[edit]

General election 1892: Hertford [22][23] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Abel Smith | 4,276  | 60.3  | N/A
| Liberal | Edwin Robert Speirs  | 2,818  | 39.7  | New
Majority | 1,458  | 20.6  | N/A
Turnout | 7,094  | 75.8  | N/A
Registered electors | 9,355  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | N/A |
General election 1895: Hertford [22][23] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Abel Smith | Unopposed
| Conservative hold

Smith's death caused a by-election.

Spencer 1898 Hertford by-election[22] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Evelyn Cecil | 4,118  | 51.7  | N/A
| Liberal | Charles Spencer | 3,850  | 48.3  | New
Majority | 268  | 3.4  | N/A
Turnout | 7,968  | 77.4  | N/A
Registered electors | 10,301  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | N/A |

### Elections in the 1900s

[edit]

Smith General election 1900: Hertford [22][23] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Abel Henry Smith | Unopposed
| Conservative hold
Buxton General election 1906: Hertford [22][23] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Abel Henry Smith | 4,836  | 50.4  | N/A
| Liberal | Charles Buxton | 4,756  | 49.6  | New
Majority | 80  | 0.8  | N/A
Turnout | 9,592  | 86.2  | N/A
Registered electors | 11,124  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | N/A |

### Elections in the 1910s

[edit]

General election January 1910: Hertford [24][23] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | John Rolleston | 6,147  | 58.0  | +7.6
| Liberal | Edmund Broughton Barnard | 4,455  | 42.0  | −7.6
Majority | 1,692  | 16.0  | +15.2
Turnout | 10,602  | 89.6  | +3.4
Registered electors | 11,838  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +7.6  |
General election December 1910: Hertford [24][23] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | John Rolleston | 5,594  | 57.0  | −1.0
| Liberal | George Strachan Pawle  | 4,226  | 43.0  | +1.0
Majority | 1,368  | 14.0  | −2.0
Turnout | 9,820  | 83.0  | −6.6
Registered electors | 12,684  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | −1.0  |

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

Billing 1916 Hertford by-election[24] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Independent | Noel Pemberton Billing | 4,590  | 56.3  | New
| Unionist | Brodie Henderson | 3,559  | 43.7  | −13.3
Majority | 1,031  | 12.6  | N/A
Turnout | 8,149  | 64.2  | −18.8
Registered electors | 12,684  |  |
| Independent gain from Unionist | Swing |  |
General election 1918: Hertford [25] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Independent | Noel Pemberton-Billing | 9,628  | 52.1  | N/A
| National | *Edmund Broughton Barnard | 7,158  | 38.8  | −18.2
| Labour | Cyril Harding  | 1,679  | 9.1  | New
Majority | 2,470  | 13.3  | N/A
Turnout | 18,465  | 57.4  | −25.6
Registered electors | 32,158  |  |
| Independent hold | Swing |  |

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

### Elections in the 1920s

[edit]

1921 Hertford by-election[25] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Anti-Waste League | *Murray Sueter | 12,329  | 68.9  | New
| Unionist | Hildred Carlile | 5,553  | 31.1  | New
Majority | 6,776  | 37.8  | N/A
Turnout | 17,882  | 55.1  | −2.3
Registered electors | 32,426  |  |
| Anti-Waste League gain from Independent | Swing |  |

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

General election 1922: Hertford [25] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Unionist | Murray Sueter | 11,406  | 63.6  | N/A
| Liberal | Thomas Greenwood  | 6,534  | 36.4  | New
Majority | 4,872  | 27.2  | N/A
Turnout | 17,940  | 54.1  | −3.3
Registered electors | 33,184  |  |
| Unionist gain from Anti-Waste League | Swing |  |
General election 1923: Hertford [26] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Unionist | Murray Sueter | 10,660  | 52.2  | −11.4
| Liberal | Thomas Greenwood  | 9,763  | 47.8  | +11.4
Majority | 897  | 4.4  | −22.8
Turnout | 20,423  | 60.6  | +6.5
Registered electors | 33,704  |  |
| Unionist hold | Swing | −11.4  |
General election 1924: Hertford[25] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Unionist | Murray Sueter | 14,582  | 60.0  | +7.8
| Liberal | Thomas Morris Davies  | 5,828  | 24.0  | −23.8
| Labour | Ernest Selley  | 3,885  | 16.0  | New
Majority | 8,754  | 36.0  | +31.6
Turnout | 24,295  | 70.8  | +10.2
Registered electors | 34,315  |  |
| Unionist hold | Swing | +15.8  |
General election 1929: Hertford[25] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Unionist | Murray Sueter | 13,525  | 39.5  | −20.5
| Independent | Noel Pemberton Billing | 10,149  | 29.6  | New
| Liberal | Thomas Evander Evans  | 6,419  | 18.7  | −5.3
| Labour | Roger S Edwards  | 4,193  | 12.2  | −3.8
Majority | 3,376  | 9.9  | −26.1
Turnout | 34,286  | 74.7  | +3.9
Registered electors | 45,893  |  |
| Unionist hold | Swing | −7.6  |

### Elections in the 1930s

[edit]

General election 1931: Hertford [25] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Murray Sueter | 25,751  | 78.4  | +38.9
| Labour | Roger S Edwards  | 7,092  | 21.6  | +9.4
Majority | 18,659  | 56.8  | +46.9
Turnout | 32,843  | 69.1  | −5.6
| Conservative hold | Swing | +14.7  |
General election 1935: Hertford [25] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Murray Sueter | 21,193  | 64.8  | −13.6
| Labour | Roger S Edwards  | 11,492  | 35.2  | +13.6
Majority | 9,701  | 29.6  | −27.2
Turnout | 32,685  | 62.5  | −6.6
| Conservative hold | Swing | −11.7  |

### Elections in the 1940s

[edit]

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. Gordon[27]

General election 1945: Hertford[25] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Derek Walker-Smith | 19,877  | 43.3  | −21.5
| Labour | Lynton Scutts  | 17,349  | 37.9  | +2.7
| Liberal | Thomas Peter Hughes  | 7,587  | 16.6  | new
| Independent | Arthur Bernard Swain  | 1,005  | 2.2  | new
Majority | 2,528  | 5.4  | −24.2
Turnout | 45,818  | 70.4  | +7.9
| Conservative hold | Swing | −12.1  |

### Elections in the 1950s

[edit]

General election 1950: Hertford[28][29] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Derek Walker-Smith | 25,074  | 45.90  | +2.60
| Labour | Lynton Scutts  | 19,324  | 35.37  | −2.53
| Liberal | Thomas Peter Hughes  | 10,234  | 18.73  | +2.13
Majority | 5,750  | 10.53  | +5.13
Turnout | 54,632  | 83.18  | +12.78
Registered electors | 65,683  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +2.57  |
General election 1951: Hertford[28][30][31] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Derek Walker-Smith | 30,519  | 56.28  | +10.38
| Labour Co-op | Richard Marsh | 23,708  | 43.72  | +8.35
Majority | 6,811  | 12.56  | +2.03
Turnout | 54,227  | 80.80  | −2.38
Registered electors | 67,110  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +1.02  |
General election 1955: Hertford[28][32] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Robert Lindsay | 25,014  | 56.79  | +0.51
| Labour | John McKnight  | 19,030  | 43.21  | −0.51
Majority | 5,984  | 13.58  | +1.02
Turnout | 44,044  | 82.24  | +1.44
Registered electors | 53,556  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +0.51  |
General election 1959: Hertford[28][33] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Robert Lindsay | 31,418  | 58.17  | +1.38
| Labour | Gerald D Southgate  | 22,597  | 41.83  | −1.38
Majority | 8,821  | 16.34  | +2.76
Turnout | 54,015  | 84.26  | +2.02
Registered electors | 64,106  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +1.38  |

### Elections in the 1960s

[edit]

General election 1964: Hertford[28][34] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Robert Lindsay | 29,134  | 46.23  | −11.94
| Labour | Thomas A Deacon  | 25,161  | 39.93  | −1.90
| Liberal | Anna Harman  | 8,722  | 13.84  | New
Majority | 3,973  | 6.30  | −10.04
Turnout | 63,017  | 84.64  | +0.38
Registered electors | 74,450  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | −5.02  |
General election 1966: Hertford[28][35] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Robert Lindsay | 32,302  | 50.62  | +3.79
| Labour | Peter Nurse  | 31,508  | 49.38  | +9.45
Majority | 794  | 1.24  | −5.06
Turnout | 63,810  | 83.70  | −0.94
Registered electors | 76,234  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | −2.83  |

### Elections in the 1970s

[edit]

General election 1970: Hertford[28][36] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Robert Lindsay | 36,494  | 52.58  | +1.96
| Labour | Yvonne Sieve  | 26,924  | 38.79  | −10.59
| Liberal | John Melling  | 5,994  | 8.64  | New
Majority | 9,570  | 13.79  | +12.55
Turnout | 69,412  | 78.08  | −5.62
Registered electors | 88,900  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +6.28  |

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Great Britain (1868). The Statutes of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland [1807-1868/69]. unknown library. His Majesty's statute and law printers.
2. ^ Great Britain, Incorporated Council of Law Reporting for England and Wales. The public general acts. unknown library. Proprietors of the Law Journal Reports, 1884.
3. ^ 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)
4. ^ "Representation of the People Act, 1948". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
5. ^ S., Craig, Fred W. (1972). Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1885-1972;. Chichester: Political Reference Publications. ISBN 0900178094. OCLC 539011.`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
6. ^ At the general election of 1715, Caesar and Goulston were initially declared re-elected, but on petition the result was overturned and their opponents, Clarke and Boteler, were seated in their place
7. ^ On petition, Caesar was adjudged not to have been duly elected and his opponent, Clarke, was declared elected in his place
8. ^ a b Dimsdale was a baron in the Russian peerage
9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Stooks Smith, Henry. (1973) [1844-1850]. Craig, F. W. S. (ed.). The Parliaments of England (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. pp. 145–147. ISBN 0-900178-13-2.
10. ^ a b c d Fisher, David R. "Hertford". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
11. ^ a b At the election of 1832 Ingestrie and Mahon were declared elected, but on petition was their election was declared void, Hertford's writ was suspended and the seats remained vacant until the next general election
12. ^ "Hertford". Hertford Mercury and Reformer. 17 February 1835. p. 3. Retrieved 14 May 2018 - via British Newspaper Archive.
13. ^ Dod, Charles Roger; Dod, Robert Phipps (1847). Dod's Parliamentary Companion, Volume 15. Dod's Parliamentary Companion. pp. 151–152. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
14. ^ Warwick, William Atkinson (1841). The House of Commons: As Elected to the Fourteenth Parliament of the United Kingdom, Being The Second of Victoria. London: Saunders and Otley. p. 43.
15. ^ Dod, Charles Roger; Dod, Robert Phipps (1855). The Parliamentary Companion, 1855. London: Whittaker & Co. p. 154. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
16. ^ "Hertford Election". Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. 10 July 1852. pp. 4, 7. Retrieved 14 May 2018 - via British Newspaper Archive.
17. ^ "The Borough Election". Herts Guardian, Agricultural Journal, and General Advertiser. 10 July 1852. p. 2. Retrieved 14 May 2018 - via British Newspaper Archive.
18. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (e-book) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
19. ^ "Hertford Borough Election". Hertford Mercury and Reformer. 10 July 1852. p. 2. Retrieved 14 May 2018 - via British Newspaper Archive.
20. ^ "Hertford Election". Hertford Mercury and Reformer. 14 November 1868. p. 1. Retrieved 18 February 2018 - via British Newspaper Archive.
21. ^ "Hertford". The Scotsman. 20 March 1880. p. 12. Retrieved 29 November 2017 - via British Newspaper Archive.
22. ^ a b c d e f g The Liberal Year Book, 1907
23. ^ a b c d e f g h Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 9781349022984.
24. ^ a b c Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1918
25. ^ a b c d e f g h British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, F W S Craig
26. ^ British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig
27. ^ Report of the Annual Conference of the Labour Party, 1939
28. ^ a b c d e f g British Parliamentary Election Results 1950-1973, F W S Craig
29. ^ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results February 1950". Political Science Resources. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
30. ^ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1951". Political Science Resources. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
31. ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1951.
32. ^ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1955". Political Science Resources. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
33. ^ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1959". Political Science Resources. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
34. ^ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1964". Political Science Resources. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
35. ^ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1966". Political Science Resources. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
36. ^ Kimber, Richard. "UK General Election results 1970". Political Science Resources. Retrieved 11 April 2016.

* Robert Beatson, A Chronological Register of Both Houses of Parliament (London: Longman, Hurst, Res & Orme, 1807) [1]
* 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) [2]
* 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)
* Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "H" (part 3)

*[c.]: circa