Hitchin and Harpenden (UK Parliament constituency)

Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1997–2024

Hitchin and Harpenden

Former county constituency
for the House of Commons

Boundary of Hitchin and Harpenden in Hertfordshire

County| Hertfordshire
Electorate| 74,189 (December 2010)[1]
Major settlements| Hitchin, Harpenden, Wheathampstead, Redbourn
1997–2024
Seats| One
Created from| North Hertfordshire
St Albans
Welwyn Hatfield
Replaced by| Hitchin
Harpenden and Berkhamsted

Hitchin and Harpenden was a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament from 1997 general election until 2024 general election.[n 2] 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.[2]

## History

[edit]

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.[3] 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

[edit]

Map of boundaries 2010-2024

### 1997–2010

[edit]

* 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.[4]

### 2010–2024

[edit]

* 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.[5]

Minor gain from North East Hertfordshire due to revision of local authority wards.

### Abolition

[edit]

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:[2]

* 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

[edit]

Election | Member[6] | Party

|
|

| 1997 | Peter Lilley | Conservative
| 2017 | Bim Afolami | Conservative

## Election results

[edit]

### Elections in the 2010s

[edit]

General election 2019: Hitchin and Harpenden[7] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Bim Afolami | 27,719  | 47.1  | −6.0
| Liberal Democrats | Sam Collins  | 20,824  | 35.4  | +24.8
| Labour | Kay Tart  | 9,959  | 16.9  | −15.7
| CPA | Sid Cordle  | 268  | 0.5  | +0.1
| Advance | Peter Marshall  | 101  | 0.2  | New
Majority  | 6,895  | 11.7  | −8.8
Turnout | 58,921  | 77.1  | −0.3
| Conservative hold | Swing | −15.4  |
General election 2017: Hitchin and Harpenden [8] [9] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Bim Afolami[10] | 31,189  | 53.1  | −3.8
| Labour | John Hayes[11] | 19,158  | 32.6  | +12.0
| Liberal Democrats | Hugh Annand[12] | 6,236  | 10.6  | +2.5
| Green | Richard Cano[13] | 1,329  | 2.3  | −3.2
| Independent | Ray Blake[14] | 629  | 1.1  | New
| CPA | Sid Cordle[14] | 242  | 0.4  | New
Majority  | 12,031  | 20.5  | −15.8
Turnout | 58,783  | 77.4  | +8.5
| Conservative hold | Swing | −7.9  |
General election 2015: Hitchin and Harpenden[15][16] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Peter Lilley | 31,488  | 56.9  | +2.3
| Labour | Rachel Burgin  | 11,433  | 20.6  | +7.0
| UKIP | John Stocker  | 4,917  | 8.9  | +5.9
| Liberal Democrats | Pauline Pearce | 4,484  | 8.1  | −18.6
| Green | Richard Wise  | 3,053  | 5.5  | +4.0
Majority  | 20,055  | 36.3  | +8.4
Turnout | 55,375  | 68.9  | −5.2
| Conservative hold | Swing | +2.3  |
General election 2010: Hitchin and Harpenden[17][18] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Peter Lilley | 29,869  | 54.6  | +4.7
| Liberal Democrats | Nigel Quinton  | 14,598  | 26.7  | +0.9
| Labour | Oliver de Botton  | 7,413  | 13.6  | −8.8
| UKIP | Graham Wilkinson  | 1,633  | 3.0  | +1.3
| Green | Richard Wise  | 807  | 1.5  | New
| Independent | Margaret Henderson  | 109  | 0.2  | New
| Citizens for Undead Rights and Equality  | Simon Byron  | 108  | 0.2  | New
| Your Right to Democracy  | Eric Hannah  | 90  | 0.2  | New
| Independent | Peter Rigby  | 50  | 0.1  | −0.3
Majority  | 15,271  | 27.9  | +3.9
Turnout | 54,707  | 74.1  | +5.4
| Conservative hold | Swing | +2.5  |

### Elections in the 2000s

[edit]

General election 2005: Hitchin and Harpenden  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Peter Lilley | 23,627  | 49.9  | +2.6
| Liberal Democrats | Hannah Hedges  | 12,234  | 25.8  | +7.8
| Labour | Paul Orrett  | 10,499  | 22.2  | −10.3
| UKIP | John Saunders  | 828  | 1.7  | +0.4
| Independent | Peter Rigby  | 199  | 0.4  | −0.4
Majority  | 11,393  | 24.1  | +9.3
Turnout | 47,387  | 70.5  | +3.6
| Conservative hold | Swing | −2.6  |
General election 2001: Hitchin and Harpenden  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Peter Lilley | 21,271  | 47.3  | +1.4
| Labour | Alan Amos | 14,608  | 32.5  | −0.6
| Liberal Democrats | John Murphy  | 8,076  | 18.0  | −2.1
| UKIP | John Saunders  | 606  | 1.3  | New
| Independent | Peter Rigby  | 363  | 0.8  | New
Majority  | 6,663  | 14.8  | +2.0
Turnout | 44,924  | 66.9  | −11.1
| Conservative hold | Swing | +1.0  |

### Elections in the 1990s

[edit]

General election 1997: Hitchin and Harpenden  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Peter Lilley | 24,038  | 45.9  |
| Labour | Rosemary Sanderson  | 17,367  | 33.1  |
| Liberal Democrats | Chris J. White  | 10,515  | 20.1  |
| Natural Law | David R.H. Cooke  | 290  | 0.6  |
| Socialist Alternative | Jim D.O. Horton  | 217  | 0.4  |
Majority  | 6,671  | 12.8  |
Turnout | 52,427  | 78.0  |
| Conservative win (new seat)

## See also

[edit]

* List of parliamentary constituencies in Hertfordshire

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
2. ^ 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.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Electorate Figures – Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Archived from the original on 6 November 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
2. ^ a b "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume one: Report – Eastern | Boundary Commission for England". boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
3. ^ "Hitchin MP announces his decision to stand down after 34 years". 26 April 2017.[permanent dead link]
4. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
5. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
6. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "H" (part 3)
7. ^ "Hitchin & Harpenden Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
8. ^ "UK Parliamentary General Election 8 June 2017". St Albans City and District Council. 9 June 2017. Archived from the original on 12 June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
9. ^ "BBC News: Hitchin and Harpenden Parliamentary Constituency". St Albans City and District Council. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
10. ^ "General Election 2017: Conservatives name parliamentary candidate for Hitchin and Harpenden". The Herts Advertiser. 6 May 2017. Archived from the original on 23 December 2017. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
11. ^ "General Election 2017 – Candidate List – (A – M)". labour.org.uk. Archived from the original on 1 October 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
12. ^ "Hitchin and Harpenden Liberal Democrat candidate hopes to win 'enormous pro-remain' area". Hertfordshire Mercury. 9 May 2017. Retrieved 9 May 2017.[permanent dead link]
13. ^ "Lets create 'shock wave of hope' says Hitchin Green candidate". 4 May 2017.[permanent dead link]
14. ^ a b Mike Lovelady (11 May 2017), STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED AND NOTICE OF POLL (PDF)[bare URL PDF]
15. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
16. ^ "Harpenden & Hitching parliamentary constituency – Election 2015 – BBC news". bbc.co.uk.
17. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
18. ^ "Hitchin and Harpenden". Election 2010. BBC News. 7 May 2010. Retrieved 4 May 2010.

## External links

[edit]

* Hitchin and Harpenden UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK
* Hitchin and Harpenden UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK

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* Bedford
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