South West Hertfordshire

Constituency profile

Since the 2024 United Kingdom general election, at which major boundary changes instigated by the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies took effect, this seat has consisted of the entirety of the Three Rivers District, plus the single ward of Kings Langley from the Dacorum district.

The constituency surrounds the constituency (and town) of Watford on three sides, taking in the town of Rickmansworth and the villages of Abbots Langley, Chorleywood, Croxley Green, Heronsgate, Kings Langley, Leavesden, Loudwater, Maple Cross and South Oxhey.

Elevated and bordering Greater London and Buckinghamshire, this part of Hertfordshire is for its residents mostly middle-class suburbia, an established haven for commuters who travel from the outer reaches of the London Underground's Metropolitan line or two railways from London which serve different parts of the seat: the West Coast Main Line and Aylesbury Line. Much of the constituency is within the Greater London Built-up Area, though it also contains Green Belt land.

Boundaries and boundary changes

1950–1974

• The Urban Districts of Bushey, Chorleywood, and Rickmansworth; and
• The Rural District of Watford.

The constituency was formed from the Watford Division of Hertfordshire, excluding the part comprising the Municipal Borough of Watford. It also included the parishes of Abbots Langley and Sarratt, transferred from Hemel Hempstead.

1974–1983

• The Urban Districts of Bushey, Chorleywood, and Rickmansworth; and
• The Rural District of Watford civil parishes of Abbots Langley, Sarratt, and Watford Rural.

The parish of Aldenham in the Rural District of Watford was transferred to the new constituency of South Hertfordshire.

1983–1997

• The District of Three Rivers wards of Ashridge, Bedmond, Carpenders Park, Chorleywood, Chorleywood West, Croxley Green, Croxley Green North, Croxley Green South, Hayling, Langleybury, Maple Cross and West Hyde, Mill End, Money Hill, Moor Park, Northwood, Oxhey Hall, Rickmansworth, and Sarratt; and
• The District of Dacorum wards of Berkhamsted Central, Berkhamsted East, Berkhamsted West, Bovingdon and Flaunden, Chipperfield, Kings Langley, and Northchurch.

The parts of the District of Dacorum, including Berkhamsted, were transferred from the abolished constituency of Hemel Hempstead. Abbots Langley was transferred to Watford and Bushey to the new constituency of Hertsmere.

1997–2010

• The District of Three Rivers wards of Ashridge, Chorleywood, Chorleywood West, Croxley Green, Croxley Green North, Croxley Green South, Hayling, Maple Cross and West Hyde, Mill End, Money Hill, Moor Park, Northwood, Rickmansworth, and Sarratt; and
• The District of Dacorum wards of Aldbury and Wigginton, Berkhamsted Central, Berkhamsted East, Berkhamsted West, Bovingdon and Flaunden, Chipperfield, Northchurch, Tring Central, Tring East, and Tring West. Gained Tring from the abolished constituency of West Hertfordshire. Kings Langley transferred to a re-established Hemel Hempstead, Bedmond to St Albans, and three further wards in the Three Rivers District to Watford.

2010–2024

• The District of Three Rivers wards of Chorleywood East, Chorleywood West, Croxley Green, Croxley Green North, Croxley Green South, Hayling, Maple Cross and Mill End, Moor Park and Eastbury, Northwood, Penn, Rickmansworth, Rickmansworth West, and Sarratt; and
• The District of Dacorum wards of Aldbury and Wigginton, Berkhamsted Castle, Berkhamsted East, Berkhamsted West, Bovingdon, Flaunden and Chipperfield, Northchurch, Tring Central, Tring East, and Tring West.

Minor gain from Hemel Hempstead following revision of local authority wards.

Current

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the composition of the constituency is as follows (as they existed on 1 December 2020):

• The Borough of Dacorum ward of Kings Langley.
• The entire District of Three Rivers.

The constituency saw major changes with the bulk of the portion of the previous iteration of seat in the Borough of Dacorum, including the towns of Berkhamsted and Tring, forming part of the newly created constituency of Harpenden and Berkhamsted. The Bovingdon, Flaunden and Chipperfield ward went to Hemel Hempstead in exchange for the Kings Langley ward. The parts of the District of Three Rivers not previously within the constituency were transferred primarily from Watford, with a small area from St Albans. Only 55% of the electorate of the former constituency remained in the redrawn seat, and only 63% of the redrawn seat's electorate came from the previous version of the constituency

Members of Parliament

Watford prior to 1950

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

|reg. electors = 71,353

Elections in the 2010s

Elections in the 2000s

Elections in the 1990s

url=http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge92/i11.htm|title=UK General Election results April 1992|date=9 April 1992|work=Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources|publisher=Politics Resources|access-date=6 December 2010}}

Elections in the 1980s

Elections in the 1970s

|reg. electors = 76,776

• Note: ACMFT stands for the Anti Common Market and Free Trade Party.
• Resignation of Dodsworth 24 October 1979

Elections in the 1960s

Elections in the 1950s

Notes

References

References

1. (1972). "Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1985-1972". Political Reference Publications.
2. "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – Eastern".
3. "Representation of the People Act, 1948". Government of the United Kingdom.
4. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1970". Government of the United Kingdom.
5. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983". Government of the United Kingdom.
6. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995". Government of the United Kingdom.
7. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007". Government of the United Kingdom.
8. "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023".
9. link
10. {{Rayment-hc. h. 3. (March 2012)
11. "Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". [[UK Parliament]].
12. "Hertfordshire South West Parliamentary constituency". BBC.
13. "Election 2017 – Hertfordshire South West". [[BBC]].
14. "Election Data 2015". [[Electoral Calculus]].
15. (9 April 2015). "Statement Of Persons Nominated And Notice Of Poll". Acting Returning Officer.
16. "Hertfordshire South West parliamentary constituency – Election 2017". BBC.
17. "Election Data 2010". [[Electoral Calculus]].
18. "Election Data 2005". [[Electoral Calculus]].
19. "Election Data 2001". [[Electoral Calculus]].
20. "Election Data 1997". [[Electoral Calculus]].
21. "Election Data 1992". [[Electoral Calculus]].
22. "Election Data 1987". [[Electoral Calculus]].
23. "Election Data 1983". [[Electoral Calculus]].