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Welwyn Hatfield (UK Parliament constituency)

Coordinates: 51°46′10″N 0°11′40″W / 51.76944°N 0.19444°W / 51.76944; -0.19444
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Welwyn Hatfield
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Map
Boundaries since 2024
Map of constituency
Boundary of Welwyn Hatfield in the East of England
CountyHertfordshire
Electorate74,535 (2023)[1]
Major settlementsBrookmans Park, Hatfield, Welham Green, Welwyn Garden City
Current constituency
Created1974 (1974)
Member of ParliamentAndrew Lewin (Labour)
SeatsOne
Created fromHertford and St Albans

Welwyn Hatfield is a constituency[n 1] in Hertfordshire represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Andrew Lewin, a member of the Labour Party.

Constituency profile

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The area has a higher than average proportion of managers, professionals and retired people than much of Greater London.[2] The seat has a strong local economy, with extensive retail and industrial/commercial premises, particularly in Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield. Two of the four largest Hertfordshire economic towns, Stevenage and St Albans are also close by. Accordingly, workless claimants who were registered jobseekers were in November 2012 significantly lower than the national average of 3.8%, at 2.4% of the population based on a statistical compilation by The Guardian.[3]

History

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The seat was created for the February 1974 general election following the second periodic review of Westminster constituencies, as Welwyn and Hatfield. It was formed from parts of the abolished constituency of Hertford. For the 1983 general election, the constituency was renamed in line with the recently created District of Welwyn Hatfield.

Political history

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Despite its short history, the seat has seen two parties serve it, with three Labour periods of representation, during the longer part of the Labour government of 1974 to 1979, the first two terms of the Blair ministry and the first Starmer ministry. Other than this the seat has elected a Conservative as its MP.

The 2005 majority more than tripled on the second election of Grant Shapps, in 2010, from a historically breakable (in the constituency) majority of 5,946 votes to the 26th largest Conservative share of the vote,[4] which on standard uniform swing seen in elections since 1931 represented a safe seat, but a 5% swing to Labour in 2017 meant that the seat was somewhat marginal again, needing a 7.1% swing to become Labour. In the 2024 election, a swing of 14.3% led to the election of Labour's Andrew Lewin with a majority of 3,799.

Prominent frontbenchers

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The first MP ended his term in the Commons as the member for Welwyn Hatfield before which he was Defence Minister from 1970 to 1972 then a Foreign Office Minister until February 1974 - later that year Lord Balniel was awarded a life peerage,[n 2] accelerating and safeguarding his right to sit in the Lords. The second MP later became the politically neutral Lord Speaker, Baroness Hayman.

During five years of the Blair ministry, the constituency's MP Melanie Johnson was a frontbench minister, serving as Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Minister for Competition and Consumers and the Minister for Public Health.

Grant Shapps, her successor, was appointed the Minister of State for Housing and Local Government for the first two years of the UK coalition government 2010 before being appointed to chair his party. Following the Conservative victory in 2015, he was appointed Minister of State at the Department for International Development[5] before resigning in November 2015. Shapps was briefly Home Secretary for six days from 19 October 2022 covering the period between the resignation and reinstatement of Suella Braverman.[6] Since then, he has served as Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy followed by Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Boundaries and boundary changes

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1974–1983

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  • The Urban District of Welwyn Garden City; and
  • The Rural Districts of Hatfield and Welwyn.[7]

In April 1974 these local authorities were abolished and were merged into the Welwyn Hatfield District.

1983–1997

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  • The District of Welwyn Hatfield wards of Brookmans Park and Little Heath, Haldens, Handside, Hatfield Central, Hatfield East, Hatfield North, Hatfield South, Hollybush, Howlands, Peartree, Sherrards, Welham Green and Redhall, Welwyn East, and Welwyn West; and
  • The City of St Albans ward of Wheathampstead.

Wheathampstead had formerly been in the St Albans parliamentary constituency. The Welwyn Hatfield ward of Northaw was included in the new Broxbourne parliamentary constituency.[8]

Map
Map of boundaries 2010-2024

1997–2010

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As above minus Wheathampstead ward, which was transferred to the new constituency of Hitchin and Harpenden.[9]

2010–2024

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  • The District of Welwyn Hatfield wards of Brookmans Park and Little Heath, Haldens, Handside, Hatfield Central, Hatfield East, Hatfield North, Hatfield South, Hatfield West, Hollybush, Howlands, Panshanger, Peartree, Sherrards, Welham Green, Welwyn North, and Welwyn South.

Contents updated to reflect local authority boundary review. Northaw remained in the Broxbourne constituency.[10]

Current

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  • The District of Welwyn Hatfield wards of Brookmans Park and Little Heath, Haldens, Handside, Hatfield Central, Hatfield East, Hatfield South West, Hatfield Villages, Hollybush, Howlands, Panshanger, Peartree, Sherrards, Welham Green and Hatfield South, Welwyn East, and Welwyn West.

Further to the 2023 periodic review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the composition of the constituency is unchanged, except for very minor modifications due to ward boundary revisions.[11]

The District of Welwyn Hatfield ward of Northaw and Cuffley was transferred from Broxbourne to Hertsmere.

Members of Parliament

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For elections prior to 1974, see Hertford and St Albans.

Election Member[12] Party
Feb 1974 Lord Balniel Conservative
Oct 1974 Helene Hayman Labour
1979 Christopher Murphy Conservative
1987 David Evans Conservative
1997 Melanie Johnson Labour
2005 Grant Shapps Conservative
2024 Andrew Lewin Labour

Elections

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Vote share in Welwyn Hatfield, 1974-2024

Elections in the 2020s

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General election 2024: Welwyn Hatfield[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Andrew Lewin 19,877 41.0 +9.3
Conservative Grant Shapps 16,078 33.2 −19.3
Reform UK Jack Aaron 6,397 13.2 New
Liberal Democrats John Munro 3,117 6.4 −6.3
Green Sarah Butcher 2,986 6.2 +3.1
Majority 3,799 7.8 N/A
Turnout 48,455 64.6 −4.9
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +14.4

Elections in the 2010s

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General election 2019: Welwyn Hatfield[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Grant Shapps 27,394 52.6 +1.6
Labour Rosie Newbigging 16,439 31.6 −5.2
Liberal Democrats Paul Zukowskyj 6,602 12.7 +5.3
Green Oliver Sayers 1,618 3.1 +1.5
Majority 10,955 21.0 +6.8
Turnout 52,053 69.5 −1.5
Conservative hold Swing +3.4
General election 2017: Welwyn Hatfield[16][17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Grant Shapps 26,374 51.0 +0.6
Labour Anawar Miah 19,005 36.8 +10.7
Liberal Democrats Nigel Quinton 3,836 7.4 +1.1
UKIP Dean Milliken 1,441 2.8 –10.3
Green Christianne Sayers 835 1.6 –1.9
Independent Melvyn Jones 178 0.3 New
Majority 7,369 14.2 –10.1
Turnout 51,669 71.0 +2.5
Conservative hold Swing −5.0
General election 2015: Welwyn Hatfield[18][19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Grant Shapps 25,281 50.4 −6.6
Labour Anawar Miah 13,128 26.1 +4.7
UKIP Arthur Stevens 6,556 13.1 +9.7
Liberal Democrats Hugh Annand 3,140 6.3 −10.1
Green Marc Scheimann 1,742 3.5 +1.9
Independent Michael Green 216 0.4 New
TUSC Richard Shattock 142 0.3 New
Majority 12,153 24.3 −11.3
Turnout 50,205 68.5 +0.5
Conservative hold Swing −5.7
General election 2010: Welwyn Hatfield[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Grant Shapps 27,894 57.0 +7.4
Labour Mike Hobday 10,471 21.4 −14.9
Liberal Democrats Paul Zukowskyj 8,010 16.4 +2.2
UKIP David Platt 1,643 3.4 New
Green Jill Weston 796 1.6 New
Independent Nigel Parker 158 0.3 New
Majority 17,423 35.6 +22.3
Turnout 48,972 68.0 −0.2
Conservative hold Swing +11.1

Elections in the 2000s

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General election 2005: Welwyn Hatfield[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Grant Shapps 22,172 49.6 +9.2
Labour Melanie Johnson 16,226 36.3 −6.9
Liberal Democrats Sara Bedford 6,318 14.1 0.0
Majority 5,946 13.3 N/A
Turnout 44,716 68.1 +4.2
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +8.0
General election 2001: Welwyn Hatfield[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Melanie Johnson 18,484 43.2 −3.9
Conservative Grant Shapps 17,288 40.4 +3.9
Liberal Democrats Daniel Cooke 6,021 14.1 +0.6
UKIP Malcolm Biggs 798 1.9 New
ProLife Alliance Fiona Pinto 230 0.5 0.0
Majority 1,196 2.8 −7.8
Turnout 42,821 63.9 −14.7
Labour hold Swing −3.9

Elections in the 1990s

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General election 1997: Welwyn Hatfield[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Melanie Johnson 24,936 47.1 +11.1
Conservative David Evans 19,341 36.5 −11.0
Liberal Democrats Rodney Schwartz 7,161 13.5 −2.5
Residents Association Victor Cox 1,263 2.4 New
ProLife Alliance Helen Harrold 267 0.5 New
Majority 5,595 10.6 N/A
Turnout 52,968 78.6 −5.7
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +11.0
General election 1992: Welwyn Hatfield[24][25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Evans 29,447 48.4 +2.8
Labour Ray Little 20,982 34.5 +8.1
Liberal Democrats Robin Parker 10,196 16.7 −10.6
Natural Law Eva Lucas 264 0.4 New
Majority 8,465 13.9 −4.4
Turnout 60,889 84.3 +3.4
Conservative hold Swing −2.7

Elections in the 1980s

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General election 1987: Welwyn Hatfield[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Evans 27,164 45.6 –2.1
SDP Lindsay Granshaw 16,261 27.3 +0.8
Labour Chris Pond 15,699 26.4 +0.6
Ind. Conservative Bruce Dyson 401 0.7 New
Majority 10,903 18.3 –2.9
Turnout 59,525 80.9 +1.5
Conservative hold Swing -1.4
General election 1983: Welwyn Hatfield[27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Christopher Murphy 27,498 47.7 –0.9
SDP Lindsay Granshaw 15,252 26.5 New
Labour John France 14,898 25.8 –16.9
Majority 12,246 21.2 +15.4
Turnout 57,648 79.4 −5.6
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s

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General election 1979: Welwyn and Hatfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Christopher Murphy 28,892 48.59
Labour Helene Hayman 25,418 42.75
Liberal J Hurd 4,688 7.88
National Front P Ruddock 459 0.77 New
Majority 3,474 5.84 N/A
Turnout 59,457 84.99
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
General election October 1974: Welwyn and Hatfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Helene Hayman 23,339 42.76
Conservative Robert Lindsay 22,819 41.81
Liberal PH Robinson 8,418 15.42
Majority 520 0.95 N/A
Turnout 54,576 81.28
Labour gain from Conservative Swing
General election February 1974: Welwyn and Hatfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Lindsay 22,581 39.85
Labour CW Sewell 21,166 37.35
Liberal P Robinson 12,923 22.80
Majority 1,415 2.50
Turnout 56,670 85.32
Conservative win (new seat)

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
  2. ^ Balniel joined his father, the Earl of Crawford, who from 1963 no longer had to be regularly elected as a Scottish representative peer

References

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  1. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – Eastern". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  2. ^ "Local statistics - Office for National Statistics". www.ons.gov.uk.
  3. ^ Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
  4. ^ The Electoral Commission 2010 results
  5. ^ "The Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk.
  6. ^ "Grant Shapps replaces Suella Braverman as home secretary". BBC News. 20 October 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  7. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1970". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  8. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  9. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  10. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  11. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule I Part 2 Eastern region.
  12. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "W" (part 2)
  13. ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll". Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council. 7 June 2024. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  14. ^ "UK Parliamentary Election Results 4 July 2024". Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council. Archived from the original on 6 July 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  15. ^ "Welwyn Hatfield - 2019 general election". UK Parliament. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  16. ^ "Statement as to persons nominated and notice of poll". Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council. 11 May 2017. Archived from the original on 14 June 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  17. ^ "Welwyn Hatfield - 2017 general election". UK Parliament. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  18. ^ "Statement as to persons nominated and notice of poll". Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council. 9 April 2015. Archived from the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  19. ^ "Welwyn Hatfield - 2015 general election". UK Parliament. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  20. ^ "Welwyn Hatfield - 2010 general election". UK Parliament. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  21. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  22. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  23. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  24. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  25. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  26. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  27. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
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51°46′10″N 0°11′40″W / 51.76944°N 0.19444°W / 51.76944; -0.19444

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