North Hertfordshire (UK Parliament constituency)

For the constituency alternatively called North Hertfordshire between 1885 and 1918, see Hitchin (UK Parliament constituency).

North Hertfordshire
Former county constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
North Hertfordshire in Hertfordshire, showing boundaries used from 1983–1997
CountyHertfordshire
Major settlementsLetchworth and Hitchin
1983–1997
SeatsOne
Created fromHitchin
Replaced byNorth East Hertfordshire, Hitchin and Harpenden

North Hertfordshire was a parliamentary constituency in Hertfordshire. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom by the first-past-the-post system.

History

The constituency was created for the 1983 general election, and abolished for the 1997 general election. It was formed from the bulk of the abolished constituency of Hitchin. On abolition, western areas, including Hitchin, formed part of the new constituency of Hitchin and Harpenden.  Remaining parts, including Letchworth, Baldock and Royston, formed the majority of the new constituency of North East Hertfordshire.

It was a safe Conservative seat for its entire existence. Its first MP, Ian Stewart, previously held the old marginal seat of Hitchin, and its second and last, Oliver Heald, represented North East Hertfordshire until he stood down at the 2024 General Election.

Boundaries

  • The District of North Hertfordshire wards of Arbury, Ashbrook, Baldock, Bearton, Cadwell, Grange, Highbury, Hitchwood, Hoo, Kimpton, Letchworth East, Letchworth South East, Letchworth South West, Newsells, Offa, Oughton, Priory, Royston East, Royston West, Sandon, Walsworth, Weston, and Wilbury.[1]

The three main towns in the constituency were Hitchin, Letchworth, and Royston.

Members of Parliament

Election Member[2] Party
1983 Ian Stewart Conservative
1992 Oliver Heald Conservative
1997 constituency abolished: see North East Hertfordshire & Hitchin and Harpenden

Election results

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1983: Hertfordshire North[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ian Stewart 29,302 49.0
Liberal George Binney 19,359 32.4
Labour James Reilly 11,104 18.6
Majority 9,943 16.6
Turnout 59,765 79.2
Conservative win (new seat)
General election 1987: Hertfordshire North[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ian Stewart 31,750 49.7 +0.7
Liberal George Binney 20,308 31.8 −0.4
Labour Alan Gorst 11,782 18.5 −0.1
Majority 11,442 17.9 +1.3
Turnout 63,840 81.1 +1.9
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1992: Hertfordshire North[5][6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Oliver Heald 33,679 49.8 +0.1
Liberal Democrats Roger Liddle 17,148 25.4 −6.4
Labour Sarah Bissett-Johnson 16,449 24.3 +5.9
Natural Law Bryan Irving 339 0.5 New
Majority 16,531 24.4 +6.5
Turnout 67,615 84.4 +3.3
Conservative hold Swing

See also

Notes and references

  1. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983". Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  2. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "H" (part 3)
  3. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  4. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  5. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  6. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.