# Hertford (UK Parliament constituency)

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

## History

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 Boundaries Act of 1868, its representation was reduced to 1 MP.
The Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 (which followed on from the Third Reform Act) 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
### 1885–1918

* 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.

### 1918–1950

* 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.
Minor changes to boundaries.

### 1950–1955

* 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.
Nominal changes only to reflect restructuring of rural districts.

### 1955–1974

* The Borough of Hertford;
* The Urban District of Welwyn Garden City; and
* The Rural Districts of Hatfield, Hertford, and Welwyn.
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
### Hertford borough (1298–1885)
#### 1298–1640

| Parliament | First member | Second member |
| 1376 | Constituency franchise lapsed | Constituency franchise lapsed |
| 1624 | Constituency re-enfranchised by Parliament | 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 | No Parliaments summoned |

#### 1640–1868

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

#### 1868–1885

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

### Hertford county constituency (1885–1974)

| 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 | | Noel Pemberton Billing | Silver Badge Party |
| 1921 by-election | | (Sir) Murray Sueter | Anti-Waste League/Independent Parliamentary Group |
| 1922 | | (Sir) Murray Sueter | Conservative |
| 1945 | | Sir Derek Walker-Smith | Conservative |
| 1955 | | Robert Lindsay | Conservative |
| Feb. 1974 | Constituency abolished - see Hertford and Stevenage | Constituency abolished - see Hertford and Stevenage | Constituency abolished - see Hertford and Stevenage |

## Elections
### Elections in the 1830s

General election 1830: Hertford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Thomas Slingsby Duncombe | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Tory | Henry Chetwynd-Talbot | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 800 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
General election 1831: Hertford :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 48 | 3.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 739 | c. 92.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 800 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory |
General election 1832: Hertford :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 52 | 3.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 671 | 95.9 | c. +3.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 700 | | |
| | Tory gain from Whig | Tory gain from Whig | Swing | +12.2 | |
| | Tory gain from Whig | 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 :
| Party | 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 | Turnout | Turnout | 616 | 97.3 | +1.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 633 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 32 | 3.2 | −0.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6 | 0.6 | N/A |
| | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
General election 1837: Hertford :
| Party | 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 | Turnout | Turnout | 580 | 91.9 | −5.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 631 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 72 | 7.3 | +6.7 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +21.2 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9 | 0.9 | −2.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −21.2 | |
Cowper was appointed as a commissioner of Greenwich Hospital, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 20 May 1839: Hertford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | William Cowper | 297 | 51.7 | +13.2 |
| | Conservative | Walter Townsend-Farquhar | 278 | 48.3 | +17.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 19 | 3.4 | −3.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 575 | 92.9 | +1.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 619 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −2.0 | |

### Elections in the 1840s

General election 1841: Hertford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | William Cowper | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Philip Stanhope | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 607 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Cowper was appointed a Civil Lord of the Admiralty, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 11 July 1846: Hertford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | William Cowper | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1847: Hertford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | William Cowper | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Philip Stanhope | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 567 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1850s

General election 1852: Hertford :
| Party | 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 | 182 | 19.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 466 (est) | 68.0 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 685 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 66 | 7.1 | N/A |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 22 | 2.3 | N/A |
| | Radical gain from Conservative | Radical gain from Conservative | Radical gain from Conservative | Radical gain from Conservative | Radical gain from Conservative |
Cowper was appointed Civil Lord of the Admiralty, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 1 January 1853: Hertford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | William Cowper | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
Cowper was appointed president of the General Board of Health, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 14 August 1855: Hertford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | William Cowper | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | 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 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | William Cowper | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1857: Hertford :
| Party | 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 | Turnout | Turnout | 405 (est) | 65.2 (est) | −2.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 620 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 28 | 3.5 | −3.6 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +4.6 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 38 | 4.7 | N/A |
| | Conservative gain from Radical | Conservative gain from Radical | Swing | −6.3 | |
General election 1859: Hertford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Cowper | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Walter Townsend-Farquhar | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 530 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Cowper was appointed Vice-President of the Board of Trade, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 19 August 1859: Hertford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Cowper | 281 | 57.9 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Robert Dimsdale | 204 | 42.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 77 | 15.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 485 | 91.5 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 530 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1860s

Cowper was appointed First Commissioner of Works and Public Buildings, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 13 February 1860: Hertford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Cowper | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
General election 1865: Hertford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Cowper | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Walter Townshend-Farquhar | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 543 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Townshend-Farquhar's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 30 June 1866: Hertford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Dimsdale | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Seat reduced to one member
General election 1868: Hertford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Dimsdale | 434 | 55.7 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Frederick Waymouth Gibbs | 345 | 44.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 89 | 11.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 779 | 84.5 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 922 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: Hertford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Arthur Balfour | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,041 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Hertford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Arthur Balfour | 564 | 58.5 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Edward Ernest Bowen | 400 | 41.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 164 | 17.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 964 | 89.2 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,081 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
Balfour was appointed President of the Local Government Board, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 30 Jun 1885: Hertford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Arthur Balfour | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1885: Hertford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Abel Smith | 4,263 | 58.1 | −0.4 |
| | Liberal | Henry Cowper | 3,072 | 41.9 | +0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,191 | 16.2 | −0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,335 | 83.0 | −6.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,840 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −0.4 | |
General election 1886: Hertford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Abel Smith | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1890s

General election 1892: Hertford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Abel Smith | 4,276 | 60.3 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Edwin Robert Speirs | 2,818 | 39.7 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,458 | 20.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,094 | 75.8 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,355 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1895: Hertford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Abel Smith | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Smith's death caused a by-election.
1898 Hertford by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Evelyn Cecil | 4,118 | 51.7 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Charles Spencer | 3,850 | 48.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 268 | 3.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,968 | 77.4 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,301 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1900s

General election 1900: Hertford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Abel Henry Smith | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1906: Hertford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Abel Henry Smith | 4,836 | 50.4 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Charles Buxton | 4,756 | 49.6 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 80 | 0.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,592 | 86.2 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,124 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1910s

General election January 1910: Hertford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Rolleston | 6,147 | 58.0 | +7.6 |
| | Liberal | Edmund Broughton Barnard | 4,455 | 42.0 | −7.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,692 | 16.0 | +15.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,602 | 89.6 | +3.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,838 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +7.6 | |
General election December 1910: Hertford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Rolleston | 5,594 | 57.0 | −1.0 |
| | Liberal | George Strachan Pawle | 4,226 | 43.0 | +1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,368 | 14.0 | −2.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,820 | 83.0 | −6.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,684 | | |
| | Conservative hold | 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
1916 Hertford by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Noel Pemberton Billing | 4,590 | 56.3 | New |
| | Unionist | Brodie Henderson | 3,559 | 43.7 | −13.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,031 | 12.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,149 | 64.2 | −18.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,684 | | |
| | Independent gain from Unionist | Independent gain from Unionist | Swing | | |
General election 1918: Hertford :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 2,470 | 13.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18,465 | 57.4 | −25.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 32,158 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
* Barnard was also the nominee of the National Farmers' Union

### Elections in the 1920s

1921 Hertford by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Anti-Waste League | *Murray Sueter | 12,329 | 68.9 | New |
| | Unionist | Hildred Carlile | 5,553 | 31.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,776 | 37.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 17,882 | 55.1 | −2.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 32,426 | | |
| | Anti-Waste League gain from Independent | Anti-Waste League gain from Independent | Swing | | |
* Sueter was also the nominee of the Independent Parliamentary Group.
General election 1922: Hertford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Murray Sueter | 11,406 | 63.6 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Thomas Greenwood | 6,534 | 36.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,872 | 27.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 17,940 | 54.1 | −3.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 33,184 | | |
| | Unionist gain from Anti-Waste League | Unionist gain from Anti-Waste League | Swing | | |
General election 1923: Hertford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Murray Sueter | 10,660 | 52.2 | −11.4 |
| | Liberal | Thomas Greenwood | 9,763 | 47.8 | +11.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 897 | 4.4 | −22.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,423 | 60.6 | +6.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 33,704 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | −11.4 | |
General election 1924: Hertford :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 8,754 | 36.0 | +31.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 24,295 | 70.8 | +10.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 34,315 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | +15.8 | |
General election 1929: Hertford :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 3,376 | 9.9 | −26.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 34,286 | 74.7 | +3.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 45,893 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | −7.6 | |

### Elections in the 1930s

General election 1931: Hertford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Murray Sueter | 25,751 | 78.4 | +38.9 |
| | Labour | Roger S Edwards | 7,092 | 21.6 | +9.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 18,659 | 56.8 | +46.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 32,843 | 69.1 | −5.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +14.7 | |
General election 1935: Hertford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Murray Sueter | 21,193 | 64.8 | −13.6 |
| | Labour | Roger S Edwards | 11,492 | 35.2 | +13.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,701 | 29.6 | −27.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 32,685 | 62.5 | −6.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −11.7 | |

### Elections in the 1940s

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
General election 1945: Hertford :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 2,528 | 5.4 | −24.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,818 | 70.4 | +7.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −12.1 | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1950: Hertford :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 5,750 | 10.53 | +5.13 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,632 | 83.18 | +12.78 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 65,683 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +2.57 | |
General election 1951: Hertford :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 6,811 | 12.56 | +2.03 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,227 | 80.80 | −2.38 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 67,110 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.02 | |
General election 1955: Hertford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Lindsay | 25,014 | 56.79 | +0.51 |
| | Labour | John McKnight | 19,030 | 43.21 | −0.51 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,984 | 13.58 | +1.02 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,044 | 82.24 | +1.44 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 53,556 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.51 | |
General election 1959: Hertford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Lindsay | 31,418 | 58.17 | +1.38 |
| | Labour | Gerald D Southgate | 22,597 | 41.83 | −1.38 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,821 | 16.34 | +2.76 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,015 | 84.26 | +2.02 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 64,106 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.38 | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1964: Hertford :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 3,973 | 6.30 | −10.04 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 63,017 | 84.64 | +0.38 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 74,450 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −5.02 | |
General election 1966: Hertford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Lindsay | 32,302 | 50.62 | +3.79 |
| | Labour | Peter Nurse | 31,508 | 49.38 | +9.45 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 794 | 1.24 | −5.06 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 63,810 | 83.70 | −0.94 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 76,234 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −2.83 | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1970: Hertford :
| Party | 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 | Majority | Majority | 9,570 | 13.79 | +12.55 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 69,412 | 78.08 | −5.62 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 88,900 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +6.28 | |