# South West Hertfordshire (UK Parliament constituency)

South West Hertfordshire is a constituency in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament, represented since 2019 by Gagan Mohindra, a Conservative.

## 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
| Election | Member | Party |
| 1950 | Gilbert Longden | Conservative |
| Feb 1974 | Geoffrey Dodsworth | Conservative |
| 1979 by-election | Richard Page | Conservative |
| 2005 | David Gauke | Conservative |
| September 2019 | David Gauke | Independent |
| December 2019 | Gagan Mohindra | Conservative |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: South West Hertfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Gagan Mohindra | 16,458 | 34.1 | −18.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sally Symington | 12,002 | 24.9 | +12.2 |
| | Labour | Alex Sufit | 9,637 | 20.0 | +3.9 |
| | Reform UK | Keith Steers | 6,790 | 14.1 | N/A |
| | Green | Narinder Sian | 2,532 | 5.2 | +3.7 |
| | Party of Women | Bernadette O'Malley | 295 | 0.6 | N/A |
| | Rejoin EU | Victor Silkin | 232 | 0.5 | N/A |
| | SDP | Michael McGetrick | 158 | 0.3 | N/A |
| | UK Voice | Ketankumar Pipaliya | 150 | 0.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,456 | 9.2 | −14.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,254 | 67.6 | −3.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 71,353 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −15.2 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result :
| Party | Party | Vote | % |
| | Conservative | 26,548 | 52.2 |
| | Others | 8,925 | 17.5 |
| | Labour | 8,182 | 16.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 6,460 | 12.7 |
| | Green | 763 | 1.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 50,878 | 71.1 |
| Electorate | Electorate | 71,552 |
General election 2019: South West Hertfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Gagan Mohindra | 30,327 | 49.6 | −8.3 |
| | Independent | David Gauke | 15,919 | 26.0 | +26.0 |
| | Labour | Ali Aklakul | 7,228 | 11.8 | −13.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sally Symington | 6,251 | 10.2 | −1.5 |
| | Green | Tom Pashby | 1,466 | 2.4 | −0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,408 | 23.6 | −8.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 61,191 | 76.1 | +0.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 2017: South West Hertfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Gauke | 35,128 | 57.9 | +1.0 |
| | Labour | Robert Wakely | 15,578 | 25.7 | +9.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christopher Townsend | 7,078 | 11.7 | +1.4 |
| | Green | Paul De Hoest | 1,576 | 2.6 | −1.9 |
| | UKIP | Mark Anderson | 1,293 | 2.1 | −9.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 19,550 | 32.2 | −8.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 60,653 | 75.5 | +3.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −4.2 | |
General election 2015: South West Hertfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Gauke | 32,608 | 56.9 | +2.7 |
| | Labour | Simon Diggins | 9,345 | 16.3 | +4.8 |
| | UKIP | Mark Anderson | 6,603 | 11.5 | +8.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nigel Quinton | 5,872 | 10.3 | −17.6 |
| | Green | Charlotte Pardy | 2,583 | 4.5 | N/A |
| | Common Sense Party | Graham Cartmell | 256 | 0.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 23,263 | 40.6 | +14.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 57,267 | 71.9 | −0.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −1.1 | |
General election 2010: South West Hertfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Gauke | 30,773 | 54.2 | +7.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christopher Townsend | 15,853 | 27.9 | −2.1 |
| | Labour | Harry Mann | 6,526 | 11.5 | −9.3 |
| | UKIP | Mark Benson | 1,450 | 2.6 | +0.4 |
| | BNP | Deirdre Gates | 1,302 | 2.3 | N/A |
| | Independent | James Hannaway | 846 | 1.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,920 | 26.29 | +9.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,750 | 72.53 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +4.66 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: South West Hertfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Gauke | 23,494 | 46.9 | +2.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Edward Featherstone | 15,021 | 30.0 | +3.7 |
| | Labour | Kerron Cross | 10,466 | 20.9 | −6.1 |
| | UKIP | Colin Rodden | 1,107 | 2.2 | +0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,473 | 16.9 | −0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,088 | 68.5 | +4.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −0.5 | |
General election 2001: South West Hertfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Page | 20,933 | 44.3 | −1.7 |
| | Labour | Graham Dale | 12,752 | 27.0 | −0.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Edward Featherstone | 12,431 | 26.3 | +4.0 |
| | UKIP | Colin Dale-Mills | 847 | 1.8 | N/A |
| | ProLife Alliance | Julia Goffin | 306 | 0.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,181 | 17.3 | −0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,269 | 64.5 | −12.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: South West Hertfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Page | 25,462 | 46.0 | −11.0 |
| | Labour | Mark Wilson | 15,441 | 27.9 | +8.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ann Shaw | 12,381 | 22.3 | −0.8 |
| | Referendum | Timothy Millward | 1,853 | 3.3 | N/A |
| | Natural Law | Christopher Adamson | 274 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,021 | 18.1 | −15.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 55,411 | 77.3 | −6.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −9.8 | |
General election 1992: South West Hertfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Page | 33,825 | 57.0 | +1.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | A Shaw | 13,718 | 23.1 | −5.8 |
| | Labour | AP Gale | 11,512 | 19.4 | +4.1 |
| | Natural Law | CJ Adamson | 281 | 0.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 20,107 | 33.9 | +7.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 59,336 | 83.7 | +6.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +3.5 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: South West Hertfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Page | 32,791 | 55.8 | +2.2 |
| | Liberal | Ian Murray Blair | 17,007 | 28.9 | −3.1 |
| | Labour | Ian Willmore | 8,966 | 15.3 | +1.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15,784 | 26.9 | +5.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 58,764 | 77.7 | +1.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +2.6 | |
General election 1983: South West Hertfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Page | 30,217 | 53.6 | −1.1 |
| | Liberal | Ian Murray Blair | 18,023 | 32.0 | +15.8 |
| | Labour | Edward Playfair | 7,818 | 13.9 | −13.9 |
| | Independent | M Luton | 307 | 0.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,194 | 21.6 | −5.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,365 | 75.8 | −3.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1970s

By-election 13 December 1979: South West Hertfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Page | 17,031 | 45.94 | −8.75 |
| | Labour | Susan Ann Reeves | 10,259 | 27.67 | −0.05 |
| | Liberal | Dane Clouston | 8,752 | 23.61 | +7.41 |
| | Ecology | Nigel Jeskins | 602 | 1.62 | N/A |
| | ACMFT | David Bundy | 288 | 0.78 | N/A |
| | Independent | Nigel Ffooks | 143 | 0.39 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,772 | 18.27 | −8.70 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 37,075 | 48.30 | −31.44 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −3.8 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 76,776 | | |
* Note: ACMFT stands for the Anti Common Market and Free Trade Party.
* Resignation of Dodsworth 24 October 1979
General election 1979: South West Hertfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Geoffrey Dodsworth | 33,112 | 54.69 | |
| | Labour | Tony Colman | 16,784 | 27.72 | |
| | Liberal | G Cass | 9,808 | 16.20 | |
| | National Front | P Graves | 839 | 1.39 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16,328 | 26.97 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 60,543 | 79.74 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election October 1974: South West Hertfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Geoffrey Dodsworth | 24,939 | 42.63 |
| | Labour | ALC Cohen | 19,098 | 32.64 |
| | Liberal | JES Jarrett | 14,470 | 24.73 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,841 | 9.99 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 58,507 | 76.99 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election February 1974: South West Hertfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Geoffrey Dodsworth | 26,563 | 42.15 |
| | Labour | JE Mitchell | 18,465 | 29.30 |
| | Liberal | JES Jarrett | 17,987 | 28.54 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,098 | 12.85 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 63,015 | 83.78 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1970: South West Hertfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Gilbert Longden | 32,661 | 50.32 | |
| | Labour | Bruce Grocott | 24,214 | 37.31 | |
| | Liberal | John W.S. Jarrett | 7,489 | 11.54 | |
| | Independent Resident | Ronald Skilton | 542 | 0.84 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,447 | 13.01 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 64,906 | 75.66 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: South West Hertfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Gilbert Longden | 28,378 | 45.66 |
| | Labour | S. John Chapman | 25,186 | 40.52 |
| | Liberal | Peter A.S. Benton | 8,590 | 13.82 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,192 | 5.14 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 62,154 | 83.12 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1964: South West Hertfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Gilbert Longden | 28,308 | 45.77 |
| | Labour | Syd Bidwell | 22,237 | 35.96 |
| | Liberal | R. Douglas Brown | 11,301 | 18.27 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,071 | 9.81 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 61,846 | 83.01 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: South West Hertfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Gilbert Longden | 29,724 | 50.8 | −6.1 |
| | Labour | Anthony John Whiteside | 19,487 | 33.3 | −9.8 |
| | Liberal | Desmond Banks | 9,278 | 15.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,237 | 17.5 | +3.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 58,489 | 84.4 | +3.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1955: South West Hertfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Gilbert Longden | 28,847 | 56.87 |
| | Labour | Wyndham Thomas (town planner) | 21,878 | 43.13 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,969 | 13.74 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,725 | 81.31 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1951: South West Hertfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Gilbert Longden | 27,049 | 58.75 |
| | Labour | Lawrence Allaker | 18,991 | 41.25 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,058 | 17.50 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,040 | 85.02 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1950: South West Hertfordshire :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Gilbert Longden | 23,608 | 55.37 | |
| | Labour | Lawrence Allaker | 14,913 | 34.98 | |
| | Liberal | George C Middleton | 4,114 | 9.65 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,695 | 20.39 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,635 | 86.10 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |