Coordinates: 51°44′24″N 0°20′13″W / 51.740°N 0.337°W
| St Albans | |
|---|---|
| County constituency | |
| for the House of Commons | |
Boundary of St Albans in Hertfordshire. |
|
Location of Hertfordshire within England. |
|
| County | Hertfordshire |
| Electorate | 70,298 (December 2010)[1] |
| Current constituency | |
| Created | 1885 |
| Member of Parliament | Anne Main (Conservative) |
| Number of members | One |
| Created from | Hertfordshire |
| 1554–1852 | |
| Number of members | Two |
| Type of constituency | Borough constituency |
| Replaced by | Hertfordshire |
| Overlaps | |
| European Parliament constituency | East of England |
St Albans is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2005 by Anne Main, a Conservative.[n 2]
This article also describes the parliamentary borough (1554-1852) of the same name, consisting only of the city of St Albans, which elected two MPs by the bloc vote system.
Contents |
Boundaries [edit]
The seat is in Hertfordshire, England. Specifically, it comprises the cathedral city of St Albans and some of the surrounding countryside, mainly to the south of the city.
When the constituency was created in 1885 it included the historic city as well as High Barnet, Borehamwood, Elstree, Welwyn, Wheathampstead, and Harpenden, all of which were transferred to other constituencies at subsequent boundary redistributions as the county's population grew. For 1997, some wards were moved to the newly created constituency of Hitchin and Harpenden.[citation needed]
The seat has electoral wards:
- Ashley, Batchwood, Clarence, Colney Heath, Cunningham, London Colney, Marshalwick: North and South wards, Park Street, St Peters, St Stephen, Sopwell, and Verulam in the City of St Albans
- Bedmond and Primrose Hill in the Three Rivers District[2]
History [edit]
The constituency elected a borough representative for over 300 years, until it was disenfranchised as a result of electoral corruption in 1852.[3] The constituency was re-established in an enlarged form in 1885 with an alternative pseudonym, the Mid Division of Hertfordshire. Both names were used in the Redistribution of Seats Act, which dovetailed with the Third Reform Act.
1885 to date [edit]
- Political history
The constituency was until 1997 held by a Conservative with the exception of five years of the Attlee ministry and early 20th century opposition of Henry Campbell-Bannerman and the first part of his premiership which was when he was in a minority.
Following boundary changes in 1997, and the founding of the New Labour movement which sought public sector reform and investment with expansion based on economic growth, the seat stood the possibility of, on the expected national swing led by Tony Blair, a win by a Labour politician, which took place when it was won for the party for the first time since the 1945 election.
- Prominent Members
The noble and local landowning Grimston family have produced nine members throughout the seat's history. The three first heirs to the Earldom of Verulam have won election in the seat - the latest MP from the family was John Grimston who later became the 6th Earl.
Sir Hildred Carlile was a textiles entrepreneur and generous benefactor of Bedford College, University of London.
Francis Fremantle was chairman of the Parliamentary Medical Committee from 1923 to 1943.
Peter Lilley was a frontbench minister in government from 1992 until 1997, the Secretary of State for Social Security, after two years as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.
Constituency Profile [edit]
Workless claimants (registered jobseekers) were in November 2012 significantly lower than the national average of 3.8%, at 1.9% of the population based on a statistical compilation by The Guardian.[4]
Members of Parliament [edit]
MPs 1553–1640 [edit]
MPs 1640–1852 [edit]
MPs since 1885 [edit]
Elections [edit]
Elections 1983–2010 [edit]
| Election | Political result | Candidate | Party | Votes | % | ±% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General election, May 2010 [19][20] New boundaries Electorate: 70,058 Turnout: 52,835 (75.4%) +5.4 |
Conservative hold Majority: 2,305 (4.4%) +1.4 Swing: 3.74% from Con to Lib Dem |
Anne Main | Conservative | 21,533 | 40.8 | +3.5 | ||
| Sandy Walkington | Liberal Democrat | 19,228 | 36.4 | +11.0 | ||||
| Roma Mills | Labour | 9,288 | 17.6 | −16.7 | ||||
| John Stocker | UKIP | 2,028 | 3.8 | +2.2 | ||||
| Jack Easton | Green | 758 | 1.4 | N/A | ||||
| General election, May 2005 [21] Electorate: 64,595 Turnout: 45,462 (70.0%) +3.7 |
Conservative gain from Labour Majority: 1,361 (3.0%) −7.2 Swing: 6.6% from Lab to Con |
Anne Main | Conservative | 16,953 | 37.3 | +2.1 | ||
| Kerry Pollard | Labour | 15,592 | 34.3 | −11.1 | ||||
| Michael Green | Liberal Democrat | 11,561 | 25.4 | +7.5 | ||||
| Richard Evans | UKIP | 707 | 1.6 | +0.2 | ||||
| Janet Girsman | St Albans Party | 430 | n/a | n/a | ||||
| Mark Reynolds | Independent | 219 | n/a | n/a | ||||
| General election, June 2001 [22] Electorate: 66,040 Turnout: 43,761 (66.3%) −11.2 |
Labour hold Majority: 4,466 (10.2%) +1.4 Swing: 0.7% from Con to Lab |
Kerry Pollard | Labour | 19,889 | 45.4 | +3.4 | ||
| Charles Elphicke | Conservative | 15,423 | 35.2 | +2.0 | ||||
| Nick Rijke | Liberal Democrat | 7,847 | 17.9 | −3.1 | ||||
| Chris Sherwin | UKIP | 602 | 1.4 | n/a | ||||
| General election, May 1997 [23] New boundaries Electorate: 65,560 Turnout: 50,805 (77.5%) −6.0 |
Labour gain from Conservative Majority: 4,459 (8.8%) −17.7 Swing: 21.1% from Con to Lab |
Kerry Pollard | Labour | 21,338 | 42.0 | +22.6 | ||
| David Rutley | Conservative | 16,879 | 33.2 | −19.6 | ||||
| Anthony Rowlands | Liberal Democrat | 10,69 | 21.0 | −5.3 | ||||
| Jim Warrilow | Referendum Party | 1,619 | 3.2 | N/A | ||||
| Sari Craigen | Rainbow Alliance | 166 | 0.3 | n/a | ||||
| Ian Docker | Natural Law | 111 | 0.2 | −0.1 | ||||
| General election, April 1992 [24] Electorate: 74,188 Turnout: 61,925 (83.5%) +3.3 |
Conservative hold Majority: 16,404 (26.5%) +8.5 Swing: 4.3% from Con to Lib Dem |
Peter Lilley | Conservative | 32,709 | 52.8 | +0.3 | ||
| Monica Howes | Liberal Democrat | 16,305 | 26.3 | −8.2 | ||||
| Kerry Pollard | Labour | 12,016 | 19.4 | +7.9 | ||||
| Craig Simmons | Green | 734 | 1.2 | −0.1 | ||||
| David Lucas | Natural Law | 161 | 0.3 | N/A | ||||
| General election, June 1987 [25] Electorate: 75,281 Turnout: 60,391 (80.2%) +2.0 |
Conservative hold Majority: 10,881 (18.0%) +3.0 Swing: 1.5% from Lib to Con |
Peter Lilley | Conservative | 31,726 | 52.5 | +0.5 | ||
| A. S. B. Walkington | Liberal | 20,845 | 34.5 | −2.5 | ||||
| A. McWalter | Labour | 6,922 | 11.5 | +0.6 | ||||
| E. V. Field | Green | 788 | 1.3 | N/A | ||||
| W. H. Pass | CPRP | 110 | 0.2 | N/A | ||||
| General election, June 1983 [26] New boundaries Electorate: 72,849 Turnout: 57,004 (78.3%) −2.1 |
Conservative hold Majority: 8,561 (15.0%) −14.2 Swing: 7.1% from Con to Lib |
Peter Lilley | Conservative | 29,676 | 52.1 | −1.0 | ||
| A. S. B. Walkington | Liberal | 21,115 | 37.0 | +13.2 | ||||
| R. Austin | Labour | 6,213 | 10.9 | −12.2 | ||||
Elections 1950–1979 [edit]
| Election | Political result | Candidate | Party | Votes | % | ±% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General election, May 1979 [27] Electorate: 73,339 Turnout: 58,996 (80.4%) +2.4 |
Conservative hold Majority: 17,244 (29.2%) +12.4 Swing: 5.6% from Lib to Con |
Victor Goodhew | Conservative | 31,301 | 53.1 | +8.1 | ||
| D. Picton | Liberal | 14,057 | 23.8 | −3.1 | ||||
| R. J. Greaves | Labour | 13,638 | 23.1 | −5.0 | ||||
| General election, October 1974 [28] Electorate: 69,693 Turnout: 54,351 (78.0%) −6.6 |
Conservative hold Majority: 9,135 (16.8%) +2.4 Swing: 1.8% from Con to Lab |
Victor Goodhew | Conservative | 24,436 | 45.0 | −0.2 | ||
| E. Hudson | Labour | 15,301 | 28.2 | −3.8 | ||||
| A. C. Shaw | Liberal | 14,614 | 26.9 | +4.0 | ||||
| General election, February 1974 [29] New boundaries Electorate: 68,954 Turnout: 58,346 (84.6%) +8.4 |
Conservative hold Majority: 8,421 (14.4%) −2.2 Swing: 11.8% from Con to Lib |
Victor Goodhew | Conservative | 26,345 | 45.2 | −6.4 | ||
| A. C. Shaw | Liberal | 17,924 | 30.7 | +17.2 | ||||
| D. L. Bernstein | Labour | 14,077 | 24.1 | −10.8 | ||||
| General election, June 1970 [30] Electorate: 62,417 Turnout: 47,571 (76.2%) −6.8 |
Conservative hold Majority: 7,874 (16.6%) +10.5 Swing: 5.3% from Lab to Con |
Victor Goodhew | Conservative | 24,503 | 51.5 | +3.8 | ||
| C. H. Beaumont | Labour | 16,629 | 35.0 | −6.7 | ||||
| C. A. Shaw | Liberal | 6,439 | 13.5 | +2.9 | ||||
| General election, March 1966 [31] Electorate: 56,247 Turnout: 46,665 (83.0%) +0.4 |
Conservative hold Majority: 2,832 (6.1%) −5.7 Swing: 2.8% from Con to Lab |
Victor Goodhew | Conservative | 22,260 | 47.7 | −0.3 | ||
| J. K. Kyle | Labour | 19,428 | 41.6 | +5.4 | ||||
| J. J. Wates | Liberal | 4,977 | 10.7 | −5.1 | ||||
| General election, October 1964 [32] Electorate: 55,658 Turnout: 45,966 (82.6%) −0.2 |
Conservative hold Majority: 5,391 (11.7%) −7.7 Swing: 3.9% from Con to Lab |
Victor Goodhew | Conservative | 22,063 | 48.0 | −4.9 | ||
| Bruce Douglas-Mann | Labour | 16,672 | 36.3 | +2.8 | ||||
| W. G. Brown | Liberal | 7,231 | 15.7 | +2.1 | ||||
| General election, October 1959 [33] Electorate: 52,823 Turnout: 82.8% (+3.5) |
Conservative hold Majority: 8,507 (19.4%) +4.4 Swing: 2.2% from Lab to Con |
Victor Goodhew | Conservative | 23,157 | 52.9 | −4.6 | ||
| L. W. Carroll | Labour | 14,650 | 33.5 | −9.0 | ||||
| W. A. N. Jones | Liberal | 5,948 | 13.6 | N/A | ||||
| General election, May 1955 [34] Electorate: 47,827 Turnout: 37,935 (79.3%) −4.8 |
Conservative hold Majority: 5,721 (15.1%) +6.2 Swing: 3.9% from Lab to Con |
John Grimston | Conservative | 21,828 | 57.5 | +3.0 | ||
| Renee Short | Labour | 16,107 | 42.5 | −3.0 | ||||
| General election, October 1951 [35] Electorate: 62,431 Turnout: 52,513 (84.1%) −0.8 |
Conservative hold Majority: 4,691 (8.9%) +4.4 Swing: 2.2% from Lab to Con |
John Grimston | Conservative | 28,602 | 54.5 | +7.2 | ||
| J. McKnight | Labour | 23,911 | 45.5 | +2.9 | ||||
| General election, February 1950 [36] Electorate: 61,644 Turnout: 52,464 (85.0%) +12.4 |
Conservative gain from Labour Majority: 2,382 (4.6%) Swing: 4.1% from Lab to Con |
John Grimston | Conservative | 24,733 | 47.2 | +4.4 | ||
| Cyril Dumpleton | Labour | 22,351 | 42.7 | −3.8 | ||||
| Deryck R.E. Abel | Liberal | 5,280 | 10.1 | −0.6 | ||||
Elections 1918–1945 [edit]
| Election | Political result | Candidate | Party | Votes | % | ±% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General election, July 1945 [17] See footnote on changes [37] Electorate: 71,893 Turnout: 72.6% (+10.0) |
Labour gain from Conservative Majority: 1,879 (3.7%) Swing: 19.3% from Lab to Con |
Cyril Dumpleton | Labour | 22,421 | 46.5 | +14.0 | ||
| John Grimston | Conservative | 22,362 | 42.8 | −24.7 | ||||
| E. Lakeman | Liberal | 5,601 | 10.7 | n/a | ||||
| By-election, October 1943 [17] Death of Fremantle |
Conservative hold | John Grimston | Conservative | unopposed | ||||
| General election, November 1935 [17] Electorate: 79,885 Turnout: 49,976 (62.6%) −9.3 |
Conservative hold Majority: 17,510 (35.0%) −21.2 Swing: 10.6% from Con to Lab |
Francis Edward Fremantle | Conservative | 33,743 | 67.5 | −10.6 | ||
| H. A. Franklin [38] | Labour | 16,233 | 32.5 | +10.6 | ||||
| General election, October 1931 [17] Electorate: 65,365 Turnout: 46,979 (71.9%) −0.7 |
Conservative hold Majority: 26,401 (56.2%) +35.7 Swing: 17.8% from Lab to Con |
Francis Edward Fremantle | Conservative | 36,690 | 78.1 | +30.0 | ||
| M. M. Whately | Labour | 10,289 | 21.9 | −5.7 | ||||
| General election, May 1929 [17] First election with universal suffrage Electorate: 58,418 Turnout: 41,434 (72.6%) +2.3 |
Conservative hold Majority: 8,737 (20.5%) −14.5 |
Francis Edward Fremantle | Conservative | 20,436 | 48.1 | −19.4 | ||
| M. M. Whateley | Labour | 11,699 | 27.6 | −4.9 | ||||
| G. G. Honeyman | Liberal | 10,299 | 24.3 | n/a | ||||
| General election, October 1924 [17] Electorate: 37,983 Turnout: 26,864 (70.3%) +1.5 |
Conservative hold Majority: 9,322 (35.0%) +13.8 |
Francis Edward Fremantle | Conservative | 18,004 | 67.5 | +19.8 | ||
| F. Herbert | Labour | 8,862 | 32.5 | +6.0 | ||||
| General election, December 1923 [17] Electorate: 36,474 Turnout: 25,077 (68.8%) −2.3 |
Conservative hold Majority: 5,328 (21.2%) +5.6 |
Francis Edward Fremantle | Conservative | 11,968 | 47.7 | −10.1 | ||
| C. B. Thompson [40] | Labour | 6,640 | 26.5 | −15.7 | ||||
| H. K. Nield [39] | Liberal | 6,469 | 25.8 | n/a | ||||
| General election, November 1922 [17] See footnote on changes [41] Electorate: 35,520 Turnout: 25,256 (71.1%) +8.3 |
Conservative hold Majority: 3,932 (15.6%) +12.2 |
Francis Edward Fremantle | Conservative | 14,594 | 57.8 | +12.0 | ||
| John William Brown | Labour | 10,662 | 42.2 | −0.2 | ||||
| By-election, December 1919 [17][42] Resignation of Sir Hildred Carlile, Bt Electorate: 33,437 Turnout: 21,003 (62.8%) |
Coalition Unionist hold Majority: 713 (3.4%) |
Francis Edward Fremantle | Coalition Unionist | 9,621 | 45.8 | |||
| John William Brown | Labour | 8,908 | 42.4 | |||||
| Milner Gray | Liberal | 2,474 | 11.8 | |||||
| General election, December 1918 [17] | Coalition Unionist hold | Sir Hildred Carlile, Bt | Coalition Unionist | unopposed | ||||
Elections 1885–1910 [edit]
| Election | Political result | Candidate | Party | Votes | % | ±% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General election, December 1910 [16] Electorate: 13,929 Turnout: 11,676 (83.8%) −6.6 |
Conservative hold Majority: 2,122 (18.2%) +2.0 |
Hildred Carlile | Conservative | 6,899 | 59.1 | +1.0 | ||
| R. C. Phillimore | Liberal | 4,777 | 40.9 | −1.0 | ||||
| General election, January 1910 [16] Electorate: 13,929 Turnout: 12,594 (90.4%) +10.1 |
Conservative hold Majority: 2,052 (16.2%) +11.2 |
Hildred Carlile | Conservative | 7,323 | 58.1 | +5.6 | ||
| H. R. Beddoes | Liberal | 5,271 | 41.9 | −5.6 | ||||
| General election, 1906 [16] Electorate: 12,497 Turnout: 89.3% (+7.8) |
Conservative gain from Liberal Majority: 552 (5.0%) Swing: 3.2% from Lib to Con |
Hildred Carlile | Conservative | 5,856 | 52.5 | +3.2 | ||
| John Slack | Liberal | 5,304 | 47.5 | −3.2 | ||||
| By-election, February 1904 [16] Gibbs disqualified[43] Electorate: 11,518 Turnout: 9,382 (81.5%) |
Liberal gain from Conservative Majority: 132 (1.4%) |
John Bamford Slack | Liberal | 4,757 | 50.7 | |||
| Vicary Gibbs | Conservative | 4,635 | 49.3 | |||||
| General election, 1900 [16] | Conservative hold | Vicary Gibbs | Conservative | unopposed | ||||
| General election, 1895 [16] | Conservative hold | Vicary Gibbs | Conservative | unopposed | ||||
| General election, 1892 [16] Electorate: 9,672 Turnout: 78.3% |
Conservative Majority: 11.1 (844%) |
Vicary Gibbs | Conservative | 3,417 | 45.1 | |||
| T. M. Harvey | Liberal | 2,573 | 34.0 | |||||
| W. H. Bingham-Cox | Independent Conservative | 1,580 | 20.9 | |||||
| General election, 1886 [16] | Conservative hold | Viscount Grimston | Conservative | unopposed | ||||
| General election, 1885 [16] Electorate: 8,741 Turnout: 7,145 (81.7%) |
Conservative win (new seat) Majority: 1,071 (15.0%) |
Viscount Grimston | Conservative | 4,108 | 57.5 | |||
| J. Coles | Liberal | 3,037 | 42.5 | |||||
See also [edit]
Notes and References [edit]
- Notes
- ^ A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
- ^ As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.
- References
- ^ "Electorate Figures - Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
- ^ 2010 post-revision map non-metropolitan areas and unitary authorities of England
- ^ Reform Act 1867
- ^ Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
- ^ a b c d e "History of Parliament". Retrieved 2011-10-02.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "History of Parliament". Retrieved 2011-10-02.
- ^
"Wroth, Robert". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900. - ^ Sir Henry Holmes also given
- ^ Admiral from 1702
- ^ Created The Viscount Grimston (in the Peerage of Ireland), November 1719
- ^ On petition (in a dispute over the franchise), Hale was found not to have been duly elected
- ^ The 2nd Viscount Grimston (in the Peerage of Ireland) from October 1756
- ^ Richard Sutton was created a baronet, 1772
- ^ Styled Lord Bingham from October 1795, when his father was raised to an Earldom
- ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "S" (part 1)[self-published source][better source needed]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Craig, F. W. S. (1989) [1974]. British parliamentary election results 1885–1918 (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 297. ISBN 0-900178-27-2.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Craig, F. W. S. (1983) [1969]. British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3rd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 375. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.
- ^ New M.P. For St. Albans, The Times, October 06, 1943
- ^ City & District of St Albans - Statement of persons nominated
- ^ "UK General Election results May 2010". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
- ^ "UK General Election results May 2005". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
- ^ "General Election result, June 2001". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
- ^ "General Election result, May 1997". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
- ^ "UK General Election results April 1992". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
- ^ "UK General Election results 1987". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
- ^ "UK General Election results June 1983". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
- ^ "UK General Election results May 1979". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
- ^ "UK General Election results October 1974". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
- ^ "UK General Election results February 1974". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
- ^ "UK General Election results June 1970". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
- ^ "UK General Election results March 1966". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
- ^ "UK General Election results October 1964". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
- ^ "UK General Election results October 1959". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
- ^ "UK General Election results May 1955". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
- ^ "UK General Election results October 1951". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
- ^ "UK General Election results February 1950". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
- ^ For the 1945 general election, changes are calculated relative to the 1935 general election results, not the uncontested by-election in 1943
- ^ 1935: The Labour party candidate, H. A. Franklin, had previously contested Hornsey in 1931
- ^ 1923: the Liberal Party candidate, H. K. Nield, later contested Macclesfield in 1924
- ^ 1923: the Labour Party candidate, C. B. Thompson, had previously contested Bristol Central in 1922
- ^ For the 1922 general election, changes are calculated relative to the 1919 by-election results
- ^ Large Labour Vote At St. Albans, Seat Held By Coalition, The Times, Wednesday 24 December 1919, page 10
- ^ The by-election in February 1904 was caused by the disqualification of Vicary Gibbs, who since his election in 1900 had undertaken a contract with the Commissioners of the Admiralty
Sources [edit]
- Robert Beatson, A Chronological Register of Both Houses of Parliament (London: Longman, Hurst, Res & Orme, 1807) [1]
- D Brunton & D H Pennington, Members of the Long Parliament (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1954)
- Cobbett's Parliamentary history of England, from the Norman Conquest in 1066 to the year 1803 (London: Thomas Hansard, 1808) [2]
- F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (2nd edition, Aldershot: Parliamentary Research Services, 1989)
- Henry Stooks Smith, The Parliaments of England from 1715 to 1847 (2nd edition, edited by FWS Craig - Chichester: Parliamentary Reference Publications, 1973)
- Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "S" (part 1)[self-published source][better source needed]
External links [edit]
- 2005 voting statistics from the BBC
- 2001 and 1997 voting statistics from the BBC
- OBV
- Coverage from The Times
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