Welwyn Hatfield (UK Parliament constituency)

Welwyn Hatfield is a constituency[n 1] in Hertfordshire represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2005 by Grant Shapps, a Conservative who currently serves as Secretary of State for Defence. He has previously held the posts of Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Secretary of State for Transport

Welwyn Hatfield
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Welwyn Hatfield in Hertfordshire
Outline map
Location of Hertfordshire within England
CountyHertfordshire
Electorate71,766 (December 2010)[1]
Major settlementsBrookmans Park, Hatfield, Welham Green, Welwyn Garden City
Current constituency
Created1974 (1974)
Member of ParliamentGrant Shapps (Conservative)
SeatsOne
Created fromHertford and St Albans

Constituency profile

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

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

Despite its short history, the seat has seen two parties serve it, with two Labour periods of representation, during the longer part of the Labour Government 1974-1979 and during the first two terms of the Blair 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 means the seat is somewhat marginal again, needing a 7.1% swing to become Labour.

Prominent frontbenchers

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 19th 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

1974–1983
  • 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
  • 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]

1997–2010

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

2010–present
  • 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]

Members of Parliament
ElectionMember[11] 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

Elections

Elections in the 2010s
General election 2019: Welwyn Hatfield[12]
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[13]
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[14][15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Grant Shapps 25,281 50.4 −6.6
Labour Anawar Miah 13,128 26.1 +4.7
UKIP Arthur Stevens[16] 6,556 13.1 +9.7
Liberal Democrats Hugh Annand 3,140 6.3 −10.1
Green Marc Scheimann[17] 1,742 3.5 +1.6
Independent Michael Green[18] 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[19]
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 1.9 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
General election 2005: Welwyn Hatfield[20]
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[21]
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
General election 1997: Welwyn Hatfield[22]
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[23][24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Evans 29,447 48.4 +2.8
Labour Ray A. Little 20,982 34.5 +8.1
Liberal Democrats Robin G. Parker 10,196 16.7 −10.6
Natural Law Eva T. 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
General election 1987: Welwyn Hatfield[25]
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[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Christopher Murphy 27,498 47.7 -0.9
SDP Lindsay Granshaw 15,252 26.5 New
Labour J 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
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

Notes
  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 representative peer

References
  1. "Electorate Figures - Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  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. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "W" (part 2)
  12. "Welwyn Hatfield Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  13. "Statement as to persons nominated and notice of poll" (PDF). Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council. 11 May 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  14. "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  15. "Statement Of Persons Nominated And Notice Of Poll". Acting Returning Officer. 9 April 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  16. "UK Polling Report".
  17. "Marc Scheimann PPC page". Green Party of England and Wales. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  18. Burke, Dave (29 April 2015). "Satire show comic is standing against Grant Shapps after changing name to Michael Green". Welwyn Hatfield Times. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  19. "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  20. "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  21. "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  22. "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  23. "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  24. "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  25. "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  26. "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.

51°46′10″N 0°11′40″W

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