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St Albans (UK Parliament constituency)

Coordinates: 51°44′24″N 0°20′13″W / 51.740°N 0.337°W / 51.740; -0.337
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St Albans
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Map
Boundaries since 2024
Map of constituency
Boundary of St Albans in the East of England
CountyHertfordshire
Electorate70,881 (2023)[1]
Major settlementsBricket Wood, How Wood, Park Street, St Albans
Current constituency
Created1885
Member of ParliamentDaisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat)
SeatsOne
Created fromHertfordshire
1554–1852
SeatsTwo
Type of constituencyBorough constituency
Created fromHertfordshire
Replaced byHertfordshire

St Albans is a constituency[n 1] in Hertfordshire represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2019 by Daisy Cooper, a Liberal Democrat.[n 2]

This article also describes the eponymous parliamentary borough (1554–1852), consisting only of the city of St Albans, which elected two Members of Parliament (MPs) by the bloc vote system.

Constituency profile

[edit]

Electoral Calculus characterises the seat's electorate as "Kind Yuppies", with right-wing economic views but more liberal social attitudes. Incomes and house prices in this seat are well above UK averages. [2] The seat voted decisively to remain in the European Union in 2016, with an estimated Remain vote of 62% compared to 48% nationally.

History

[edit]

Up to 1852

[edit]

The Parliamentary Borough of St Albans was represented by two MPs in the House of Commons of England from 1554 to 1707, then of 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, until it was disenfranchised as a result of electoral corruption in 1852.[3]

1885 to date

[edit]
Results of all deposit-keeping candidates since 1983 in their bid be the MP for St Albans (UK House of Commons).

The constituency was re-established in an enlarged form by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 (which followed on from the Third Reform Act) as one of four Divisions of the abolished three-member Parliamentary County of Hertfordshire, and was formally named as the Mid or St Albans Division of Hertfordshire.

Political history before 1997

Until 1997 the seat was held by one Conservative or another save for the very early 20th century Official Opposition leadership of Henry Campbell-Bannerman and the follow-on first part of his premiership, governing in minority, and later – from 1945 – five of the six years seeing Labour's landslide Attlee ministry.

Political history since 1997

The seat swung towards the left wing on boundary changes effective in 1997, and the founding of the New Labour movement which sought public sector reform and investment with expansion based on international investor-friendly economic growth. The seat followed its projections in line with the large swing led by Tony Blair, to sees its return to a Labour politician. Results, except for a strong Tory surge in 2015 are closer than the 1979–1992 Tory victories forming a complex three-party contest – only once another candidate in this time has reached the deposit (politics)-retaining threshold of 5% of the vote, UKIP at its 2015 peak.

Despite the former Labour MP for the seat, Kerry Pollard, standing there in 2005, 2015 and 2017, he fell varyingly short. The 2019 vote share fell to below that seen in the 1980s, locally, for the party's candidate – the party leader was to the left of the party, Jeremy Corbyn.

The seat has had great fluctuation in Liberal Democrat vote share: 2001 and 2015 were ebbs at below 20% of the vote; in 2010 and 2017 the Liberal Democrat candidate, promisingly, took 4.4% and 10.7% less than the winning Conservative. Liberal Democrat Daisy Cooper went on to win, in 2019. She became first member of a liberal party to represent the constituency since John Bamford Slack in early 1900s.

In December 2023, the Labour Party included the seat in its published list of 211 non-battleground seats, suggesting they did not see it as winnable.[4]

Prominent members

[edit]

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 (died 1973).

Sir Hildred Carlile (died 1942) 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.

Boundaries and boundary changes

[edit]

1885–1918

[edit]
  • The Municipal Borough of St Albans;
  • The Sessional Divisions of Barnet and St Albans; and
  • Parts of the Sessional Divisions of Watford, Hertford and Dacorum.[5]

As well from the Borough of St Albans, the seat included the towns of Harpenden, Hatfield and Chipping Barnet.

1918–1945

[edit]
  • The Municipal Borough of St Albans;
  • The Urban Districts of Barnet and East Barnet Valley;
  • The Rural Districts of Barnet and Hatfield; and
  • The Rural District of St Albans civil parishes of Sandridge Rural, St Michael Rural, St Peter Rural, and St Stephen.[6]

North-western parts, including Harpenden, transferred to the new Hemel Hempstead Division. South-western corner (Aldenham) transferred to Watford.

1945–1950

[edit]
  • The Municipal Borough of St Albans;
  • The Urban District of Welwyn Garden City;
  • The Rural District of Hatfield; and
  • The Rural District of St Albans civil parishes of Sandridge Rural, St Michael Rural, St Peter Rural, and St Stephen.[7]

The Urban Districts of Barnet and East Barnet (formerly East Barnet Valley) and the Rural District of Elstree (formerly Barnet) formed the new Barnet Division. The Urban District of Welwyn Garden City had been formed as a separate local authority which had previously been partly in the Hitchin Division.  Other marginal changes as a result of changes to local authority boundaries.

1950–1955

[edit]
  • The Municipal Borough of St Albans;
  • The Urban District of Welwyn Garden City;
  • The Rural District of Welwyn; and
  • The Rural District of St Albans civil parishes of Sandridge Rural, St Michael Rural, St Peter Rural, St Stephen, and Wheathampstead.[8]

The Rural District of Welwyn was transferred from Hitchin and the parish of Wheathampstead from Hemel Hempstead.  The Rural District of Hatfield was transferred to Barnet.

1955–1974

[edit]
  • The Municipal Borough of St Albans; and
  • The Rural District of St Albans civil parishes of Colney Heath, London Colney, Sandridge Rural, St Michael Rural, St Stephen, and Wheathampstead.

The Urban District of Welwyn Garden City and the Rural District of Welwyn were transferred to Hertford. (The parish of St Peter Rural had been divided into the parishes of Colney Heath and London Colney).

1974–1983

[edit]
  • The Municipal Borough of St Albans;
  • The Urban District of Harpenden; and
  • The Rural District of St Albans civil parishes of Harpenden Rural, Redbourn, St Michael Rural, Sandridge, and Wheathampstead.[9]

Boundaries moved northwards: Harpenden U.D. and the parishes of Harpenden Rural and Redbourn were transferred in from Hemel Hempstead. The parishes of Colney Heath, London Colney and St Stephen were transferred out to form part of the new constituency of South Hertfordshire.

1983–1997

[edit]
  • The District of St Albans wards of Ashley, Batchwood, Clarence, Colney Heath, Cunningham, Harpenden East, Harpenden North, Harpenden South, Harpenden West, Marshalswick North, Marshalswick South, Redbourn, St Peter's, Sandridge, Sopwell, and Verulam.[10]

Minor changes: Colney Heath transferred from abolished South Hertfordshire; Wheathampstead transferred to Welwyn Hatfield.

1997–2010

[edit]
  • The District of St Albans wards of Ashley, Batchwood, Clarence, Colney Heath, Cunningham, London Colney, Marshalswick North, Marshalswick South, Park Street, St Peter's, St Stephen's, Sopwell, and Verulam; and
  • The District of Three Rivers ward of Bedmond.[11]

Moved southwards again, gaining London Colney from Hertsmere, Park Street and St Stephen's from Watford and the Three Rivers District ward of Bedmond from South West Hertfordshire. Northern parts, including Harpenden, formed part of the new constituency of Hitchin and Harpenden.

2010–2024

[edit]
Map
Map of boundaries 2010-2024

Marginal adjustments to bring the parliamentary boundaries in line with those of local government wards, which had changed since the 1995 review.[13]

Current

[edit]

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the composition of the constituency was unchanged except for the small part in the District of Three Rivers, which was transferred to South West Hertfordshire.[14]

Following a local government boundary review which came into effect in May 2022,[15][16] the constituency now comprises the following wards of the City of St Albans from the 2024 general election:

  • Batchwood; Bernards Heath; Clarence; Colney Heath; Cunningham; Hill End; London Colney; Marshalswick East & Jersey Farm (majority); Marshalswick West (nearly all); Park Street; St Peters; St Stephen (nearly all); Sopwell; Verulam (nearly all).[17]

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.

Neighbouring seats, clockwise from north, are: Harpenden and Berkhamsted, Welwyn Hatfield, Hertsmere, South West Hertfordshire.

Members of Parliament

[edit]

MPs 1553–1640

[edit]
Parliament First member Second member
1553 (Oct) John Maynard Thomas Johnson[18]
1554 (Apr) Thomas Wendy Oliver Starkey[18]
1554 (Nov) John Maynard Oliver Starkey[18]
1555 John Astley Robert Stepneth[18]
1558 Henry Heydon Francis Southwell[18]
1559 (Jan) Christopher Smith John Dodmer[19]
1562–3 Robert Wroth[20] Roger Carew[19]
1571 William Skipwith George Ferrers[19]
1572 (Apr) Henry Cocke Charles Smythe[19]
1584 Henry Maynard Humphrey Coningsby[19]
1586 (Oct) Henry Maynard Humphrey Coningsby[19]
1588 (Oct) Henry Maynard Humphrey Coningsby[19]
1593 Henry Maynard Humphrey Coningsby[19]
1597 (Oct) Henry Maynard Humphrey Coningsby[19]
1601 Francis Bacon, sat for Ipswich,
replaced Nov 1601 by Henry Frowick		 Adolphus Carey[19]
1604 Sir Francis Bacon, sat for Ipswich
repl. by Tobie Matthew		 Adolphus Carey
1610 Sir Thomas Parry Sir Henry Helmes
1614 Sir Francis Bacon, sat for Cambridge University
repl. by Thomas Perient		 Henry Finch
1620 Sir Thomas Richardson Robert Shute
1621 Sir Thomas Richardson Henry Meautys
1624 Sir Arthur Capell Sir John Luke
1625 Sir Charles Morrison, 1st Baronet Sir John Luke
1626 Sir Charles Morrison, 1st Baronet Sir Edward Goring
1628 Sir John Jennings Robert Kirkham
1629–1640 No Parliaments summoned

MPs 1640–1852

[edit]
Year First member First party Second member Second party
April 1640 Richard Coningsby Sir John Jennings Parliamentarian
November 1640 Edward Wingate Parliamentarian
1642 Richard Jennings Parliamentarian
December 1648 Wingate and Jennings excluded in Pride's Purge - both seats vacant
1653 St Albans was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament
1654 Alban Cox St Albans had only one seat in the First and
Second Parliaments of the Protectorate
1656
January 1659 Richard Jennings
May 1659 Not represented in the restored Rump
April 1660 William Foxwist Richard Jennings
1661 Thomas Arris
1668 Samuel Grimston
February 1679 Sir Thomas Blount John Gape
August 1679 Samuel Grimston
1685 Captain George Churchill[21] Thomas Docwra
1689 Sir Samuel Grimston
January 1701 Joshua Lomax
March 1701 John Gape
1705 Admiral Henry Killigrew
1708 John Gape Joshua Lomax
1710 William Grimston[22]
1713 William Hale[23]
1714 John Gape
1715 William Hale
1717 Joshua Lomax
1722 William Gore William Clayton
1727 The Viscount Grimston Caleb Lomax
1730 by-election Thomas Gape
1733 by-election John Merrill
1734 Sir Thomas Aston Thomas Ashby
1741 James West[24]
1743 by-election Hans Stanley
1747 Sir Peter Thompson
1754 Hon. James Grimston[25]
1761 Viscount Nuneham
1768 (Sir) Richard Sutton[26] John Radcliffe
1780 William Charles Sloper
1783 by-election The Viscount Grimston
1784 Hon. William Grimston
1790 Hon. Richard Bingham[27] Tory[28] John Calvert
1796 Thomas Bucknall Tory[28]
June 1800 by-election William Stephen Poyntz Whig[28]
1802 Hon. James Grimston Tory[28]
1807 Joseph Thompson Halsey Whig[28]
1809 by-election Daniel Giles Whig[28]
1812 Christopher Smith Tory[28]
February 1818 by-election William Tierney Robarts Whig[28]
June 1818 Lord Charles Spencer-Churchill Tory[28]
1820 Christopher Smith Tory[28]
1821 by-election Sir Henry Wright-Wilson Tory[28]
1826 John Easthope Whig[28]
1830 Viscount Grimston Tory[28] Charles Tennant Whig[28]
1831 Sir Francis Vincent, Bt Whig[28] Richard Godson Whig[28][29]
1832 Henry George Ward Whig[28]
1835 Hon. Edward Grimston Conservative[28]
1837 George Muskett Whig[28][30][31][32]
February 1841 by-election William Hare Whig[28][31][32]
June 1841 George Repton Conservative[28]
1846 by-election Benjamin Bond Cabbell Conservative
1847 Alexander Raphael Whig[33]
1850 by-election Jacob Bell Whig[34][35][36]
1852 Constituency disfranchised for corruption

MPs since 1885

[edit]

Hertfordshire prior to 1885

Election Member[37] Party[38][39]
1885 James Grimston Conservative
1892 Vicary Gibbs Conservative
1904 by-election John Slack Liberal
1906 Sir Hildred Carlile Conservative
1919 by-election Sir Francis Fremantle Conservative
1943 by-election[40] John Grimston Conservative
1945 Cyril Dumpleton Labour
1950 John Grimston Conservative
1959 Sir Victor Goodhew Conservative
1983 Peter Lilley Conservative
1997 Kerry Pollard Labour
2005 Anne Main Conservative
2019 Daisy Cooper Liberal Democrats

Election results

[edit]

Elections in the 2020s

[edit]
General election 2024: St Albans[41][42]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Daisy Cooper 29,222 56.6 +6.7
Conservative James Spencer 9,388 18.2 −21.1
Labour Sophia Bhatti 5,189 10.1 +1.3
Reform UK John Dowdle 4,336 8.4 N/A
Green Simon Grover 3,272 6.3 +4.6
Heritage Dafydd Morriss 104 0.2 N/A
SDP Stewart Satterly 103 0.2 N/A
Majority 19,834 38.4 +27.7
Turnout 51,614 71.0 –7.0
Registered electors 72,739
Liberal Democrats hold Swing +13.8

Elections in the 2010s

[edit]
2019 notional result[43]
Party Vote %
Liberal Democrats 27,610 49.9
Conservative 21,705 39.3
Labour 4,878 8.8
Green 950 1.7
Others 154 0.3
Turnout 55,297 78.0
Electorate 70,881
General election 2019: St Albans[44][45]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Daisy Cooper 28,867 50.1 +17.7
Conservative Anne Main 22,574 39.2 –3.9
Labour Rebecca Lury 5,000 8.7 –14.3
Green Simon Grover 1,004 1.7 +0.2
Independent Jules Sherrington 154 0.3 N/A
Majority 6,293 10.9 N/A
Turnout 57,599 78.1 –0.2
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing +10.8
General election 2017: St Albans[46]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Anne Main 24,571 43.1 –3.5
Liberal Democrats Daisy Cooper 18,462 32.4 +13.9
Labour Kerry Pollard 13,137 23.0 –0.3
Green Jack Easton 828 1.5 –2.2
Majority 6,109 10.7 –12.6
Turnout 56,998 78.3 +6.3
Conservative hold Swing –8.7
General election 2015: St Albans[47][48]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Anne Main 25,392 46.6 +5.8
Labour Kerry Pollard 12,660 23.3 +5.7
Liberal Democrats Sandy Walkington 10,076 18.5 –17.9
UKIP Chris Wright 4,271 7.8 +4.0
Green Jack Easton 2,034 3.7 +2.3
Majority 12,732 23.3 +18.9
Turnout 54,433 72.0 –3.4
Conservative hold Swing +0.1
General election 2010: St Albans[49][50][51]
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative Anne Main 21,533 40.8
Liberal Democrats Sandy Walkington 19,228 36.4
Labour Roma Mills 9,288 17.6
UKIP John Stocker 2,028 3.8
Green Jack Easton 758 1.4
Majority 2,305 4.4
Turnout 52,835 75.4
Conservative hold
  • This constituency underwent boundary changes between the 2005 and 2010 general elections and thus calculation of change in vote share is not meaningful

Elections in the 2000s

[edit]
General election 2005: St Albans[52][53]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Anne Main 16,953 37.3 +2.1
Labour Kerry Pollard 15,592 34.3 –11.1
Liberal Democrats Michael Green 11,561 25.4 +7.5
UKIP Richard Evans 707 1.6 +0.2
St Albans Party Janet Girsman 430 0.9 N/A
Independent Mark Reynolds 219 0.5 N/A
Majority 1,361 3.0 N/A
Turnout 45,462 70.00 +3.7
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +6.6
General election 2001: St Albans[54][55]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Kerry Pollard 19,889 45.4 +3.4
Conservative Charlie Elphicke 15,423 35.2 +2.0
Liberal Democrats Nick Rijke 7,847 17.9 –3.1
UKIP Chris Sherwin 602 1.4 N/A
Majority 4,466 10.2 +1.4
Turnout 43,761 66.3 –11.2
Labour hold Swing +0.7

Elections in the 1990s

[edit]
General election 1997: St Albans[56][57]
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour Kerry Pollard 21,338 42.0
Conservative David Rutley 16,879 33.2
Liberal Democrats Anthony Rowlands 10,692 21.0
Referendum Jim Warrilow 1,619 3.2
Rainbow Dream Ticket Sari Craigen 166 0.3
Natural Law Ian Docker 111 0.2
Majority 4,459 8.8
Turnout 50,805 77.5
Labour gain from Conservative
  • This constituency underwent boundary changes between the 1992 and 1997 general elections and thus calculation of change in vote share is not meaningful
General election 1992: St Albans[58][59]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Lilley 32,709 52.8 +0.3
Liberal Democrats Monica Howes 16,305 26.3 –8.2
Labour Kerry Pollard 12,016 19.4 +7.9
Green Craig Simmons 734 1.2 –0.1
Natural Law David Lucas 161 0.3 N/A
Majority 16,404 26.5 +8.5
Turnout 61,925 83.5 +3.3
Conservative hold Swing –4.3

Elections in the 1980s

[edit]
General election 1987: St Albans[60][61]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Lilley 31,726 52.5 +0.4
Liberal Alexander Walkington 20,845 34.5 –2.5
Labour Co-op Tony McWalter 6,922 11.5 +0.6
Green Elaine Field 788 1.3 N/A
CPRP William Pass 110 0.2 N/A
Majority 10,881 18.0 +2.9
Turnout 60,391 80.2 +1.9
Conservative hold Swing +1.5
General election 1983: St Albans[62][63]
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative Peter Lilley 29,676 52.1
Liberal Alexander Walkington 21,115 37.0
Labour Rita Austin 6,213 10.9
Majority 8,561 15.1
Turnout 57,004 78.3
Conservative hold
  • This constituency underwent boundary changes between the 1979 and 1983 general elections and thus calculation of change in vote share is not meaningful

Elections in the 1970s

[edit]
General election 1979: St Albans[64][65]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Victor Goodhew 31,301 53.1 +8.1
Liberal David Picton 14,057 23.8 –3.1
Labour Co-op Ronald Greaves 13,638 23.1 –5.1
Majority 17,244 29.3 +12.5
Turnout 58,996 80.4 +2.4
Conservative hold Swing +5.6
General election October 1974: St Albans[65][66]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Victor Goodhew 24,436 45.0 –0.2
Labour Edwin Hudson 15,301 28.2 +4.1
Liberal Charles Anthony Shaw 14,614 26.9 −3.8
Majority 9,135 16.8 +2.3
Turnout 54,351 78.0 –6.6
Conservative hold Swing –2.15
General election February 1974: St Albans[65][67]
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative Victor Goodhew 26,345 45.2
Liberal Charles Anthony Shaw 17,924 30.7
Labour Daniel Lipman Bernstein 14,077 24.1
Majority 8,421 14.5
Turnout 58,356 84.6
Conservative hold
  • This constituency underwent boundary changes between the 1970 and February 1974 general elections and thus calculation of change in vote share is not meaningful.
General election 1970: St Albans [68]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Victor Goodhew 24,503 51.5 +3.8
Labour Christopher Beaumont 16,629 35.0 –6.6
Liberal Charles Shaw 6,439 13.5 +2.8
Majority 7,874 16.5 +10.4
Turnout 47,571 76.2 –6.8
Conservative hold Swing +5.3

Elections in the 1960s

[edit]
General election 1966: St Albans [69]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Victor Goodhew 22,260 47.7 –0.3
Labour Keith Kyle 19,428 41.6 +5.3
Liberal Julian J Wates 4,977 10.7 –5.0
Majority 2,832 6.1 –5.6
Turnout 46,665 83.0 +0.4
Conservative hold Swing –2.8
General election 1964: St Albans [70]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Victor Goodhew 22,063 48.0 –4.9
Labour Bruce Douglas-Mann 16,672 36.3 +2.8
Liberal William Glanville Brown 7,231 15.7 +2.1
Majority 5,391 11.7 –7.7
Turnout 45,966 82.6 –0.2
Conservative hold Swing –3.9

Elections in the 1950s

[edit]
General election 1959: St Albans [71]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Victor Goodhew 23,157 52.9 –4.6
Labour Lawrence William Carroll 14,650 33.5 –9.0
Liberal WA Newton Jones 5,948 13.6 N/A
Majority 8,507 19.4 +4.4
Turnout 52,823 82.8 +3.5
Conservative hold Swing +2.2
General election 1955: St Albans [72]
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative John Grimston 21,828 57.5
Labour Renée Short 16,107 42.5
Majority 5,721 15.0
Turnout 37,935 79.3
Conservative hold
  • This constituency underwent boundary changes between the 1951 and 1955 general elections and thus calculation of change in vote share is not meaningful
General election 1951: St Albans[73]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Grimston 28,602 54.5 +7.3
Labour John McKnight 23,911 45.5 +2.8
Majority 4,691 9.0 +4.5
Turnout 52,513 84.1 –0.9
Conservative hold Swing +2.2
General election 1950: St Albans [74]
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative John Grimston 24,733 47.2
Labour Cyril Dumpleton 22,351 42.7
Liberal Deryck Abel 5,280 10.1
Majority 2,382 4.5
Turnout 52,464 85.0
Conservative gain from Labour
  • This constituency underwent boundary changes between the 1945 and 1950 general elections and thus calculation of change in vote share is not meaningful

Elections in the 1940s

[edit]
General election 1945: St Albans
Party Candidate Votes %
Labour Cyril Dumpleton 24,241 46.5
Conservative John Grimston 22,362 42.8
Liberal Enid Lakeman 5,601 10.7
Majority 1,879 3.7
Turnout 50,384 72.6
Labour gain from Conservative
  • This constituency underwent boundary changes between the 1935 and 1945 general elections and thus calculation of change in vote share is not meaningful
1943 St Albans by-election[39]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Grimston Unopposed
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1930s

[edit]
General election 1935: St Albans[39]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Francis Fremantle 33,743 67.5 –10.6
Labour Hugh Franklin 16,233 35.5 +13.6
Majority 17,510 35.0 –21.2
Turnout 49,976 62.6 –9.3
Conservative hold Swing –10.6
General election 1931: St Albans[39]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Francis Fremantle 36,690 78.1 +30.0
Labour Monica Whately 10,289 21.9 –5.7
Majority 26,401 56.2 +35.7
Turnout 46,979 71.9 –0.7
Conservative hold Swing +17.8

Elections in the 1920s

[edit]
General election 1929: St Albans[39]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Francis Fremantle 20,436 48.1 –19.4
Labour Monica Whately 11,699 27.6 –4.9
Liberal George Gordon Honeyman 10,299 24.3 N/A
Majority 8,737 20.5 –14.5
Turnout 41,434 72.6 +2.3
Unionist hold Swing –7.25
General election 1924: St Albans[39]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Francis Fremantle 18,004 67.5 +19.8
Labour Frank Herbert 8,862 32.5 +6.0
Majority 9,322 35.0 +13.8
Turnout 26,864 70.3 +1.5
Unionist hold Swing +6.9
General election 1923: St Albans[39]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Francis Fremantle 11,968 47.7 –10.1
Labour Christopher Thomson 6,640 26.5 –15.7
Liberal Harry Krauss Nield 6,469 25.8 N/A
Majority 5,328 21.2 +5.6
Turnout 25,077 68.8 −2.3
Unionist hold Swing +2.8
General election 1922: St Albans[39]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Francis Fremantle 14,594 57.8 +12.0
Labour John W. Brown 10,662 42.2 –0.2
Majority 3,932 15.6 +12.2
Turnout 25,256 71.1 +8.3
Unionist hold Swing +6.1
Fremantle

Elections in the 1910s

[edit]
1919 St Albans by-election[39][75]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C Unionist Francis Fremantle 9,621 45.8 N/A
Labour John W. Brown 8,908 42.4 N/A
Liberal Milner Gray 2,474 11.8 N/A
Majority 713 3.4 N/A
Turnout 21,003 62.8 N/A
Unionist hold Swing N/A
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.
General election 1918: St Albans[39]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C Unionist Hildred Carlile Unopposed
Unionist hold
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.
Phillimore
General election, December 1910: St Albans[38]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Hildred Carlile 6,899 59.1 +1.0
Liberal Robert Charles Phillimore 4,777 40.9 –1.0
Majority 2,122 18.2 +2.0
Turnout 11,676 83.8 –6.6
Conservative hold Swing +1.0
General election, January 1910: St Albans[38]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Hildred Carlile 7,323 58.1 +5.6
Liberal Henry Roscoe Beddoes 5,271 41.9 –5.6
Majority 2,052 16.2 +11.2
Turnout 12,594 90.4 +10.1
Conservative hold Swing +5.6

Elections in the 1900s

[edit]
General election 1906: St Albans[38]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Hildred Carlile 5,856 52.5 N/A
Liberal John Bamford Slack 5,304 47.5 N/A
Majority 552 5.0 N/A
Turnout 11,160 89.3 N/A
Registered electors 12,497
Conservative hold Swing N/A
Slack
1904 St Albans by-election[38]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Bamford Slack 4,757 50.7 N/A
Conservative Vicary Gibbs 4,635 49.3 N/A
Majority 132 1.4 N/A
Turnout 9,382 81.5 N/A
Registered electors 11,518
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing N/A
General election 1900: St Albans[38]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Vicary Gibbs Unopposed
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1890s

[edit]
General election 1895: St Albans[38]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Vicary Gibbs Unopposed
Conservative hold
Gibbs
General election 1892: St Albans[38]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Vicary Gibbs 3,417 45.1 N/A
Liberal Thomas Morgan Harvey[76] 2,573 34.0 N/A
Ind. Conservative William Henry Bingham-Cox 1,580 20.9 N/A
Majority 844 11.1 N/A
Turnout 7,570 78.3 N/A
Registered electors 9,672
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1880s

[edit]
General election 1886: St Albans[38]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Grimston Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 1885: St Albans[38]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Grimston 4,108 57.5
Liberal John Coles 3,037 42.5
Majority 1,071 15.0
Turnout 7,145 81.7
Registered electors 8,741
Conservative win (new seat)

Elections in the 1850s

[edit]

On 3 May 1852, the borough was disenfranchised after a Royal Commission found proof of extensive bribery. The electorate was incorporated into Hertfordshire.[77]

By-election, 24 December 1850: St Albans[77]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Jacob Bell 276 65.2 −5.0
Conservative Robert Carden 147 34.8 +5.0
Majority 129 30.4 +28.4
Turnout 423 87.6 +0.5
Registered electors 483
Whig hold Swing −5.0
  • Caused by Raphael's death

Elections in the 1840s

[edit]
General election 1847: St Albans[77][78]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Alexander Raphael 295 31.8 +4.6
Conservative George Repton 276 29.8 −27.1
Whig John Wilks 230 24.8 +9.0
Whig Frederick Craven[79] 126 13.6 N/A
Turnout 464 (est) 87.1 (est) −3.5
Registered electors 532
Majority 19 2.0 +1.3
Whig hold Swing +9.1
Majority 46 5.0 +1.8
Conservative hold Swing −27.1
By-election, 11 August 1846: St Albans[77]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Benjamin Bond Cabbell 264 63.9 −7.0
Whig William Hare 149 36.1 +6.9
Majority 115 27.8 N/A
Turnout 413 76.3 −14.3
Registered electors 541
Conservative gain from Whig Swing −7.0
General election 1841: St Albans[28][77]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Repton 288 30.4 −8.5
Whig William Hare 258 27.2 +8.5
Conservative Henry Thomas Worley 251 26.5 +2.9
Whig George Alfred Muskett 150 15.8 −2.9
Turnout 482 90.6 −3.7
Registered electors 532
Majority 30 3.2 +1.7
Conservative hold Swing −5.7
Majority 7 0.7 −13.1
Whig hold Swing +5.7
By-election, 9 February 1841: St Albans[28][77]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig William Hare 252 55.1 +17.7
Conservative Benjamin Bond Cabbell 205 44.9 −17.6
Majority 47 10.2 N/A
Turnout 457 85.9 −8.4
Registered electors 532
Whig gain from Conservative Swing +17.7

Elections in the 1830s

[edit]
General election 1837: St Albans[28][77]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Grimston⋅ 361 38.9 −2.1
Whig George Alfred Muskett 347 37.4 +5.2
Conservative Benjamin Bond Cabbell 219 23.6 −3.2
Turnout 561 94.3 c. +13.1
Registered electors 595
Majority 14 1.5 −7.3
Conservative hold Swing −2.4
Majority 128 13.8 +8.4
Whig hold Swing +5.3
General election 1835: St Albans[28][77]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Grimston⋅ 362 41.0 +25.5
Whig Henry George Ward 284 32.2 −36.7
Conservative William Horsley Beresford[80] 237 26.8 +11.3
Turnout c. 442 c. 81.2 c. −15.8
Registered electors 544
Majority 78 8.8 N/A
Conservative gain from Whig Swing +22.0
Majority 47 5.4 +2.9
Whig hold Swing −36.8
General election 1832: St Albans[28][77]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Francis Vincent 392 35.3 −2.2
Whig Henry George Ward 373 33.6 −2.5
Tory William Turner 345 31.1 +4.7
Majority 28 2.5 −7.2
Turnout 637 97.0 c. +9.5
Registered electors 657
Whig hold Swing −2.3
Whig hold Swing −2.4
General election 1831: St Albans[28][81]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Francis Vincent 421 37.5 +8.9
Whig Richard Godson 406 36.1 +10.3
Tory James Grimston 297 26.4 −19.2
Majority 109 9.7 +6.9
Turnout 656 c. 87.5 c. +4.4
Registered electors c. 750
Whig hold Swing +9.3
Whig gain from Tory Swing +10.0
General election 1830: St Albans[28][81]
Party Candidate Votes %
Tory James Grimston 495 45.6
Whig Charles Tennant 311 28.6
Whig Henry Gally Knight 280 25.8
Turnout 623 c. 83.1
Registered electors c. 750
Majority 184 17.0
Tory hold
Majority 31 2.8
Whig hold

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer).
  2. ^ As with all constituencies, its registered electors elect one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – Eastern". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  2. ^ Electoral Calculus https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/fcgi-bin/calcwork23.py?seat=Reigate
  3. ^ Reform Act 1867
  4. ^ Belger, Tom (8 December 2023). "Labour selections: Full list of 211 'non-battleground' seats now open to applications". labourlist.org. Archived from the original on 9 December 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  5. ^ Great Britain, Incorporated Council of Law Reporting for England and Wales. The public general acts. unknown library. Proprietors of the Law Journal Reports, 1884.
  6. ^ Fraser, Hugh (1918). The Representation of the people act, 1918 : with explanatory notes. University of California Libraries. London : Sweet and Maxwell.
  7. ^ "H of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Order, 1945 | Vote UK Forum". vote-2012.proboards.com. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  8. ^ "Representation of the People Act, 1948". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  9. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1970". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  10. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  11. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  12. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/1681)". legislation.gov.uk. The National Archives. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  13. ^ "Fifth Periodical Report, Volume 1" (PDF). Boundary Commission for England. 2007. p. 335. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  14. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule I Part 2 Eastern region.
  15. ^ LGBCE. "St Albans | LGBCE". www.lgbce.org.uk. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  16. ^ "The St Albans (Electoral Changes) Order 2021".
  17. ^ "New Seat Details - St Albans". www.electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  18. ^ a b c d e "History of Parliament". Retrieved 2 October 2011.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "History of Parliament". Retrieved 2 October 2011.
  20. ^ "Wroth, Robert" . Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
  21. ^ Admiral from 1702
  22. ^ Created The Viscount Grimston (in the Peerage of Ireland), November 1719
  23. ^ On petition (in a dispute over the franchise), Hale was found not to have been duly elected
  24. ^ Pages 118 to 120,Lewis Namier, The Structure of Politics at the Accession of George III (2nd edition - London: St Martin's Press, 1957)
  25. ^ The 2nd Viscount Grimston (in the Peerage of Ireland) from October 1756
  26. ^ Richard Sutton was created a baronet, 1772
  27. ^ Styled Lord Bingham from October 1795, when his father was raised to an Earldom
  28. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab Stooks Smith, Henry. (1973) [1844-1850]. Craig, F. W. S. (ed.). The Parliaments of England (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. pp. 147–149. ISBN 0-900178-13-2.
  29. ^ Stooks Smith, Henry (1845). The Parliaments of England, from 1st George I., to the Present Time. Vol II: Oxfordshire to Wales Inclusive. London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. p. 133. Retrieved 30 November 2018 – via Google Books.
  30. ^ Mosse, Richard Bartholomew (1838). The Parliamentary Guide: a concise history of the Members of both Houses, etc. p. 197. Retrieved 30 November 2018 – via Google Books.
  31. ^ a b "Elections Decided". Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser. 10 July 1841. p. 6. Retrieved 30 November 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  32. ^ a b "Newry Telegraph". 3 July 1841. p. 3. Retrieved 30 November 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  33. ^ Kennedy, David (30 January 2018). "From Madras to Surbiton. Alexander Raphael, Unbeaton Champion, 1775–1850". Kingston History Research. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  34. ^ "St Albans". Newcastle Courant. 27 December 1850. p. 3. Retrieved 12 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  35. ^ "Summary". Liverpool Mercury. 27 December 1850. p. 8. Retrieved 12 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  36. ^ "St. Alban's Election". Northern Star and Leeds General Advertiser. 28 December 1850. p. 17. Retrieved 12 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  37. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "S" (part 1)
  38. ^ 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.
  39. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 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.
  40. ^ New M.P. For St. Albans, The Times, October 06, 1943
  41. ^ "Statement of persons nominated - St Albans" (PDF). St Albans City and District Council. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  42. ^ "St Albans parliamentary constituency - Election 2024". BBC News.
  43. ^ "Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". Rallings & Thrasher, Professor David Denver (Scotland), Nicholas Whyte (NI) for Sky News, PA, BBC News and ITV News. UK Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  44. ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated (St Albans Constituency)" (PDF). stalbans.gov.uk. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  45. ^ "St Albans parliamentary constituency - Election 2019" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  46. ^ "2017 Parliamentary Election Results". St Albans City and District Council. 16 June 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  47. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  48. ^ "2015 Parliamentary Election Results". St Albans City and District Council. 8 May 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  49. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  50. ^ "City & District of St Albans - Statement of persons nominated" (PDF).
  51. ^ "UK General Election results May 2010". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  52. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  53. ^ "UK General Election results May 2005". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  54. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  55. ^ "General Election result, June 2001". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  56. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  57. ^ "General Election result, May 1997". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  58. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  59. ^ "UK General Election results April 1992". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  60. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  61. ^ "UK General Election results 1987". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  62. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  63. ^ "UK General Election results June 1983". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  64. ^ "UK General Election results May 1979". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  65. ^ a b c "'St Albans', Feb 1974 - May 1983". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  66. ^ "UK General Election results October 1974". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  67. ^ "UK General Election results February 1974". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  68. ^ "UK General Election results June 1970". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  69. ^ "UK General Election results March 1966". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  70. ^ "UK General Election results October 1964". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  71. ^ "UK General Election results October 1959". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  72. ^ "UK General Election results May 1955". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  73. ^ "UK General Election results October 1951". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  74. ^ "UK General Election results February 1950". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  75. ^ Large Labour Vote At St. Albans, Seat Held By Coalition, The Times, Wednesday 24 December 1919, page 10
  76. ^ Moore, Julie Patricia (September 2010). The Impact of Agricultural Depression and Land Ownership Change on the County of Hertfordshire, c.1870-1914 (PDF) (PhD). University of Hertfordshire. p. 214.
  77. ^ a b c d e f g h i Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (e-book) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. p. 261. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
  78. ^ "Wilks and Independence". Hertford Mercury and Reformer. 24 July 1847. p. 1. Retrieved 30 November 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  79. ^ "St Albans". Bedfordshire Mercury. 31 July 1847. p. 3. Retrieved 30 November 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  80. ^ "Page 1". Bucks Herald. 3 January 1835. Retrieved 24 April 2020 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  81. ^ a b Fisher, David R. "St. Albans". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 24 April 2020.

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)
[edit]

51°44′24″N 0°20′13″W / 51.740°N 0.337°W / 51.740; -0.337

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