Hitchin and Harpenden (UK Parliament constituency)

Template:UK constituency infobox Hitchin and Harpenden is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.

Boundaries

As well as the towns of Hitchin and Harpenden themselves, the constituency also includes Wheathampstead and a number of villages.

Boundary review

Following their review of parliamentary representation in Hertfordshire the Boundary Commission for England has recommended for the 2010 general election the creation of a Hitchin and Harpenden constituency formed from electoral wards in North Hertfordshire, and St Albans, as detailed below.

• From North Hertfordshire: Cadwell, Chesfield (previously known as Graveley and Wymondley), Hitchin Bearton, Hitchin Highbury, Hitchin Oughton, Hitchin Priory, Hitchin Walsworth, Kimpton, and Hitchwood, Hoo & Offa.
• From St Albans: Harpenden East, Harpenden North, Harpenden South, Harpenden West, Redbourn, Sandridge and Wheathampstead.

History

The constituency was created in 1997 from parts of several former Hertfordshire seats. Prior to 1997 Hitchin was included in the North Hertfordshire constituency and Harpenden in the St Albans constituency, while the village of Wheathampstead was part of the Welwyn Hatfield constituency.

The seat's first, and so far only, MP is the former Cabinet minister Peter Lilley of the Conservative Party, who had previously represented St Albans from 1983.

Members of Parliament

Election		Member	Party
style="background-color: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" |	1997	Peter Lilley	Conservative

Election results

Confirmed candidates for the General Election 2010

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Oli de Botton
	Citizens for Undead Rights and Equality	Simon Byron
	Your Right to Democracy	Eric Hannah
	Independent	Margaret Henderson
	Conservative	Peter Lilley
	Liberal Democrats	Nigel Quinton
	Independent	Peter Rigby
	UKIP	Graham Wilkinson
	Green	Richard Wise
Majority
Turnout

General Election 2005: Hitchin and Harpenden

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Peter Lilley	23,627	49.9	+2.6
	Liberal Democrats	Hannah Hedges	12,234	25.8	+7.8
	Labour	Paul Orrett	10,499	22.2	−10.3
	UKIP	John Saunders	828	1.7	+0.4
	Independent	Edward Rigby	199	0.4	+0.4
Majority			11,393	24.0
Turnout			47,387	70.5	+3.6
	Conservative hold		Swing

General Election 2001: Hitchin and Harpenden

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Peter Lilley	21,271	47.3	+1.5
	Labour	Alan Amos	14,608	32.5	−0.6
	Liberal Democrats	John Murphy	8,076	18.0	−2.1
	UKIP	John Saunders	606	1.3	N/A
	Independent	Peter Rigby	363	0.8	N/A
Majority			6,663	14.8
Turnout			44,924	66.9	−11.1
	Conservative hold		Swing

General Election 1997: Hitchin and Harpenden

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Peter Lilley	24,038	45.9	N/A
	Labour	Rosemary Sanderson	17,367	33.1	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	Chris White	10,515	20.1	N/A
	Natural Law	D. Cooke	290	0.6	N/A
	Socialist Alternative	Jim Horton	217	0.4	N/A
Majority			6,671	12.7	N/A
Turnout			52,427	78.0	N/A
	Conservative hold		Swing	N/A

See also

• List of Parliamentary constituencies in Hertfordshire