Hertford and Stortford (UK Parliament constituency)

Hertford and Stortford (UK Parliament constituency)
Name	Hertford and Stortford
Map1	Hertford_and_Stortford_2010
Map2	EnglandEastHertfordshire
Map entity	East of England
Map year	2010
Type	County
County	Hertfordshire
Electorate	80,000 (approx.)
European	East of England
Year	1983
Member label	MP
Member	Julie Marson
Party	Conservative
Region	England
Towns	Hertford, Bishop's Stortford, Sawbridgeworth, Ware

Contents

History
Boundaries
Members of Parliament
Elections
Demographics
See also

Hertford and Stortford (UK Parliament constituency) is a county constituency in the East of England region, created for the 1983 general election. It is located within the ceremonial county of Hertfordshire and encompasses the historic market towns of Hertford, Bishop's Stortford, Sawbridgeworth, and Ware. The seat has been held continuously by the Conservative Party since its creation, with its MPs including prominent figures such as Bowen Wells and Mark Prisk.

History

The constituency was formed from parts of the former Hertfordshire South and Hertford and Stevenage seats. Its political history is dominated by the Conservative Party, which has won every general election here since 1983, often with substantial majorities. The seat was represented for nearly two decades by Bowen Wells, who served as a Parliamentary Private Secretary in the government of Margaret Thatcher. He was succeeded in 2001 by Mark Prisk, who held ministerial roles under Prime Ministers David Cameron and Theresa May, including as Minister of State for Housing. The current MP, Julie Marson, was elected in the 2019 general election.

Boundaries

The constituency covers the eastern part of the East Hertfordshire district. As defined by the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, it comprises the County Council wards of Bishop's Stortford, Hertford, Sawbridgeworth, and Ware. The Boundary Commission for England's reviews have periodically adjusted its edges, but it has consistently included the key towns of Hertford, the county town of Hertfordshire, and Bishop's Stortford, a major commuter hub with strong transport links to London via the West Anglia Main Line. The boundary follows the River Lea in parts and is bordered by the constituencies of North East Hertfordshire, Broxbourne, and Harlow.

Members of Parliament

{| class="wikitable" |- ! Election ! Member ! Party |- | 1983 | Bowen Wells | Conservative |- | 2001 | Mark Prisk | Conservative |- | 2019 | Julie Marson | Conservative |}

Elections

In the 2019 election, Julie Marson won with a majority of 19,620 votes over the Labour Party candidate. The Liberal Democrats and the Green Party have historically polled behind the main contenders. The 2016 EU referendum saw the area vote to Leave the European Union, a result reflected in the strong Conservative performance in subsequent elections. Notable past candidates have included David Gauke, who later served as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, and representatives from the UK Independence Party during the peak of its influence.

Demographics

The population is predominantly White British, with growing diversity in towns like Bishop's Stortford. The area is characterized by above-average household income and high levels of home ownership, aligning with the Conservative voting pattern. Key employers include Stansted Airport, the GlaxoSmithKline research facility, and various financial services firms in Hertford. The constituency has a significant commuting population to London, supported by rail services on the West Anglia Main Line and the M11 motorway. The age profile is slightly older than the national average, with a high proportion of residents in professional and managerial occupations.