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
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.
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]
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
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
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
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
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]
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
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
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.
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 cathedralcity 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.
This constituency underwent boundary changes between the 2005 and 2010 general elections and thus calculation of change in vote share is not meaningful
This constituency underwent boundary changes between the 1992 and 1997 general elections and thus calculation of change in vote share is not meaningful
This constituency underwent boundary changes between the 1979 and 1983 general elections and thus calculation of change in vote share is not meaningful
This constituency underwent boundary changes between the 1970 and February 1974 general elections and thus calculation of change in vote share is not meaningful.
This constituency underwent boundary changes between the 1951 and 1955 general elections and thus calculation of change in vote share is not meaningful
This constituency underwent boundary changes between the 1945 and 1950 general elections and thus calculation of change in vote share is not meaningful
This constituency underwent boundary changes between the 1935 and 1945 general elections and thus calculation of change in vote share is not meaningful
On 3 May 1852, the borough was disenfranchised after a Royal Commission found proof of extensive bribery. The electorate was incorporated into Hertfordshire.[76]
^A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer).
^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
^"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.
^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.
^Great Britain, Incorporated Council of Law Reporting for England and Wales. The public general acts. unknown library. Proprietors of the Law Journal Reports, 1884.
^Fraser, Hugh (1918). The Representation of the people act, 1918 : with explanatory notes. University of California Libraries. London : Sweet and Maxwell.
^"H of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Order, 1945 | Vote UK Forum". vote-2012.proboards.com. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
^"Representation of the People Act, 1948". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
^"The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1970". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
^"The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
^"The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
^"The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/1681)". legislation.gov.uk. The National Archives. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
^Styled Lord Bingham from October 1795, when his father was raised to an Earldom
^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzaaabStooks 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.
^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.
^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.
^ ab"Elections Decided". Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser. 10 July 1841. p. 6. Retrieved 30 November 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^ ab"Newry Telegraph". 3 July 1841. p. 3. Retrieved 30 November 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^Kennedy, David (30 January 2018). "From Madras to Surbiton. Alexander Raphael, Unbeaton Champion, 1775–1850". Kingston History Research. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
^"St Albans". Newcastle Courant. 27 December 1850. p. 3. Retrieved 12 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^"St. Alban's Election". Northern Star and Leeds General Advertiser. 28 December 1850. p. 17. Retrieved 12 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "S" (part 1)
^ abcdefghijCraig, F. W. S. (1989) [1974]. British parliamentary election results 1885–1918 (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 297. ISBN 0-900178-27-2.
^ abcdefghijCraig, 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
^"Statement of persons nominated - St Albans" (PDF). St Albans City and District Council. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
^"St Albans parliamentary constituency - Election 2024" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
^"Statement of Persons Nominated (St Albans Constituency)" (PDF). stalbans.gov.uk. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
^"St Albans parliamentary constituency - Election 2019" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
^"2017 Parliamentary Election Results". St Albans City and District Council. 16 June 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
^"Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
^"2015 Parliamentary Election Results". St Albans City and District Council. 8 May 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
^"Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
^"City & District of St Albans - Statement of persons nominated" (PDF).
^"UK General Election results May 2010". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
^"Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
^"UK General Election results May 2005". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
^"Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
^"General Election result, June 2001". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
^"Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
^"General Election result, May 1997". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
^"Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
^"UK General Election results April 1992". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
^"Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
^"UK General Election results 1987". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
^"Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
^"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.
^ abc"'St Albans', Feb 1974 - May 1983". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
^"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.
^Large Labour Vote At St. Albans, Seat Held By Coalition, The Times, Wednesday 24 December 1919, page 10
^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.
^ abcdefghiCraig, 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.
^"Wilks and Independence". Hertford Mercury and Reformer. 24 July 1847. p. 1. Retrieved 30 November 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^"St Albans". Bedfordshire Mercury. 31 July 1847. p. 3. Retrieved 30 November 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^ abFisher, David R. "St. Albans". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
Sources
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)