1885–1918

• Parts of the Sessional Division of Watford and Dacorum.^[6]

The constituency was established 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 Western or Watford Division of Hertfordshire. It included the towns of Watford, Rickmansworth, Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted and Tring.

1918–1950

• The Urban Districts of Bushey, Chorleywood, Rickmansworth, and Watford; and
• The Rural District of Watford parishes of Aldenham, Rickmansworth Rural and Watford Rural.^[7][8]

Aldenham was transferred from St Albans.  Northern half of constituency, including Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted and Tring formed the majority of the new Hemel Hempstead Division.

1950–1983

Reconstituted as a Borough Constituency comprising the Municipal Borough of Watford.^[9]  Remainder of the constituency formed the bulk of the new County Constituency of South West Hertfordshire.

1983–1997

• The Borough of Watford;
• The District of Three Rivers wards of Abbots Langley and Leavesden (transferred from South West Hertfordshire); and
• The District of St Albans wards of Park Street and St Stephens (transferred from the abolished South Hertfordshire constituency).^[10]

1997–present

• The Borough of Watford; and
• The District of Three Rivers wards of Abbots Langley, Carpenders Park, Langleybury, Leavesden, and Oxhey Hall.^[11][12]

Three wards further wards in the Three Rivers District transferred from South West Hertfordshire.  Park Street and St Stephens transferred to St Albans.

Proposed

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, enacted by the Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023, the composition of the constituency from the next general election, due by January 2025, will be (as they existed on 1^st December 2020):

• The Borough of Hertsmere ward of Bushey North
• The Borough of Watford.^[13]

The parts in the District of Three Rivers will be transferred to South West Hertfordshire. In order to bring the electorate back within the permitted range, the Bushey North ward is being moved in from the Hertsmere constituency.

Elections in the 2020s

Elections in the 2010s

More information Party, Candidate ...

General election 2019: Watford^[18]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Dean Russell	26,421	45.5	0.1
	Labour	Chris Ostrowski	21,988	37.9	4.1
	Liberal Democrats	Ian Stotesbury	9,323	16.1	7.0
	SDP	Michael McGetrick	333	0.6	New
Majority			4,433	7.6	4.0
Turnout			58,065	69.7	1.9
	Conservative hold		Swing	2.0

Close

Background to Conservative candidates

In July 2007 former candidate Ali Miraj, a candidate for Aberavon in 2001, was dropped from the candidates list by the Conservative Party after he complained about David Cameron's leadership style and allegedly demanded a peerage.^[23][24] The public selected his former campaign manager Ian Oakley, who had been a candidate for Newport East in 2001 in the first Open Primary to be organised by the Conservative Party in November 2006. In July 2008, Oakley, withdrew candidature after being arrested for conducting a campaign of harassment against the local Liberal Democrats,^[25][26] for which he was convicted and given an 18-week suspended prison sentence and 12-month supervision order on 13 October 2008.^[27]

In December 2008 Watford Conservative Association selected a new candidate, Richard Harrington.^[28]

Elections in the 2000s

Elections in the 1990s

Elections in the 1980s

Elections in the 1970s

Elections in the 1960s

Elections in the 1950s

Elections in the 1940s

Elections in the 1930s

Elections in the 1920s

Elections in the 1910s

Elections in the 1880s

Elections in the 1890s

Elections in the 1900s

Elections in the 1910s

General Election 1914–15:

Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;

• Unionist: Arnold Ward
• Liberal: Hedley Le Bas^[44]