Compiled by EveryElectionResult.com's data team · Last updated 2026-08-30
East Hertfordshire was won by Conservative at the 1979 general election, with a majority of 21,460 votes over Labour. This page covers every general election in East Hertfordshire from 1955 to 1979.
Full Election History, 1955–1979
Election
Elected
Votes
Vote Share
Runner-up
Majority
Turnout
1955
Derek Colclough Walker-Smith (Conservative)
26,936
56.9%
William Samuel Hilton (Labour)
6,518 (13.8 pts)
79.1%
1959
Derek Colclough Walker-Smith (Conservative)
28,201
51.4%
Sydney James Bidwell (Labour)
10,181 (18.6 pts)
82.0%
1964
Derek Colclough Walker-Smith (Conservative)
29,749
48.2%
Dennis Christopher George Potter (Labour)
7,862 (12.7 pts)
81.0%
1966
Derek Walker-Smith (Conservative)
29,618
46.6%
Brian Murphy (Labour)
5,206 (8.2 pts)
80.1%
1970
Derek Walker-Smith (Conservative)
37,668
54.7%
Michael Thomas (Labour)
14,067 (20.4 pts)
73.6%
Feb 1974
Derek Walker-Smith (Conservative)
32,032
45.0%
Malcolm Mclaren Keir (Labour)
11,358 (15.9 pts)
80.9%
Oct 1974
Derek Walker-Smith (Conservative)
29,334
44.6%
Malcolm Mclaren Keir (Labour)
8,335 (12.7 pts)
74.1%
1979
Derek Walker-Smith (Conservative)
41,599
55.5%
Loan Julian Evans (Labour)
21,460 (28.6 pts)
77.8%
Full Result Breakdown by Election
1955
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Derek Colclough Walker-Smith
Conservative
26,936
56.9%
Yes
William Samuel Hilton
Labour
20,418
43.1%
No
1959
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Derek Colclough Walker-Smith
Conservative
28,201
51.4%
Yes
Sydney James Bidwell
Labour
18,020
32.8%
No
Kenneth John Whitehead Spargo
Liberal
8,656
15.8%
No
1964
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Derek Colclough Walker-Smith
Conservative
29,749
48.2%
Yes
Dennis Christopher George Potter
Labour
21,887
35.5%
No
Eric W Morgan
Liberal
10,088
16.3%
No
1966
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Derek Walker-Smith
Conservative
29,618
46.6%
Yes
Brian Murphy
Labour
24,412
38.4%
No
Eric Morgan
Liberal
9,501
15.0%
No
1970
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Derek Walker-Smith
Conservative
37,668
54.7%
Yes
Michael Thomas
Labour
23,601
34.3%
No
David Walsh
Liberal
7,538
11.0%
No
Feb 1974
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Derek Walker-Smith
Conservative
32,032
45.0%
Yes
Malcolm Mclaren Keir
Labour
20,674
29.0%
No
Peter Cyril Clark
Liberal
18,546
26.0%
No
Oct 1974
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Derek Walker-Smith
Conservative
29,334
44.6%
Yes
Malcolm Mclaren Keir
Labour
20,999
31.9%
No
Peter Cyril Clark
Liberal
15,446
23.5%
No
1979
Candidate
Party
Votes
Share
Elected
Derek Walker-Smith
Conservative
41,599
55.5%
Yes
Loan Julian Evans
Labour
20,139
26.9%
No
Lesley Abdela
Liberal
11,393
15.2%
No
John Reginald Smith
National Front
1,819
2.4%
No
Margin Over Time
Winning margin (percentage points) at each election, coloured by the winning party.
Trend
East Hertfordshire has been contested at 8 general elections on record since 1955. Parties that have won a seat here over that span: Conservative.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won East Hertfordshire in the 1979 general election?
Conservative won East Hertfordshire in 1979 with 41,599 votes (55.5%), a majority of 21,460 votes over Labour in second place.
Which parties have won East Hertfordshire since 1955?
Since 1955, East Hertfordshire has been won by: Conservative.
What was the closest result in East Hertfordshire?
The closest result on record for East Hertfordshire was 1966, when Conservative beat Labour by just 5,206 votes (8.2 percentage points).