Hemel Hempstead

Boundary changes: very minor. Hemel Hempstead loses Felden and Sheethanger Common, amounting to around 1,200 electors.

Profile: Hemel Hempstead is a Hertfordshire new town, just north-west of the junction of the M25 and M1. When the town was originally built in the 1950s industrial areas were developed to prevent Hemel becoming no more than a London dormitory town, good communications links mean the town has retained significant industry and commerce, including the headquarters of Dixons and Kodak. Just east of the town is the Herfordshire Oil storage depot, better known as the Buncefield complex, made infamous by the explosion of December 2005.

The seat also contains a swathe of countryside to the North of the constituency including villages like Flamstead, Great Gaddesden, Markyate, Nettleden, Hudnall, Little Gaddesden & Potton End.

In November 2006 it was announced that Hemel Hempstead hospital was to be downgraded, with acute and emergency services being moved to Watford.

Current MP: Mike Penning(Conservative) born 1957, London. Educated at King Edmund Comprehensive school. A right-winger from a working-class background, Penning has a varied past career. After leaving school he served in the Grenadier Guards in Northern Ireland, Kenya and Germany and worked as a full-time fireman in Essex, before working as a political journalist and as a media consultant. A staunch Euro-sceptic, Penning was a media advisor to the “whipless 8” Conservative MPs under the Major government and was later national director of Conservatives Against a Federal Europe. He went on to serve as an advisor to William Hague and deputy head of media for Iain Duncan Smith. Contested Thurrock in 2001. First elected for Hemel Hempstead 2005. Backed David Davis in the 2005 leadership contest. Shadow health spokesman since 2007 (more information at They work for you)

2010 election candidates:
Mike Penning(Conservative) born 1957, London. Educated at King Edmund Comprehensive school. A right-winger from a working-class background, Penning has a varied past career. After leaving school he served in the Grenadier Guards in Northern Ireland, Kenya and Germany and worked as a full-time fireman in Essex, before working as a political journalist and as a media consultant. A staunch Euro-sceptic, Penning was a media advisor to the “whipless 8” Conservative MPs under the Major government and was later national director of Conservatives Against a Federal Europe. He went on to serve as an advisor to William Hague and deputy head of media for Iain Duncan Smith. Contested Thurrock in 2001. First elected for Hemel Hempstead 2005. Backed David Davis in the 2005 leadership contest. Shadow health spokesman since 2007 (more information at They work for you)
Ayfer Orhan (Labour) born 1959 to a Turkish Cypriot family. Graphic designer, company director and now a disability specialist for the Learning and Skills Council. Labour Councillor in Enfield. Contested North West Cambridgeshire 2005.
Richard Grayson (Liberal Democrat) born 1969, Hemel Hempstead. Educated at Hemel school, University of East Anglia and Oxford University. Former Director of policy for the Liberal Democrats, currently head of Politics at Goldsmiths College. Contested Hemel Hempstead in 2005.
David Alexander (UKIP)
Janet Price (BNP)
Mick Young (Independent)