Hemel Hempstead is a constituency in Hertfordshire represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first-past-the-post system. Since 2005, it has been represented by Mike Penning, a member of the Conservative Party. Constituency profile The seat covers the new town of Hemel Hempstead which is a significant employment centre, as well as a rural area of the Chilterns to the north. Residents are slightly wealthier than the UK average. History The constituency was established as a Division of Hertfordshire by the Representation of the People Act 1918, largely created from the northern half of the Watford Division, including Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted and Tring. It also included north-western part of the St Albans Division, around Harpenden. Harpenden was transferred back to St Albans in 1974 and the constituency was temporarily abolished from 1983 to 1997 during which time it was replaced by West Hertfordshire. Boundaries and boundary changes 1918–1950: The Municipal Borough of Hemel Hempstead, the Urban Districts of Berkhamsted, Harpenden, and Tring, the Rural Districts of Berkhamsted and Hemel Hempstead, in the Rural District of St Albans the parishes of Harpenden Rural, Redbourn, and Wheathampstead, and in the Rural District of Watford the parishes of Abbots Langley and Sarratt. 1950–1974: The Municipal Borough of Hemel Hempstead, the Urban Districts of Berkhamsted, Harpenden, and Tring, the Rural Districts of Berkhamsted and Hemel Hempstead, and in the Rural District of St Albans the parishes of Harpenden Rural and Redbourn. Parish of Wheathampstead transferred back to St Albans. Parishes of Abbots Langley and Sarratt included in the new County Constituency of South West Hertfordshire. 1974–1983: The Municipal Borough of Hemel Hempstead, the Urban Districts of Berkhamsted and Tring, and the Rural Districts of Berkhamsted and Hemel Hempstead. The Urban District of Harpenden and the part of the Rural District of St Albans (parishes of Harpenden Rural and Redbourn) now transferred back to St Albans. The constituency was abolished for the 1983 general election. Berkhamsted and the area to the south of Hemel Hempstead, including Kings Langley, was transferred to South West Hertfordshire. The remainder, including Hemel Hempstead and Tring, formed the new County Constituency of West Hertfordshire. 1997–2010: The District of Dacorum wards of Adeyfield East, Adeyfield West, Ashridge, Bennetts End, Boxmoor, Central, Chaulden, Crabtree, Cupid Green, Flamstead and Markyate, Gadebridge, Grove Hill, Highfield, Kings Langley, Leverstock Green, Nash