Con held for 5 consecutive elections.
Oliver Dowden
Conservative and Unionist PartyThe Rt Hon Sir Oliver Dowden is the Conservative MP for Hertsmere, and has been an MP continually since 7 May 2015.
Vote on whether to prevent someone from qualifying as 'terminally ill' under the assisted dying bill solely because they have chosen to stop eating and drinking. The amendment would close a potential loophole where a person who is not otherwise terminally ill could meet the bill's eligibility criteria by voluntarily starving themselves.
MPs voted on the Third Reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill — the final Commons vote on whether to pass the assisted dying legislation in its amended form. Passing Third Reading sends the Bill to the House of Lords.
Vote on an amendment to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill that would prevent someone from qualifying as 'terminally ill' under the Bill solely because they have voluntarily stopped eating and drinking. This matters because without the amendment, a person could potentially use voluntary starvation to meet the terminal illness threshold and access an assisted death.
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Sign up freeCoverage of Hertsmere has been mixed for Oliver across 40 recent articles.
Represented by Con since 2024. Covers Borehamwood, Potters Bar and Bushey. Population 105,963. 7,720 businesses.
Recycling centre closed after fire breaks out among the rubbish
The Watford Observer · 9 Apr 2026
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Sign up freeMedian Income▼
£34,800
per year (HMRC 2022-23)
Mean Income▼
£59,600
per year (HMRC 2022-23)
Businesses▼
7,720
VAT/PAYE registered (ONS 2024)
Schools▼
60
34 primary, 7 secondary, 19 other
Total Income Tax▼
£783m
from 57,000 taxpayers
Median Tax▼
£3,790
per taxpayer / year
Mean Tax
£13,800
per taxpayer / year
Source: HMRC Survey of Personal Incomes, tax year 2022-23. Allocated by taxpayer residence. Covers income tax only — excludes NI, VAT, and capital gains. Sample-based estimate (~8% confidence interval).
Attainment 8▼
48.5
average score (DfE)
GCSE Pass Rate▼
67.5%
5+ GCSEs 9-4 (DfE)
2 large towns, 3 towns, 4 villages, rural areas — 104,280 total population
Source: ONS Built-Up Areas (Census 2021) + data.police.uk — crime rates are per 1,000 population (last 3 months)
Source: data.police.uk — street-level crime data aggregated from LSOA to constituency
37 councillors across 16 wards · Last elections: May 2024
| Ward | Party | Councillor | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aldenham East | Conservative and Unionist Party | Brett Rosehill | May 2023 |
| Conservative and Unionist Party | Lucy Selby | May 2023 | |
| Aldenham West | Conservative and Unionist Party | Caroline Clapper | May 2023 |
| Conservative and Unionist Party | David Stephen Lambert | May 2023 | |
| Bentley Heath The Royds | Labour Party | Helen Green | May 2023 |
| Conservative and Unionist Party | Meenal Sachdev | May 2023 | |
| Borehamwood Brookmeadow | Conservative and Unionist Party | Alan Plancey | May 2023 |
| Labour Party | Graeme Hadleigh Alexander | May 2023 | |
| Labour Party | Rebecca Challice | May 2023 | |
| Borehamwood Cowley Hill | Labour Party | Jeremy Newmark | May 2023 |
| Labour Party | Linda Denise Smith | May 2023 | |
| Labour Party | Richard Butler | May 2023 | |
| Borehamwood Hillside | Labour Party | Aaditya Kaza | May 2023 |
| Conservative and Unionist Party | Alex Clarkson | May 2023 | |
| Labour Party | Alpha Collins | May 2023 | |
| Borehamwood Kenilworth | Labour Party | Nik Oakley | May 2023 |
| Labour Party | Parveen Rani | May 2023 | |
| Labour Party | Prabhakar Kaza | May 2023 | |
| Bushey Heath | Conservative and Unionist Party | Paul Morris | May 2023 |
| Conservative and Unionist Party | Seamus Quilty | May 2023 | |
| Bushey Park | Liberal Democrats | Marc Howard Amron | May 2023 |
| Liberal Democrats | Maxie Allen | May 2023 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Shailain Harakhchand Haria Shah | May 2023 | |
| Bushey St James | Liberal Democrats | Christopher Simon Shenton | May 2023 |
| Liberal Democrats | Mia Handley | May 2023 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Miles Ponder | May 2023 | |
| Elstree | Conservative and Unionist Party | Harvey Stewart Cohen | May 2023 |
| Conservative and Unionist Party | Morris Bright | May 2023 | |
| Northaw Cuffley | Conservative and Unionist Party | Barbara Ann Fitzsimon | May 2024 |
| Potters Bar Furzefield | Labour Party | Chris Myers | May 2023 |
| Labour Party | Christian Gray | May 2023 | |
| Potters Bar Oakmere | Labour Party | Renos Georgiou | May 2023 |
| Conservative and Unionist Party | Sarah Hodgson-Jones | May 2023 | |
| Potters Bar Parkfield | Conservative and Unionist Party | Abhishek Sachdev | May 2023 |
| Conservative and Unionist Party | Lynette Jane Sullivan | May 2023 | |
| Shenley | Conservative and Unionist Party | Natalie Susman | May 2023 |
| Conservative and Unionist Party | Paul Hodgson-Jones | May 2023 |
Source: DCLEAPIL v1.0 by Jason Leman, LEAP (Andrew Teale) & Democracy Club. CC BY-SA 4.0. Data last refreshed: 1 Apr 2026.
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
✓ Won 2019 GEWon 2017 GEWon 2015 GE | Con | 21,451 | 44.7% |
| Lab | 13,459 | 28.0% | |
| Ref | 6,584 | 13.7% | |
| LD | 3,710 | 7.7% | |
| Green | 2,267 | 4.7% | |
| Ind | 536 | 1.1% |
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
✓ Won 2024 GEWon 2017 GEWon 2015 GE | Con | 32,651 | 62.5% |
| Lab | 11,338 | 21.7% | |
| LD | 6,561 | 12.6% | |
| Green | 1,653 | 3.2% |
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
✓ Won 2024 GEWon 2019 GEWon 2015 GE | Con | 31,928 | 61.1% |
| Lab | 14,977 | 28.7% | |
| LD | 2,794 | 5.3% | |
| Ind | 1,564 | 3.0% | |
| Green | 990 | 1.9% |
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
✓ Won 2024 GEWon 2019 GEWon 2017 GE | Con | 29,696 | 59.3% |
| Lab | 11,235 | 22.4% | |
| Ind | 6,383 | 12.7% | |
| LD | 2,777 | 5.5% |
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Con | 26,476 | 56.0% | |
| Lab | 8,871 | 18.8% | |
| LD | 8,210 | 17.4% | |
| Ind | 1,712 | 3.6% | |
| Ind | 1,397 | 3.0% | |
| Green | 604 | 1.3% |
Oliver Dowden has not appeared in national political news coverage tracked by our system. This is common for backbench MPs who focus on constituency-level work rather than national policy debates.
24 articles hidden as not sufficiently relevant to this constituency
A fire broke out at Elstree Recycling Centre in Hertsmere on April 9, requiring emergency response from Herts Fire and Rescue Service. The centre has been closed to the public pending confirmation of reopening from Hertfordshire County Council.
A man was arrested after a Tesla crashed into two pedestrians on Theobald Street in Borehamwood early Saturday morning, leaving one with serious injuries. The 30-year-old was bailed pending enquiries on suspicion of wounding and assault charges.
An XL Bully dog allegedly attacked another dog and injured its owner at a Radlett pub garden on Watling Street. The incident was reported to police, the attacking dog is in secure kennels, and the owner's injuries were treated at the scene.
A prominent Bushey High Street hair and beauty salon has closed unexpectedly, with the property's asking price reduced by £100,000 to £750,000. The closure reflects broader commercial pressures facing local businesses, with former customers expressing sadness at the loss of a well-regarded community establishment.
Hertfordshire County Council's audit committee has flagged a severe red-level risk regarding the government's local government reform plans, which could fragment the county into 2-4 unitary councils. The restructuring presents significant challenges around service delivery, staffing, and resource allocation that could impact residents across Hertfordshire.
A 19-year-old from Potters Bar, Hertfordshire was jailed for six years and three months after attempting to smuggle a handgun into the UK disguised as a canine training kit. Officers discovered an extensive arsenal of weapons, ammunition, modified firearms, and a cannabis grow operation at his parents' home, revealing a sophisticated drug-dealing operation with serious implications for local community safety.
Queens' School in Bushey is launching four new covered padel courts as part of a £2 million facility upgrade project managed by Powerleague, with the courts opening to the public in May. The facility will serve both students during school hours and local residents outside of school hours, enhancing sports provision in the community.
A track worker was fatally struck by an East Midlands Railway train travelling at 110mph near Elstree & Borehamwood station in Hertsmere on March 15, 2026. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has launched a formal investigation into the incident, which occurred while workers were conducting measurements on an adjacent track following embankment repair work.
A trackworker was fatally struck by a train operating at 110mph on the Midland Main Line between Radlett Junction and Elstree & Borehamwood station on March 15. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has launched an inquiry to determine the sequence of events that led to the incident.
A 25-year-old man from Bushey Heath has been convicted of serious violent offences including false imprisonment, intentional strangulation, and threatening with weapons at St Albans Crown Court. The crimes occurred in Bushey on September 22, 2025, and sentencing is scheduled for May 22.
A short film called 'Moustache Man' directed by and starring Bushey resident Sean Young has been released publicly on YouTube. The film, which features actor Mark Gatiss and explores the experiences of carers, was shot at Bushey Museum and Art Gallery and has received praise for its portrayal of caring challenges.
Emergency repair work on Colne Bridge in Lower High Street will close access to Watford via Bushey Arches from March 26, with directional road closures expected to last until March 30. Cadent Gas is undertaking the work, with delays expected and alternative routes advised.
This article examines the psychology and motivations of Kyle Clifford, who murdered three women (Carol, Louise, and Hannah Hunt) in Bushey, Hertfordshire in July 2024. Experts analyse his narcissism, misogyny, and premeditated nature of the crimes, which shocked the local community and gained significant national attention.
Two men were arrested following a police chase in Hertsmere and surrounding areas after officers spotted a car linked to burglaries in Bushey and St Albans. The suspects were found with drugs and charged in connection with multiple break-ins across the region.
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