London · England · 73,465Boundary · 2023

Hertsmere

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Dispatch
Apr 2026

Represented by Con since 2024. Covers Borehamwood, Potters Bar and Bushey. Population 105,963. 7,720 businesses.

Dowden's most distinctive recent move has been breaking with the majority of his Conservative colleagues on the assisted dying bill. On 20 June 2025, he voted for the bill to pass its Third Reading -- putting him on the pro-access side -- while also backing Amendment 77, which would have tightened eligibility by preventing voluntary starvation from qualifying as terminal illness. He simultaneously voted against two other amendments the Conservative majority supported, suggesting a nuanced rather than simply pro or anti position. More recently, he has voted consistently with opposition colleagues to defend Lords amendments to the Victims and Courts Bill, backing stronger victims' rights on court transcripts, lenient sentence challenges, and compensation access -- and supported opposition motions on both defence spending and North Sea oil and gas policy in March 2026.

At 62% voting participation, Dowden sits below the Commons average, though this is not unusual for senior former ministers navigating opposition. He is a 97.7% party-line voter overall, with his assisted dying votes among the rare deviations. His speeches -- 122 contributions across 68 debates -- cluster heavily around economy, defence, and fiscal policy. He tracks notably above his party average on pension protection, armed forces welfare, and public health. He holds no current committee positions.

302
Commons votes
This parliament
£35k
Median income
HMRC · 2024
73.5k
Electorate
2024 GE

Con held for 5 consecutive elections.

Current Member of Parliament

Oliver Dowden

Oliver Dowden

Conservative and Unionist Party

The Rt Hon Sir Oliver Dowden is the Conservative MP for Hertsmere, and has been an MP continually since 7 May 2015.

Notable Votes

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.

MP voted NoAgainst party majority

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.

MP voted YesAgainst party majority

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.

MP voted YesAgainst party majority

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Voting at a Glance

Represented by Con since 2024. Covers Borehamwood, Potters Bar and Bushey. Population 105,963. 7,720 businesses.

2024 General Election

§ 06This week in Westminster.Live · today’s sittingOrder Paper · refreshed daily

Dowden’s scheduled Commons activity this week — whipped divisions, oral questions, debates — drawn from the House of Commons Order Paper.

§ 07The record, at a glance.314 divisions voted

Two readings of the same data. Issue volume shows where Dowden has cast the most ballots — a proxy for engagement, not direction. Notable votes are the moments where the whip was free or where they broke ranks.

Issue volume
Top issues by total divisions voted · cumulative this Parliament
Taxation
72
Economy
59
Employment
41
Crime & Policing
32
Education
30
Welfare and Benefits
21
Notable votes
Free votes and rebellions — moments the MP’s own judgment matters more than the whip
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: Amendment 2420 Jun 2025 · free vote
No
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: Third Reading20 Jun 2025 · free vote
Aye
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: Amendment 7720 Jun 2025 · free vote
Aye
§ 08The local picture.16 wards

Constituencies are not uniform. Below — the local council make-up, key facts worth knowing, and the neighbouring seats on either side.

WardCouncillorVotesParty
Aldenham EastBrett Rosehill853Conserva
Aldenham EastLucy Selby967Conserva
Aldenham WestCaroline Clapper882Conserva
Aldenham WestDavid Stephen Lambert752Conserva
Bentley Heath The RoydsHelen Green741Labour P
Bentley Heath The RoydsMeenal Sachdev740Conserva
Borehamwood BrookmeadowAlan Plancey878Conserva
Borehamwood BrookmeadowGraeme Hadleigh Alexander935Labour P
Borehamwood BrookmeadowRebecca Challice942Labour P
Borehamwood Cowley HillJeremy Newmark928Labour P
Borehamwood Cowley HillLinda Denise Smith875Labour P
Borehamwood Cowley HillRichard Butler1,000Labour P
Population (2021 Census)
105,963
Electorate 73,465 · 2024 register
Median income
£34,800
HMRC SPI 2024
Households renting privately
16.9%
England average 20.0%
Schools
60
34 primary · 7 secondary
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