f only 17 directly elected mayors in
England; Dorothy Thornhill has been the mayor since the directly elected system
was set up in May 2002, and is both the first Liberal Democrat and first female
directly elected mayor in the United Kingdom. Watford elects one Member of
Parliament (MP) for the Watford constituency. Prior to the establishment of
this constituency in 1885 the area was part of the three seat constituency of
Hertfordshire