Parliamentary representation from Bedfordshire

The historic county of Bedfordshire, located in the 21st century region of East of England, was represented in Parliament from the 13th century. This article provides a list of constituencies constituting the Parliamentary representation from Bedfordshire.

In 1889 Bedfordshire became an administrative county and in 1974 much the same area became a shire county. Luton became a unitary authority in 1997, but it remains part of the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire.

The first part of this article covers the constituencies wholly or predominantly within the area of the historic county of Bedfordshire, both before and after the administrative changes of 1889 and 1974. The second part refers to constituencies mostly in another historic county, which included some territory from the historic county of Bedfordshire (if any). The summaries section only refers to the constituencies included in the first section of the constituency list.

Contents

List of constituencies

Article names are followed by (UK Parliament constituency). The constituencies which existed in 1707 were those previously represented in the Parliament of England.

Key to abbreviations:

Constituencies wholly or predominantly in the historic county

Constituency Type From To MPs Notes
Bedford BC (1295-1918) 1295 1983 2 (1295-1654) B
1 (1654–1659)
2 (1659–1885)
1 (1885–1983)
CC (1918–1983)
BC (1997-*) 1997 * 1 (1997-*)
Bedfordshire CC 1290 1885 2 (1290-1654) B
5 (1654–1659)
2 (1659–1885)
Mid Bedfordshire CC 1918 * 1 B
North Bedfordshire CC 1983 1997 1 B
North East Bedfordshire CC 1997 * 1 B
South Bedfordshire CC 1950 1983 1 B
South West Bedfordshire CC 1983 * 1 B
Biggleswade CC 1885 1918 1 B
Luton CC (1885–1950) 1885 1974 1 B
BC (1950–1974)
Luton East BC 1974 1983 1 B
Luton North CC (1983–1997) 1983 * 1 B: Including North Luton 1983-1997
BC (1997-*)
Luton South BC 1983 * 1 B
Luton West BC 1974 1983 1 B

Constituencies mostly in another historic county

Constituency Type From To MPs Notes

Periods constituencies represented

  1290–1295 1295–1885 1885–1918 1918–1950 1950–1974 1974–1983 1983–1997 1997–*
Bedford   1295–1983   1997–*
Bedfordshire 1290–1885  
Mid Bedfordshire   1918–*
North Bedfordshire   1983–1997  
North East Bedfordshire   1997–*
South Bedfordshire   1950–1983  
South West Bedfordshire   1983–*
Biggleswade   1885–1918  
Luton   1885–1974  
Luton East   1974–1983  
Luton North   1983–*
Luton South   1983–*
Luton West   1974–1983  

Summaries

Summary of Constituencies by Type and Period

Type 1290 1295 1654 1659 1885 1918 1950 1974 1983 1997
Borough - 1 1 1 1 - 1 2 1 3
County 1 1 1 1 2 3 3 3 4 3
Total 1 2 2 2 3 3 4 5 5 6

Summary of Members of Parliament by Type and Period

Type 1290 1295 1654 1659 1885 1918 1950 1974 1983 1997
Borough - 2 1 2 1 - 1 2 1 3
County 2 2 5 2 2 3 3 3 4 3
Total 2 4 6 4 3 3 4 5 5 6

See also

References

Countries
England
Wales