Bebington (UK Parliament constituency)

Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1950–1974

Bebington

Former borough constituency
for the House of Commons
1950–February 1974
Created from| Birkenhead East and Wirral
Replaced by| Bebington and Ellesmere Port, Birkenhead and Wirral

Bebington was a parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, which existed from 1950 to 1974. The constituency was centred on the town of Bebington on the Wirral Peninsula, England.

## History

[edit]

Bebington was created by the Representation of the People Act 1948 for the 1950 general election, ceasing to exist with the implementation of the boundary changes brought in for the February 1974 general election.

## Boundaries

[edit]

The Borough of Bebington, and the County Borough of Birkenhead wards of Bebington, Devonshire, Egerton, Mersey, and Prenton.[1]

The Borough of Bebington and the Prenton ward of the County Borough of Birkenhead had previously been part of the Wirral constituency, with remaining Birkenhead wards being added from the former Birkenhead East constituency.

On abolition in 1974, the Borough of Bebington became part of the new constituency of Bebington and Ellesmere Port, the Prenton ward was returned to Wirral and the remaining wards added to the redrawn Birkenhead constituency.

## Members of Parliament

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Election | Member | Party

|
|

| 1950 | Hendrie Oakshott | Conservative
| 1964 | Geoffrey Howe
| 1966 | Edwin Brooks | Labour
| 1970 | Eric Cockeram | Conservative
February 1974 | constituency abolished: see Bebington and Ellesmere Port

## Elections

[edit]

### Elections in the 1950s

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General election 1950: Bebington[2] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Hendrie Oakshott | 25,309  | 43.8  |
| Labour | Frank Soskice | 22,090  | 38.3  |
| Liberal | Graham White | 10,324  | 17.9  |
Majority  | 3,219  | 5.5  |
Turnout | 57,723  | 87.2  |
| Conservative win (new seat)
General election 1951: Bebington [3][4] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Hendrie Oakshott | 30,611  | 53.44  |
| Labour Co-op | Edward W. Harby  | 22,190  | 38.74  |
| Liberal | Thomas Mercer Banks  | 4,477  | 7.82  |
Majority  | 8,421  | 14.70  |
Turnout | 57,278  | 85.82  |
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |
General election 1955: Bebington [5] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Hendrie Oakshott | 31,700  | 58.73  |
| Labour | Thomas H. Hockton  | 22,277  | 41.27  |
Majority  | 9,423  | 17.46  |
Turnout | 53,977  | 79.16  |
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |
General election 1959: Bebington [6] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Hendrie Oakshott | 33,705  | 58.57  |
| Labour | Gordon Oakes | 23,844  | 41.43  |
Majority  | 9,861  | 17.13  |
Turnout | 57,549  | 81.78  |
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |

### Elections in the 1960s

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General election 1964: Bebington [7] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Geoffrey Howe | 26,943  | 45.33  |
| Labour | Edwin Brooks | 24,734  | 41.61  |
| Liberal | Michael J G Tompkins  | 7,765  | 13.06  | New
Majority  | 2,209  | 3.72  |
Turnout | 59,442  | 80.90  |
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |
General election 1966: Bebington [8] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Edwin Brooks | 30,545  | 51.99  | +10.38
| Conservative | Geoffrey Howe | 28,208  | 48.01  | +2.68
Majority  | 2,337  | 3.98  | N/A
Turnout | 58,753  | 79.77  | −1.13
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +3.85  |

### Elections in the 1970s

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General election 1970: Bebington [9] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Eric Cockeram | 31,260  | 50.59  | +2.58
| Labour | Edwin Brooks | 30,535  | 49.41  | −2.58
Majority  | 725  | 1.17  | N/A
Turnout | 61,795  | 75.44  | −4.33
| Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +2.58  |

## See also

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* Bebington and Ellesmere Port (UK Parliament constituency)
* History of parliamentary constituencies and boundaries in Cheshire

## Sources

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1. ^ Craig, F.W.S., ed. (1972). Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1985-1972. Chichester, Sussex: Political Reference Publications. ISBN 0-900178-09-4.
2. ^ British Parliamentary Election Results 1950-1973 by FWS Craig
3. ^ British Parliamentary Election Results 1950-1973 by FWS Craig
4. ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1951.
5. ^ British Parliamentary Election Results 1950-1973 by FWS Craig
6. ^ British Parliamentary Election Results 1950-1973 by FWS Craig
7. ^ British Parliamentary Election Results 1950-1973 by FWS Craig
8. ^ British Parliamentary Election Results 1950-1973 by FWS Craig
9. ^ British Parliamentary Election Results 1950-1973 by FWS Craig

* Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "B" (part 1)
* Election results, 1950 - 1979 Archived 5 May 2004 at the Wayback Machine