Bedford (UK Parliament constituency)

Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1983 and from 1997 onwards

Bedford

County constituency
for the House of Commons

Boundaries since 2024

Boundary of Bedford in the East of England

County| Bedfordshire
Population| 101,066 (2011 census)[1]
Electorate| 70,068 (2023)[2]
Major settlements| Bedford, Kempston
Current constituency
Created| 1997
Member of Parliament| Mohammad Yasin (Labour)
Seats| One
Created from| North Bedfordshire and Mid Bedfordshire[3]
1918–1983
Seats| One
Type of constituency| County constituency
Replaced by| North Bedfordshire
1295–1918
Seats| 1295–1885: Two
1885–1918: One
Type of constituency| Borough constituency

Bedford /ˈbɛdfərd/ is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2017 by Mohammad Yasin of the Labour Party.[n 2]

The seat dates back to the earliest century of regular parliaments, in 1295; its double representation was halved in 1885, then altered by the Representation of the People Act 1918. It was abolished in 1983 but re-established at the next periodic review for the 1997 general election.

## Constituency profile

[edit]

Geographical and economic profile

Bedford is a marginal seat between the Labour Party and the Conservatives. The main settlement is Bedford, a well-developed town centre with a considerable amount of social housing relative to Bedfordshire and higher poverty index but on a fast railway link to London and other destinations, the town is at the north end of the Thameslink service to Brighton and is not far from Milton Keynes which has a larger economy. The smaller and contiguous town of Kempston is also in the constituency.

## History

[edit]

### Up to the Great Reform Act 1832

[edit]

Bedford was first represented in the Model Parliament of 1295. The constituency was originally a parliamentary borough electing two Members of Parliament (MPs) to the House of Commons, and consisted of the five parishes making up the town of Bedford.

Before the Reform Act 1832, the right to vote was exercised by all freemen and burgesses of the town (whether or not they lived within the borough boundaries) and by all householders who were not receiving alms. This was a fairly wide franchise for the period, but potentially subject to abuse since the Corporation of the borough had unlimited power to create freemen. The corporation was usually under the influence of the Dukes of Bedford, but their influence usually fell well short of making Bedford a pocket borough.

In 1768, a majority of the corporation apparently fell out with the Duke at the time, and decided to free the borough from his influence. They elected a Huntingdonshire squire,[n 3] Sir Robert Bernard, as recorder of the borough, and made 500 new freemen, mostly Bernard's Huntingdonshire neighbours or tenants.[4] As there were only 540 householders, this gave him the effective power to choose Bedford's MPs; at the next election the defeated candidates petitioned against the result, attempting to establish that so many non-residents should not be allowed to vote, but the Commons dismissed the petition and confirmed the right of all the freemen, however created, to vote.

Bernard cemented his control with the creation of hundreds of further freemen in the next few years; at around the same period he lent the Corporation £950, and it is not unreasonable to assume this was payment for services rendered. However, in 1789, the young Duke of Bedford managed to regain the corporation's loyalty, and had 350 of his own retainers made freemen.

Even at other periods, the influence of the Dukes seems sometimes to have been more nominal than real. In the 1750s and 1760s, before Bernard's intervention, a frequent compromise was that the Duke nominated one MP and the corporation (representing the interests of the town) the other; but it seems that on occasion the Duke had to be flexible to retain the semblance of local deference towards him, and that his "nominee" had in reality been imposed upon him. Nor was the outcome invariably successfully predetermined: at the 1830 election the result swung on one individual's vote – the defeated candidate being Lord John Russell, who was not only one of the Whig leaders but The Duke of Bedford's son.

In 1831, the population of the borough was 6,959, and contained 1,491 houses. This was sufficient for Bedford to retain both its MPs under the Great Reform Act, with its boundaries unaltered. The reformed franchise introduced in 1832 gave the borough 1,572 inhabitants qualified to vote.

### 1832–1983

[edit]

The town was growing, and Bedford retained its borough status until the 1918 general election, although under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, its representation was reduced to a single MP. On the eve of the First World War, its population was just under 40,000, of whom 6,500 people were eligible to vote.

Under the Representation of the People Act 1918, the parliamentary borough was abolished; but the town gave its name to a new county constituency (formally The Bedford division of Bedfordshire). As well as the town of Bedford, it covered the northern end of the county and included Kempston and Eaton Socon together with surrounding rural areas.

Under the Representation of the People Act 1948, a boundary change which came into effect at the 1950 election reduced its size somewhat, and under the Third Review of Westminster Constituencies in 1983, the constituency was abolished.

#### 1997 onwards

[edit]

Under the Fourth Review, effective from the 1997 general election, Bedford was restored as a borough constituency, comprising the towns of Bedford and Kempston.

In the latest boundary changes under the Fifth Review, effective from the 2010 general election, there were marginal changes due to the revision of local authority wards.

The 2017 general election saw the Labour Party win the seat despite coming second in the election. This was significant as it was the first time the party had won the seat at an election where it had not won a comfortable national majority. This was repeated at the 2019 general election, where the seat was narrowly held by the Labour incumbent, despite the party suffering a heavy national defeat.[5]

## Boundaries and boundary changes

[edit]

### 1832–1918

[edit]

* The Municipal Borough of Bedford.

### 1918–1950

[edit]

* The Municipal Borough of Bedford;
* the Urban District of Kempston; and
* the Rural Districts of Bedford and Eaton Socon.[6]

Expanded to include Kempston and rural areas in the north of Bedfordshire, transferred from the abolished constituency of Biggleswade.

### 1950–1983

[edit]

* The Municipal Borough of Bedford;
* the Urban District of Kempston; and
* part of the Rural District of Bedford.[6]

Eastern and southern rural areas, including Eaton Socon, transferred to Mid Bedfordshire.

Seat abolished in 1983 and absorbed into the new constituency of North Bedfordshire, with the exception of Kempston, which was transferred to Mid Bedfordshire.

### 1997–2010

[edit]

Map of boundaries 2010-2024

* The Borough of Bedford wards of Brickhill, Castle, Cauldwell, De Parys, Goldington, Harpur, Kempston East, Kempston West, Kingsbrook, Newnham, Putnoe, and Queen's Park.[7]

Re-established as a borough constituency, comprising the towns of Bedford from the now abolished seat of North Bedfordshire, and Kempston, regained from Mid Bedfordshire.

### 2010–2024

[edit]

* The Borough of Bedford wards of Brickhill, Castle, Cauldwell, De Parys, Goldington, Harpur, Kempston East, Kempston North, Kempston South, Kingsbrook, Newnham, Putnoe, Queens Park.[8]

Marginal changes due to the revision of local authority wards.

### 2024–present

[edit]

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the constituency comprises the following, after taking into account the local government boundary review which came into effect in May 2023:[9][10]

* The Borough of Bedford wards of: Brickhill (most); Castle & Newnham; Cauldwell (most); De Parys; Greyfriars; Goldington; Harpur (nearly all); Kempston Central and East; Kempston North; Kempston South; Kempston West (majority); Kingsbrook; Putnoe; Queens Park; Renhold & Ravensden (small part); Riverfield.

Marginal changes due to further revisions to local authority wards.

## Members of Parliament

[edit]

### MPs 1295–1660

[edit]

* Constituency created (1295)

Edward I – Edward II – Edward IV – Richard III – Henry VII – Henry VIII – Edward VI – Mary I – Elizabeth I – James I – Charles I – Protectorate – 1377-1427 – 1660-1885 – 1885-1983 – 1885-1983 – 1997-2017 – Elections

#### Parliaments of King Edward I

[edit]

No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | First member | Second member

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29th | 30 September 1295+ | 1295 | 27 November 1295 | 4 December 1295 | John Cullebere | Simon de Holand
30th | 26 August 1296 | 1296 | 3 November 1296 | 29 November 1296 | unknown | unknown
33rd | 6 October 1297 | 1297 | 15 September 1297 | 14 October 1297 | unknown | unknown
34th | 15 March 1298 | March 1298 | 30 March 1298 | ... | unknown | unknown
35th | 10 April 1298 | 1298 | 25 May 1298 | ... | Thomas Halyday | Robert de Sywell
39th | 29 December 1299 | 1299–00 | 6 March 1300 | 20 March 1300 | John Wymond | William Benne
40th | 26 September 1300 | 1300–01 | 20 January 1301 | 30 January 1301
42nd | 14 July 1302 | 1302 | 14 October 1302 | 21 October 1302 | Simon le Tanner | Robert de Sywell
43rd | 12 November 1304 | 1304–05 | 28 February 1305 | 20 March 1305 | John Halyday | William Costyn
45th | 5 April 1306 | 1306 | 30 May 1306 | 30 May 1306 | Simon de Wilshamstead | Geoffrey le Blund
46th | 3 November 1306 | 1306–07 | 20 January 1307 | 19 March 1307 | William Costyn | John le Marescal

#### Parliaments of King Edward II

[edit]

No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | First member | Second member

|
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|
|

1st | 26 August 1307 | 1307 | 13 October 1307 | 16 October 1307 | William Bonum | John atte Wal
2nd | 19 January 1308 | 1308 | 3 March 1308 | ... | unknown | unknown
5th | 4 March 1309 | 1309 | 27 April 1309 | 13 May 1309 | Gilbert de Holm | John le Marescal
8th | 16 June 1311 | 1311 | 8 August 1311 | ... | John Halyday | Geoffrey Clogon (Glogon)
... | 1311 | 12 November 1311 | 18 December 1311 | William Costyn (Costantyn)
9th | 3 June 1312 | 1312 | 20 August 1312 | 16 December 1312 | Roger Cullebere
10th | 8 January 1313 | 1313 | 18 March 1313 | 9 May 1313 | Thomas de Norfolk | John atte Wal
11th | 23 May 1313 | 1313 | 8 July 1313 | 27 July 1313
12th | 26 July 1313 | 1313 | 23 September 1313 | 15 November 1313
13th | 29 July 1314 | 1314 | 9 September 1314 | 27/28 September 1314 | William Costantyn
14th | 24 October 1314 | 1314–15 | 20 January 1315 | 9 March 1315 | Geoffrey Glogon
15th | 16 October 1315 | 1315–16 | 27 January 1316 | 20 February 1316 | no return
16th | 24–25 August 1318 | 1318 | 20 October 1318 | 9 December 1318 | Henry Oliver | Geoffrey de Blunham
17th | 20 March 1319 | 1319 | 6 May 1319 | 25 May 1319 | Simon de Bydenham | Ralph le Collere
19th | 5 August 1320 | 1320 | 6 October 1320 | 25/26 October 1320 | Richard de Cave | Thomas Halyday
20th | 15 May 1321 | 1321 | 15 July 1321 | 22 August 1321 | John de Soham | Richard le Ussher
21st | 14 March 1322 | 1322 | 2 May 1322 | 19 May 1322 | Simon de Knightwyk | William Costantyn
22nd | 18 September 1322 | 1322 | 14 November 1322 | 29 November 1322 | Richard de Cave
23rd | 20 November 1323 | 1323–24 | 23 February 1324 | 18 March 1324 | Thomas Halyday | Roger atte Wal
24th | 6 May 1325 | 1325 | 25 June 1325 | ... | unknown | unknown
25th | 10 October 1325 | 1325 | 18 November 1325 | 5 December 1325 | unknown | unknown
26th | 28 October 1326 | 1326–27 | 7 January 1327 | 20 January 1327 | Hugh Balle | Hugh Cok

Back to Members of Parliament

#### Parliaments of King Edward III

[edit]

No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | First member | Second member

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1st | ... | ... | ... | 9 March 1327 | unknown | unknown
2nd | 7 August 1327 | 1327 | 15 September 1327 | 23 September 1327 | Roger atte Wal | Simon Cullebere
3rd | 10 December 1327 | 1327–28 | 7 February 1328 | 5 March 1328 | Hugh Cok | William de Hoghton
4th | 5 March 1328 | 1328 | 24 April 1328 | 14 May 1328 | John de Lund, jnr. | Geoffrey le Neveu
5th | 28 August 1328 | 1328 | 16 October 1328 | 22 February 1329 | William Flour | John Scot
6th | 25 January 1330 | 1330 | 11 March 1330 | 21 March 1330 | Richard de Cave | Simon de Stevynton
7th | 23 October 1330 | 1330 | 26 November 1330 | 9 December 1330 | Robert Crowe | John Elcock
8th | 16 July 1331 | 1331 | 30 September 1331 | 9 October 1331 | William Costantyn | unknown
9th | 27 January 1332 | 1332 | 16 March 1332 | 21 March 1332 | John de Soham, jnr. | Geoffrey Walcock
10th | 20 July 1332 | 1332 | 9 September 1332 | 12 September 1332 | Hugh Balle | John Scot
11th | 20 October 1332 | 1332 | 4 December 1332 | 27 January 1333 | John de Soham | John de Codenho (Boddenho?)
12th | 2 January 1334 | 1334 | 21 February 1334 | 2 March 1334 | Richard de Cave | William le Clerk
13th | 24 July 1334 | 1334 | 19 September 1334 | 23 September 1334
14th | 1 April 1335 | 1335 | 26 May 1335 | 3 June 1335 | William de Holewelle
15th | 22 January 1336 | 1336 | 11 March 1336 | 20 March 1336 | John atte Lound | Henry Arnold
16th | 29 November 1336 | 1336–37 | 3 March 1337 | c.16 March 1337 | unknown | unknown
17th | 20 December 1337 | 1337–38 | 3 February 1338 | 14 February 1338 | John de Styvecle | William de Holewell
18th | 15 November 1338 | 1338–39 | 3 February 1339 | 17 February 1339 | Robert Carbonel | William de Holewell
19th | 25 August 1339 | 1339 | 13 October 1339 | c.3 November 1339 | unknown | unknown
20th | 16 November 1339 | 1339–40 | 20 January 1340 | 19 February 1340 | unknown | unknown
21st | 21 February 1340 | 1340 | 29 March 1340 | 10 May 1340 | unknown | unknown
22nd | 30 May 1340 | 1340 | 12 July 1340 | 26 July 1340 | unknown | unknown
23rd | 3 March 1341 | 1341 | 23 April 1341 | 27–28 May 1341 | unknown | unknown
24th | 24 February 1343 | 1343 | 28 April 1343 | 20 May 1343 | unknown | unknown
25th | 20 April 1344 | 1344 | 7 June 1344 | 28 June 1344 | unknown | unknown
26th | 30 July 1346 | 1346 | 11 September 1346 | 20 September 1346 | unknown | unknown
27th | 13 November 1347 | 1348–48 | 14 January 1348 | 12 February 1348 | unknown | unknown
28th | 14 February 1348 | 1348 | 31 March 1348 | 13 April 1348 | unknown | unknown
29th | 25 November 1350 | 1350–51 | 9 February 1351 | 1 March 1351 | unknown | unknown
30th | 15 November 1351 | 1351–52 | 13 January 1352 | 11 February 1352 | unknown | unknown
31st | 15 March 1354 | 1354 | 28 April 1354 | 20 May 1354 | unknown | unknown
32nd | 20 September 1355 | 1355 | 23 November 1355 | 30 November 1355 | unknown | unknown
33rd | 15 February 1357 | 1357 | 17 April 1357 | 8–16 May 1357 | unknown | unknown
34th | 15 December 1357 | 1357–58 | 5 February 1358 | 27 February 1358 | unknown | unknown
35th | 3 April 1360 | 1360 | 15 May 1360 | ... | unknown | unknown
36th | 20 November 1360 | 1360–61 | 24 January 1361 | 18 February 1361 | unknown | unknown
37th | 14 August 1362 | 1362 | 13 October 1362 | 17 November 1362 | unknown | unknown
38th | 1 June 1363 | 1363 | 6 October 1363 | 30 October 1363 | unknown | unknown
39th | 4 December 1364 | 1364–65 | 20 January 1365 | 17 February 1365 | unknown | unknown
40th | 20 January 1366 | 1366 | 4 May 1366 | 11 May 1366 | unknown | unknown
41st | 24 February 1368 | 1368 | 1 May 1368 | 21 May 1368 | unknown | unknown
42nd | 6 April 1369 | 1369 | 3 June 1369 | 11 June 1369 | unknown | unknown
43rd | 8 January 1371 | 1371 | 24 February 1371 | 29 March 1371 | unknown | unknown
44th | 1 September 1372 | 1372 | 3 November 1372 | 24 November 1372 | unknown | unknown
45th | 4 October 1373 | 1373 | 21 November 1373 | 10 December 1373 | unknown | unknown
46th | 28 December 1375 | 1375–76 | 28 April 1376 | 10 July 1376 | unknown | unknown
47th | 1 December 1376 | 1376–77 | 27 January 1377 | 2 March 1377 | unknown | unknown

Back to Members of Parliament

#### Parliaments of King Richard II

[edit]

No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | First member | Second member

|
|
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|
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1st | 4 August 1377 | 1377 | 13 October 1377 | 5 December 1377 | unknown | unknown
2nd | 3 September 1378 | 1378 | 20 October 1378 | 16 November 1378 | unknown | unknown
3rd | 16 February 1379 | 1379 | 24 April 1379 | 27 May 1379 | unknown | unknown
4th | 20 October 1379 | 1379–80 | 16 January 1380 | 3 March 1380 | unknown | unknown
5th | 26 August 1380 | 1380 | 5 November 1380 | 6 December 1380 | unknown | unknown
6th | 16 July 1381 | 1381 | 3 November 1381 | 25 February 1382 | unknown | unknown
7th | 24 March 1382 | 1382 | 7 May 1382 | 22 May 1382 | unknown | unknown
8th | 9 August 1382 | 1382 | 6 October 1382 | 24 October 1382 | unknown | unknown
9th | 7 January 1383 | 1383 | 23 February 1383 | 10 March 1383 | unknown | unknown
10th | 20 August 1383 | 1383 | 26 October 1383 | 26 November 1383 | unknown | unknown
11th | 3 March 1384 | 1384 | 29 April 1384 | 27 May 1384 | unknown | unknown
12th | 28 September 1384 | 1384 | 12 November 1384 | 14 December 1384 | unknown | unknown
13th | 3 September 1385 | 1385 | 20 October 1385 | 6 December 1385 | unknown | unknown
14th | 8 August 1386 | 1386 | 1 October 1386 | 28 November 1386 | unknown | unknown
15th | 17 December 1387 | 1387–88 | 3 February 1388 | 4 June 1388 | unknown | unknown
16th | 28 July 1388 | 1388 | 9 September 1388 | 17 October 1388 | unknown | unknown
17th | 6 December 1389 | 1389–90 | 17 January 1390 | 2 March 1390 | unknown | unknown
18th | 12 September 1390 | 1390 | 12 November 1390 | 3 December 1390 | unknown | unknown
19th | 7 September 1391 | 1391 | 3 November 1391 | 2 December 1391 | unknown | unknown
20th | 23 November 1392 | 1392–93 | 20 January 1393 | 10 February 1393 | unknown | unknown
21st | 13 November 1393 | 1393–94 | 27 January 1394 | 6 March 1394 | unknown | unknown
22nd | 20 November 1394 | 1394–95 | 27 January 1395 | 15 February 1395 | unknown | unknown
23rd | 30 November 1396 | 1396–97 | 22 January 1397 | 12 February 1397 | unknown | unknown
24th | 18 July 1397 | 1397 | 17 September 1397 | 31 January 1398 | unknown | unknown
25th | 19 August 1399 | 1389 | 30 September 1399 | 30 September 1399 | unknown | unknown

Back to Members of Parliament

#### Parliaments of King Henry IV

[edit]

No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | First member | Second member

|
|
|
|
|
|

1st | 30 September 1399 | 1399 | 6 October 1399 | 19 November 1399 | unknown | unknown
2nd | 9 September 1400 | 1400–01 | 20 January 1401 | 10 March 1401 | unknown | unknown
3rd | 19 June 1402 | 1402 | 30 September 1402 | 25 November 1402 | unknown | unknown
4th | 20 October 1403 | 1403–04 | 14 January 1404 | 20 March 1404 | unknown | unknown
5th | 25 August 1404 | 1404 | 6 October 1404 | 13 November 1404 | unknown | unknown
6th | 21 December 1405 | 1405–06 | 1 March 1406 | 22 December 1406 | unknown | unknown
7th | 26 August 1407 | 1407 | 20 October 1407 | 2 December 1407 | unknown | unknown
8th | 26 October 1409 | 1409–10 | 27 January 1410 | 9 May 1410 | unknown | unknown
9th | 21 September 1411 | 1411 | 3 November 1411 | 19 December 1411 | unknown | unknown
10th | 1 December 1412 | 1412–13 | 3 February 1413 | 20 March 1413 | unknown | unknown

Back to Members of Parliament

#### Parliaments of King Henry V

[edit]

No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | First member | Second member

|
|
|
|
|
|

1st | 22 March 1413 | 1413 | 14 May 1413 | 9 June 1413 | unknown | unknown
2nd | 1 December 1413 | 1413–14 | 30 April 1414 | 29 May 1414 | unknown | unknown
3rd | 26 September 1414 | 1414 | 19 November 1414 | ... | unknown | unknown
4th | 12 August 1415 | 1415 | 4 November 1415 | 12 November 1415 | unknown | unknown
5th | 21 January 1416 | 1416 | 16 March 1416 | May 1416 | unknown | unknown
6th | 3 September 1416 | 1416 | 19 October 1416 | 18 November 1416 | unknown | unknown
7th | 5 October 1417 | 1417 | 16 November 1417 | 17 December 1417 | unknown | unknown
8th | 24 August 1419 | 1419 | 16 October 1419 | 13 November 1419 | unknown | unknown
9th | 21 October 1420 | 1420 | 2 December 1420 | ... | unknown | unknown
10th | 26 February 1421 | 1421 | 2 May 1421 | ... | unknown | unknown
11th | 20 October 1421 | 1421 | 1 December 1421 | ... | Thomas Manningham[11] | unknown

Back to Members of Parliament

#### Parliaments of King Henry VI

[edit]

No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | First member | Second member

|
|
|
|
|
|

1st | 29 September 1422 | 1422 | 9 November 1422 | 18 December 1422 | unknown | unknown
2nd | 1 September 1423 | 1423 | 20 October 1423 | 28 February 1424 | unknown | unknown
3rd | 24 February 1425 | 1425 | 30 April 1425 | 14 July 1425 | unknown | unknown
4th | 7 January 1426 | 1426 | 18 February 1426 | 1 June 1426 | unknown | unknown
5th | 15 July 1427 | 1427 | 13 October 1427 | 25 March 1428 | unknown | unknown
6th | 12 July 1429 | 1429 | 22 September 1429 | 23 February 1430 | unknown | unknown
7th | 27 November 1430 | 1430–31 | 12 January 1431 | 20 March 1431 | unknown | unknown
8th | 25 February 1432 | 1432 | 12 May 1432 | 17 July 1432 | unknown | unknown
9th | 24 May 1433 | 1433 | 8 July 1433 | >c.18 December 1433 | unknown | unknown
10th | 5 July 1435 | 1435 | 10 October 1435 | 23 December 1435 | unknown | unknown
11th | 29 October 1436 | 1436–37 | 21 January 1437 | 27 March 1437 | unknown | unknown
12th | 26 September 1439 | 1439 | 12 November 1439 | c.15–24 February 1440 | unknown | unknown
13th | 3 December 1441 | 1441–42 | 25 January 1442 | 27 March 1442 | unknown | unknown
14th | 13 January 1445 | 1445 | 25 February 1445 | 9 April 1445 | unknown | unknown
15th | 14 December 1446 | 1446–47 | 10 February 1447 | 3 March 1447 | unknown | unknown
16th | 2 January 1449 | 1449 | 12 February 1449 | 16 July 1449 | unknown | unknown
17th | 23 September 1449 | 1449 | 6 November 1449 | c.5–8 June 1450 | unknown | unknown
18th | 5 September 1450 | 1450 | 6 November 1450 | c.24–31 May 1451 | unknown | unknown
19th | 20 January 1453 | 1453 | 6 March 1453 | c.16–21 April 1454 | unknown | unknown
20th | 26 May 1455 | 1455 | 9 July 1455 | 12 March 1456 | unknown | unknown
21st | 9 October 1459 | 1459 | 20 November 1459 | 20 December 1459 | unknown | unknown
22nd | 30 July 1460 | 1460 | 7 October 1460 | c.4 March 1461 | unknown | unknown
23rd | 15 October 1470 | 1470 | 26 November 1470 | c. 11 April 1471 | unknown | unknown

Back to Members of Parliament

#### 1377–1427

[edit]

Year | First member | Second member

|
|

1377 (Jan) | Thomas Jordan[12] |
1380 (Jan) | Thomas Jordan[12] |
1381 | John Wright[13]
1382 | Roger Kempston[14] |
1384 (Apr) | William Clerevaux[15] |
1385 | William Clerevaux[15] | Thomas Frereman
1386 | William Clerevaux | Thomas Bedford
1388 (Feb) | William Clerevaux | Thomas Frereman
1388 (Sep) | Roger Kempston | William Barber
1390 (Jan) | William Clerevaux | Thomas Frereman
1390 (Nov) |  |
1391 | Henry West | John Wright
1393 | Thomas Bedford | John Tyringham
1394 | Thomas Bedford | William Cotterstock
1395 | Thomas Bedford | William Cotterstock
1397 (Jan) | Thomas Bedford | William Cotterstock
1397 (Sep) | Thomas Jordan | William Brown
1399 | Richard Bethewater | Ralph Pyrewelle
1401
1402 | Thomas Bedford | Roger Tunstall
1404 (Jan)
1404 (Oct)
1406 | John Grey | John Kent
1407
1410
1411
1413(Feb)
1413 (May) | Thomas Bedford | William Cotterstock
1414 (Apr)
1414 (Nov) | William Dowe | William Wallyngton
1415
1416 (Mar)
1416 (Oct)
1417 | John Frepurs | Richard Marston
1419 | John Lyt.. |
1420 | Thomas Hunt | William Hunt
1421 (May) | Thomas Ferrour | John Leighton
1421 (Dec) | Thomas Bole | Thomas Kempston
1427 | John Frepurs[16] |

Back to Members of Parliament

#### Parliaments of King Edward IV

[edit]

No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | First member | Second member

|
|
|
|
|
|

1st | 23 May 1461 | 1461 | 4 November 1461 | 6 May 1462 | unknown | unknown
2nd | 22 December 1462 | 1462–63 | 29 April 1463 | 28 March 1465 | unknown | unknown
3rd | 28 February 1467 | 1467 | 3 June 1467 | 7 June 1468 | John Boston | William Colet, jnr.
4th | 19 August 1472 | 1472 | 6 October 1472 | 14 March 1475 | Thomas Adams
5th | 20 November 1477 | 1477–78 | 16 January 1478 | 26 February 1478 | William Colet
6th | 15 November 1482 | 1482–83 | 20 January 1483 | 18 February 1483 | unknown | unknown

Back to Members of Parliament

#### Parliaments of King Richard III

[edit]

No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | First member | Second member

|
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|
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1st | 9 December 1483 | 1483–84 | 23 January 1484 | 20 February 1484 | unknown | unknown

Back to Members of Parliament

#### Parliaments of King Henry VII

[edit]

No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | First member | Second member

|
|
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|
|

1st | 15 September 1485 | 1485 | 7 November 1485 | c. 4 March 1486 | unknown | unknown
2nd | ... | 1487 | 9 November 1487 | c. 18 December 1487 | unknown | unknown
3rd | ... | ?1488–89 | 13 January 1489 | 27 February 1490 | unknown | unknown
4th | 12 August 1491 | 1491 | 17 October 1491 | 5 March 1492 | unknown | unknown
5th | 15 September 1495 | 1495 | 14 October 1495 | 21–22 December 1495 | unknown | unknown
6th | 20 November 1496 | 1496–97 | 16 January 1497 | 13 March 1497 | unknown | unknown
7th | ... | ?1503–04 | 25 January 1504 | c. 1 April 1504 | unknown | unknown

Back to Members of Parliament

#### Parliaments of King Henry VIII

[edit]

No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | First member | Second member

|
|
|
|
|
|

1st | 17 October 1509 | 1509–10 | 21 January 1510 | 23 February 1510 | unknown | unknown
2nd | 28 November 1511 | 1511–12 | 4 February 1512 | 4 March 1514 | unknown | unknown
3rd | 23 November 1514 | 1514–15 | 5 February 1515 | 22 December 1515 | unknown | unknown
4th | ... | 1523 | 15 April 1523 | 13 August 1523 | unknown | unknown
5th | 9 August 1529 | 1529 | 3 November 1529 | 14 April 1536 | John Baker | William Bourne
6th | 27 April 1536 | 1536 | 8 June 1536 | 18 July 1536 | unknown | unknown
7th | 1 March 1539 | 1539 | 28 April 1539 | 24 July 1540 | William Johnson | unknown
8th | 23 November 1541 | 1541–42 | 16 January 1542 | 28 March 1544 | William Johnson | Michael Thrayle
9th | 1 December 1544 | 1544–45 | 23 November 1545 | 31 January 1547 | George Blagge | Henry Parker

Back to Members of Parliament

#### Parliaments of King Edward VI

[edit]

No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | First member | Second member

|
|
|
|
|
|

1st | 2 August 1547 | 1547 | 4 November 1547 | 15 April 1552 | Gerard Harvey alias Smart | George Wright
2nd | 5 January 1553 | 1553 | 1 March 1553 | 31 March 1553 | Thomas Leigh | William Godolphin

Back to Members of Parliament

#### Parliaments of Queen Mary I

[edit]

No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | First member | Second member

|
|
|
|
|
|

1st | 14 August 1553 | 1553 | 5 October 1553 | 5 December 1553 | Edmund Mordaunt | Thomas Leigh
2nd | 17 February 1554 | 1554 | 2 April 1554 | 3 May 1554
3rd | 3 October 1554 | 1554 | 12 November 1554 | 16 January 1555 | William Hall | John Williams
4th | 3 September 1555 | 1555 | 21 October 1555 | 9 December 1555 | Edmund Mordaunt | Thomas Leigh
5th | 6 December 1557 | 1557–58 | 20 January 1558 | 17 November 1558 | George Gascoigne | Thomas Leigh

Back to Members of Parliament

#### Parliaments of Queen Elizabeth I

[edit]

No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | First member | Second member

|
|
|
|
|
|

1st | 5 December 1558 | 28 December 1558 | 23 January 1559 | 8 May 1559 | Thomas Leigh | George Gascoigne
2nd | 10 November 1562 | 1562–63 | 11 January 1563 | 2 January 1567 | Oliver St John | John Burgoyne
3rd | ... | 1571 | 2 April 1571 | 29 May 1571 | Henry Cheeke | Robert Hatley
4th | 28 March 1572 | 1572 | 8 May 1572 | 19 April 1583 | Henry Cheeke | Michael Hawtry
5th | 12 October 1584 | 1584 | 23 November 1584 | 14 September 1585 | John Puckering | Nicholas Potts
6th | 15 September 1586 | 1586 | 15 October 1586 | 23 March 1587 | William Boteler | Thomas Snagge jnr
7th | 18 September 1588 | 1588–89 | 4 February 1589 | 29 March 1589 | John Pigott | Thomas Snagge
8th | 4 January 1593 | 1593 | 18 February 1593 | 10 April 1593 | Humphrey Winch
9th | 23 August 1597 | 1597 | 24 October 1597 | 9 February 1598 | Oliver Luke
10th | 11 September 1601 | 7 October 1601 | 27 October 1601 | 19 December 1601 | Thomas Fanshawe

Back to Members of Parliament

#### Parliaments of King James I

[edit]

No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | First member | Second member

|
|
|
|
|
|

1st | 31 January 1604 | 1604 | 19 March 1604 | 9 February 1611 | Sir Humphrey Winch
(made a judge in Ireland 1606) | Thomas Hawes
1606 | Sir Christopher Hatton
2nd | ... | ?1614 | 5 April 1614 | 7 June 1614 | Alexander St John | John Leigh
3rd | 13 November 1620 | 1620–21 | 16 January 1621 | 8 February 1622 | Sir Alexander St John | Richard Taylor
4th | 20 December 1623 | 1623–24 | 12 February 1624 | 27 March 1625

Back to Members of Parliament

#### Parliaments of King Charles I

[edit]

No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | First member | Second member

|
|
|
|
|
|

1st | 2 April 1625 | 1625 | 17 May 1625 | 12 August 1625 | Sir Alexander St John | Richard Taylor
2nd | 20 December 1625 | 1626 | 6 February 1626 | 15 June 1626 | Sir Beauchamp St John
3rd | 31 January 1628 | 1628 | 17 March 1628 | 10 March 1629
4th | 20 February 1640 | 1640 | 13 April 1640 | 5 May 1640 | Sir Samuel Luke[17]
5th | 24 September 1640 | 1640 | 3 November 1640 | 16 March 1660

Back to Members of Parliament

#### Parliaments of the Protectorate

[edit]

No. | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | First member

|
|
|
|

1st | July 1654 | 3 September 1654 | 22 January 1655 | Bulstrode Whitelocke
4 November 1654 | Henry Chester
2nd | 1656 | 17 September 1656 | 4 February 1658 | Thomas Margets
3rd | 1659 | 27 January 1659 | 22 April 1659 | Thomas Margets
Samuel Browne

Back to Members of Parliament

### MPs 1660–1885

[edit]

Year | First member[18] | First party | Second member[18] | Second party

|
|
|
|

|  | 10 April 1660 | Sir Samuel Luke |  | Humphrey Winch |
|  | 25 March 1661 | Richard Taylor |  | John Kelyng[mpnotes 1] |
| 10 July 1663  | Paulet St John |
| 30 December 1667  | Sir William Beecher |
| 12 February 1679 | Sir William Francklyn |
18 August 1679
17 February 1681
|  | 6 March 1685 | Sir Anthony Chester, 3rd Baronet | Tory | Thomas Christie[mpnotes 2] | Tory
| 9 January 1689 | Thomas Hillersden | Whig
13 May 1690
| 5 May 1695 | William Farrer | Whig
| 18 March 1698  | William Spencer |
| 20 July 1698 | Sir Thomas Alston, 3rd Baronet |
| c. January 1701 | Samuel Rolt | Tory
| 21 November 1701 | William Farrer | Whig
| 17 July 1702 | Edward Carteret | Whig
|  | 11 May 1705 | William Farrer | Whig | Sir Philip Monoux, 3rd Baronet | Whig
| 15 December 1707  | William Hillersden | Whig
5 May 1708
| 14 April 1710  | John Cater | Whig
6 October 1710
| 27 August 1713 | Samuel Rolt | Tory
|  | 28 January 1715 | William Farrer | Whig | John Thurlow Brace | Whig
2 December 1715
| 21 March 1722 | George Huxley |
| 9 June 1725  | John Thurlow Brace | Whig
| 15 August 1727 | John Orlebar | Whig
| 16 April 1728  | James Metcalfe[mpnotes 3] | Tory
| 30 January 1731  | Sir Jeremy Vanacker Sambrooke, Bt | Tory
| 26 April 1734 | Samuel Ongley | Tory
| 24 November 1740  | Sir Boteler Chernock, 4th Baronet | Tory
5 May 1741
|  | 29 June 1747 | Thomas Gore |  | John Offley |
|  | 15 April 1754 | Francis Herne |  | Robert Henley-Ongley |
| 26 March 1761 | Richard Vernon | Whig
24 April 1764
| 17 March 1768 | Samuel Whitbread | Tory
|  | 18 October 1774 | Sir William Wake, 8th Baronet | Tory[19] | Robert Sparrow | Tory[19]
| 23 March 1775  | Samuel Whitbread[mpnotes 4] | Whig[19]
14 September 1780
| 5 April 1784 | William MacDowall Colhoun | Tory[19]
| 28 June 1790 | Samuel Whitbread | Whig[19]
27 May 1796
| 6 July 1802 | William Lee-Antonie | Whig[19]
30 October 1806
11 May 1807
| 6 October 1812 | Lord George Russell | Whig[19][20]
| 17 July 1815  | Hon. William Waldegrave | Whig[19]
| 17 June 1818 | William Henry Whitbread | Whig[19][21]
8 March 1820
9 June 1826
| 2 August 1830 | Frederick Polhill | Tory[19]
29 April 1831
| 1832  | Samuel Crawley | Whig[19][22][23]
| 1835  | Frederick Polhill | Conservative[19]
| 1837  | Henry Stuart[mpnotes 5] | Conservative[19]
| 1838  | Samuel Crawley | Whig[19][22][23]
| 1841  | Henry Stuart | Conservative[19]
| 1847  | Sir Harry Verney, 2nd Baronet | Whig[24][19][25]
| 1852  | Samuel Whitbread | Whig[26]
| 1854  | William Stuart | Conservative
| 1857  | Thomas Barnard | Whig
|  | 1859  | William Stuart | Conservative | Liberal
| 1868  | James Howard | Liberal
| 1874  | Frederick Polhill-Turner | Conservative
| 1880  | Charles Magniac | Liberal

* Reduced to one member (1885)

Back to Members of Parliament

### MPs 1885–1983

[edit]

Election | Member[18] | Party

|
|

| 1885 | Samuel Whitbread | Liberal
| 1895 | Charles Pym | Conservative
| 1906 | Percy Barlow | Liberal
| 1910 (Jan) | Walter Attenborough | Conservative
| 1910 (Dec) | Frederick Kellaway | Liberal
| 1922 | Sir Richard Wells, 1st Baronet | Conservative
| 1945 | Thomas Skeffington-Lodge | Labour
| 1950 | Christopher Soames | Conservative
| 1966 | Brian Parkyn | Labour
| 1970 | Trevor Skeet | Conservative
| 1983 | Constituency abolished: see North Bedfordshire

Back to Members of Parliament

### MPs 1997–2017

[edit]

Election | Member[18] | Party

|
|

| 1997 | Patrick Hall | Labour
| 2010 | Richard Fuller | Conservative
| 2017 | Mohammad Yasin | Labour

### Notes

[edit]

1. ^ A double return was made for Kelying and Sir Samuel Luke; Kelyng was allowed to sit
2. ^ A double return was made for Christie and Sir William Francklyn in 1690; Christie was allowed to sit
3. ^ Declared elected and Brace unseated on petition
4. ^ Declared elected and Sparrow unseated on petition
5. ^ At the election of 1837, Stuart was initially declared elected, but on petition his election was declared void and after scrutiny of the votes his opponent Crawley was declared elected instead

Back to Members of Parliament

## Elections

[edit]

Bedford election results 1997-2024

* 2010s
* 2000s
* 1990s
* 1970s
* 1960s
* 1950s
* 1940s
* 1930s
* 1920s
* 1910s
* 1900s
* 1890s
* 1880s
* 1870s
* 1860s
* 1850s
* 1840s
* 1830s
* 1820s
* 1810s
* 1800s
* 1790s

### Elections in the 2020s

[edit]

General election 2024: Bedford[27] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Mohammad Yasin | 18,342  | 45.1  | +0.8
| Conservative | Pinder Chauhan  | 8,912  | 21.9  | −20.1
| Reform UK | Matt Lansley  | 4,548  | 11.2  | +9.5
| Liberal Democrats | Henry Vann  | 4,025  | 9.9  | −0.1
| Green | Ben Foley  | 2,394  | 5.9  | +3.9
| Independent | Tarek Javed  | 1,442  | 3.5  | N/A
| Workers Party | Prince Chaudhury  | 996  | 2.4  | N/A
Majority | 9,430  | 23.2  | +20.9
Turnout | 40,659  | 56.4  | –10.1
Registered electors | 72,478  |  |
| Labour hold | Swing | 10.5  |

### Elections in the 2010s

[edit]

2019 notional result[28] Party excl. candidate  | Vote  | %

|
|

| Labour | 20,663 | 44.3
| Conservative | 19,550 | 42.0
| Liberal Democrats | 4,672 | 10.0
| Green | 924 | 2.0
| Brexit Party | 794 | 1.7
Turnout | 46,603  | 66.5
Electorate | 70,068  |
General election 2019: Bedford[29] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Mohammad Yasin | 20,491  | 43.3  | −3.5
| Conservative | Ryan Henson  | 20,346  | 43.0  | −2.2
| Liberal Democrats | Henry Vann  | 4,608  | 9.7  | +3.8
| Green | Adrian Spurrell  | 960  | 2.0  | −0.1
| Brexit Party | Charles Bunker  | 896  | 1.9  | N/A
Majority | 145  | 0.3  | −1.3
Turnout | 47,301  | 66.1  | −1.4
| Labour hold | Swing | −0.7  |

This was the smallest Labour majority at the 2019 general election.[30]

General election 2017: Bedford[31] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Mohammad Yasin | 22,712  | 46.8  | +6.6
| Conservative | Richard Fuller | 21,923  | 45.2  | +2.6
| Liberal Democrats | Henry Vann  | 2,837  | 5.9  | +1.7
| Green | Lucy Bywater  | 1,008  | 2.1  | −1.0
Majority | 789  | 1.6  | N/A
Turnout | 48,480  | 67.5  | +1.0
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +2.0  |
General election 2015: Bedford[32] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Richard Fuller | 19,625  | 42.6  | +3.7
| Labour | Patrick Hall | 18,528  | 40.2  | +4.3
| UKIP | Charlie Smith  | 4,434  | 9.6  | +7.1
| Liberal Democrats | Mahmud Rogers  | 1,958  | 4.2  | −15.7
| Green | Ben Foley [33] | 1,412  | 3.1  | +2.2
| Independent | Faruk Choudhury  | 129  | 0.3  | N/A
Majority | 1,097  | 2.4  | −0.6
Turnout | 46,086  | 66.5  | +0.6
| Conservative hold | Swing | −0.6  |

See also: Opinion polling in United Kingdom constituencies, 2010–15 § Bedford

General election 2010: Bedford[34] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Richard Fuller | 17,546  | 38.9  | +5.4
| Labour | Patrick Hall | 16,193  | 35.9  | −5.7
| Liberal Democrats | Henry Vann  | 8,957  | 19.9  | −1.6
| UKIP | Mark Adkin  | 1,136  | 2.5  | +0.1
| BNP | William Dewick  | 757  | 1.7  | N/A
| Green | Ben Foley  | 393  | 0.9  | N/A
| Independent | Samrat Deep Bhandari  | 120  | 0.3  | N/A
Majority | 1,353  | 3.0  | N/A
Turnout | 45.102  | 65.9  | +3.8
| Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +5.5  |

Back to Elections

### Elections in the 2000s

[edit]

General election 2005: Bedford[35] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Patrick Hall | 17,557  | 41.7  | −6.2
| Conservative | Richard Fuller | 14,174  | 33.7  | +0.9
| Liberal Democrats | Michael Headley  | 9,063  | 21.5  | +5.7
| UKIP | Peter Conquest  | 995  | 2.4  | +1.3
| Independent | John McCready  | 283  | 0.7  | N/A
Majority | 3,383  | 8.0  | −7.1
Turnout | 42,072  | 59.6  | −0.3
| Labour hold | Swing | −3.5  |
General election 2001: Bedford[36] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Patrick Hall | 19,454  | 47.9  | −2.7
| Conservative | Charlotte Attenborough  | 13,297  | 32.8  | −0.9
| Liberal Democrats | Michael Headley  | 6,425  | 15.8  | +3.5
| Independent | Richard Rawlins  | 973  | 2.4  | N/A
| UKIP | Jennifer Lo Bianco  | 430  | 1.1  | N/A
Majority | 6,157  | 15.1  | −1.8
Turnout | 40,579  | 59.9  | −13.6
| Labour hold | Swing | −0.9  |

Back to Elections

### Elections in the 1990s

[edit]

General election 1997: Bedford[37] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Patrick Hall | 24,774  | 50.6  | +14.2
| Conservative | Bob Blackman | 16,474  | 33.7  | −11.8
| Liberal Democrats | Christopher Noyce  | 6,044  | 12.3  | −4.1
| Referendum | Peter Conquest  | 1,503  | 3.1  | N/A
| Natural Law | Patricia Saunders  | 149  | 0.3  | N/A
Majority | 8,300  | 16.9  |
Turnout | 48,944  | 73.5  |
| Labour win (new seat)

Back to Elections

### Elections in the 1970s

[edit]

General election 1979: Bedford[3] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Trevor Skeet | 31,140  | 51.21  | +7.60
| Labour | NA Hyman  | 18,727  | 30.80  | −5.64
| Liberal | B Gibbons  | 10,129  | 16.66  | −3.29
| National Front | R Stearns  | 813  | 1.34  | N/A
Majority | 12,413  | 20.41  | +13.23
Turnout | 60,809  | 78.65  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +6.62  |
General election October 1974: Bedford[3] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Trevor Skeet | 24,834  | 43.61  | +1.10
| Labour | Brian Parkyn | 20,746  | 36.43  | +4.06
| Liberal | JC Griffiths  | 11,360  | 19.95  | −5.16
Majority | 4,088  | 7.18  | −2.96
Turnout | 56,940  | 76.80  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | −1.48  |
General election February 1974: Bedford[3] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Trevor Skeet | 26,082  | 42.51  | −8.00
| Labour | Gordon Colling | 19,861  | 32.37  | −8.01
| Liberal | JC Griffiths  | 15,405  | 25.11  | +16.01
Majority | 6,221  | 10.14  | +0.01
Turnout | 61,348  | 83.51  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +0.01  |
General election 1970: Bedford[3] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Trevor Skeet | 26,330  | 50.52  | +6.06
| Labour | Brian Parkyn | 21,051  | 40.39  | −4.83
| Liberal | Arthur W Butcher  | 4,740  | 9.09  | +1.23
Majority | 5,279  | 10.13  | N/A
Turnout | 52,121  | 77.31  |
| Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +5.45  |

Back to Elections

### Elections in the 1960s

[edit]

General election 1966: Bedford  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Brian Parkyn | 22,257  | 45.22  | +6.69
| Conservative | Christopher Soames | 21,879  | 44.46  | −0.73
| Liberal | John E Burrell  | 5,080  | 10.32  | −5.96
Majority | 378  | 0.76  | N/A
Turnout | 49,216  | 81.55  |
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +3.71  |
General election 1964: Bedford  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Christopher Soames | 21,404  | 45.18  | −5.68
| Labour | Brian Parkyn | 18,256  | 38.54  | +2.32
| Liberal | Walter Ernest Norton  | 7,712  | 16.28  | +3.36
Majority | 3,148  | 6.64  | −8.01
Turnout | 47,372  | 80.41  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | −4.00  |

Back to Elections

### Elections in the 1950s

[edit]

General election 1959: Bedford  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Christopher Soames | 23,495  | 50.87  | −4.68
| Labour | Maurice Foley | 16,728  | 36.22  | −8.24
| Liberal | Maurice L Rowlandson  | 5,966  | 12.92  | N/A
Majority | 6,767  | 14.65  | +3.55
Turnout | 46,189  | 83.56  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +1.78  |
General election 1955: Bedford  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Christopher Soames | 24,733  | 55.55  | +6.12
| Labour | Harold James Aldridge  | 19,792  | 44.45  | +0.94
Majority | 4,941  | 11.10  | +5.19
Turnout | 44,525  | 81.79  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +2.59  |
General election 1951: Bedford  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Christopher Soames | 23,278  | 49.43  | +1.77
| Labour | Peter Parker | 20,494  | 43.52  | +0.44
| Liberal | Frederick Henry Philpott  | 3,323  | 7.06  | −1.76
Majority | 2,784  | 5.91  | +1.33
Turnout | 47,095  | 87.14  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +0.67  |
General election 1950: Bedford  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Christopher Soames | 21,942  | 47.66  |
| Labour | Thomas Skeffington-Lodge | 19,834  | 43.08  |
| Liberal | Leonard John Humphrey  | 4,060  | 8.82  |
| Communist | Betty Matthews[38] | 207  | 0.45  | N/A
Majority | 2,108  | 4.58  | N/A
Turnout | 46,043  | 87.55  |
| Conservative gain from Labour | Swing |  |

Back to Elections

### Elections in the 1940s

[edit]

General election 1945: Bedford  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Thomas Skeffington-Lodge | 19,849  | 41.71  |
| Conservative | Richard Wells | 19,561  | 41.10  |
| Liberal | Leonard John Humphrey  | 8,183  | 17.19  |
Majority | 288  | 0.61  | N/A
Turnout | 47,593  | 73.10  |
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing |  |

Back to Elections

### Elections in the 1930s

[edit]

General election 1935: Bedford  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Richard Wells | 22,476  | 62.29  |
| Labour | Norman Mickle  | 13,604  | 37.71  |
Majority | 8,872  | 24.58  |
Turnout | 36,080  | 73.39  |
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |
General election 1931: Bedford  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Richard Wells | 25,030  | 72.17  |
| Labour | Clare Annesley | 9,654  | 27.83  |
Majority | 15,376  | 44.34  |
Turnout | 34,684  | 73.25  |
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |

Back to Elections

### Elections in the 1920s

[edit]

General election 1929: Bedford  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Unionist | Richard Wells | 16,724  | 46.0  | −6.1
| Liberal | Alfred Machin | 10,520  | 28.9  | −0.5
| Labour | George Dixon  | 9,147  | 25.1  | +6.6
Majority | 6,204  | 17.1  | −5.6
Turnout | 36,391  | 79.1  | −2.6
| Unionist hold | Swing | −2.8  |
General election 1924: Bedford  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Unionist | Richard Wells | 15,000  | 52.1  | +1.2
| Liberal | Milner Gray | 8,451  | 29.4  | −19.7
| Labour | George Dixon  | 5,330  | 18.5  | N/A
Majority | 6,549  | 22.7  | +20.9
Turnout | 28,781  | 81.7  | +8.2
| Unionist hold | Swing | +10.4  |
General election 1923: Bedford  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Unionist | Richard Wells | 12,906  | 50.9  | +0.6
| Liberal | Milner Gray | 12,449  | 49.1  | +41.3
Majority | 457  | 1.8  | −27.1
Turnout | 25,355  | 73.5  | −5.6
| Unionist hold | Swing | −20.4  |
Lady Lawson General election 1922: Bedford  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Unionist | Richard Wells | 13,460  | 50.3  | N/A
| National Liberal | Frederick Kellaway | 5,714  | 21.4  | −38.3
| Labour | Arthur Sells  | 5,477  | 20.5  | N/A
| Liberal | Mary Camilla Lawson | 2,075  | 7.8  | −64.9
Majority | 7,746  | 28.9  | N/A
Turnout | 26,726  | 79.1  | +33.9
| Unionist gain from National Liberal | Swing |  |
1921 Bedford by-election Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

C | Liberal | Frederick Kellaway | 14,397 | 59.7 | −13.0
| Labour | Frederick Fox Riley  | 9,731  | 40.3  | N/A
Majority | 4,666  | 19.4  | −26.0
Turnout | 24,128  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing |  |
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

Back to Elections

### Elections in the 1910s

[edit]

Kellaway General election 1918: Bedford  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

C | Liberal | Frederick Kellaway | 10,933 | 72.7 | +22.5
| Independent | Henry Burridge  | 4,096  | 27.3  | N/A
Majority | 6,837  | 45.4  | +45.0
Turnout | 15,029  | 45.2  | −46.0
| Liberal hold | Swing |  |
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

General Election 1914–15

Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;

* Liberal: Frederick Kellaway
* Unionist: Gerald de la Pryme Hargreaves
* Labour: Frederick Fox Riley

Kellaway General election December 1910: Bedford[39] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Frederick Kellaway | 2,773  | 50.2  | +1.7
| Conservative | Walter Attenborough | 2,754  | 49.8  | −1.7
Majority | 19  | 0.4  | N/A
Turnout | 5,527  | 91.2  | −2.3
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +1.7  |
General election January 1910: Bedford[39] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Walter Attenborough | 2,919  | 51.5  | +6.4
| Liberal | Percy Barlow | 2,750  | 48.5  | −6.4
Majority | 169  | 3.0  | N/A
Turnout | 5,669  | 93.5  | 2.3
| Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing |  |

Back to Elections

### Elections in the 1900s

[edit]

Barlow General election 1906: Bedford[39] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Percy Barlow | 2,771  | 54.9  | +8.3
| Conservative | Charles Pym | 2,278  | 45.1  | −8.3
Majority | 493  | 9.8  | N/A
Turnout | 5,049  | 91.2  | +7.1
Registered electors | 5,535  |  |
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +8.3  |
Pym General election 1900: Bedford[39] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Charles Pym | 2,115  | 53.4  | +1.2
| Liberal | Percy Barlow | 1,848  | 46.6  | −1.2
Majority | 267  | 6.8  | +2.4
Turnout | 3,963  | 84.1  | −6.5
Registered electors | 4,711  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +1.2  |

Back to Elections

### Elections in the 1890s

[edit]

General election 1895: Bedford [39] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Charles Pym | 1,976  | 52.2  | +3.8
| Liberal | Samuel Whitbread | 1,810  | 47.8  | −3.8
Majority | 166  | 4.4  | N/A
Turnout | 3,786  | 90.6  | +1.0
Registered electors | 4,179  |  |
| Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +3.8  |
General election 1892: Bedford [39] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Samuel Whitbread | 1,850  | 51.6  | +1.2
| Conservative | Charles Pym | 1,732  | 48.4  | −1.2
Majority | 118  | 3.2  | +2.4
Turnout | 3,582  | 89.6  | +1.1
Registered electors | 3,998  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | +1.2  |

Back to Elections

### Elections in the 1880s

[edit]

General election 1886: Bedford [39] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Samuel Whitbread | 1,399  | 50.4  | −4.9
| Conservative | James Herman de Ricci  | 1,376  | 49.6  | +4.9
Majority | 23  | 0.8  | −9.8
Turnout | 2,775  | 88.5  | −3.2
Registered electors | 3,134  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | −4.9  |
General election 1885: Bedford [39][40] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Samuel Whitbread | 1,588  | 55.3  | −17.4
| Conservative | James Herman de Ricci  | 1,286  | 44.7  | +17.4
Majority | 302  | 10.6  | +3.3
Turnout | 2,874  | 91.7  | −2.6 (est)
Registered electors | 3,134  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | −17.4  |
General election 1880: Bedford (2 seats) [41] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Samuel Whitbread | 1,470  | 38.1  | +1.7
| Liberal | Charles Magniac | 1,333  | 34.6  | +2.9
| Conservative | Frederick Polhill-Turner | 1,053  | 27.3  | −4.6
Majority | 280  | 7.3  | N/A
Turnout | 2,455 (est)  | 94.3 (est)  | −0.2
Registered electors | 2,603  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | +2.0  |
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +2.6  |

Back to Elections

### Elections in the 1870s

[edit]

General election 1874: Bedford (2 seats) [41] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Samuel Whitbread | 1,155  | 36.4  | +3.8
| Conservative | Frederick Polhill-Turner | 1,010  | 31.9  | −1.2
| Liberal | Charles Magniac | 1,006  | 31.7  | −2.7
Turnout | 2,091 (est)  | 94.5 (est)  | +4.9
Registered electors | 2,213  |  |
Majority | 145  | 4.5  | −7.9
| Liberal hold | Swing | +2.2  |
Majority | 4  | 0.2  | N/A
| Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +1.7  |

Back to Elections

### Elections in the 1860s

[edit]

General election 1868: Bedford (2 seats) [41] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | James Howard | 1,311  | 34.4  | +9.7
| Liberal | Samuel Whitbread | 1,242  | 32.6  | −9.1
| Conservative | Frederick Polhill-Turner | 769  | 20.2  | +3.1
| Conservative | Edward Loughlin O'Malley | 491  | 12.9  | −4.2
Majority | 473  | 12.4  | N/A
Turnout | 1,907 (est)  | 89.6 (est)  | +5.0
Registered electors | 2,127  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | +7.0  |
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | −6.1  |
General election 1865: Bedford (2 seats) [41] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Samuel Whitbread | 574  | 41.1  | +15.2
| Conservative | William Stuart | 476  | 34.1  | −15.8
| Liberal | Montague Chambers | 345  | 24.7  | +0.4
Turnout | 936 (est)  | 84.6 (est)  | −10.2
Registered electors | 1,106  |  |
Majority | 98  | 7.0  | +6.6
| Liberal hold | Swing | +11.6  |
Majority | 131  | 9.4  | +8.2
| Conservative hold | Swing | −11.6  |

Back to Elections

### Elections in the 1850s

[edit]

By-election, 28 June 1859: Bedford[41] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Samuel Whitbread | 441  | 53.1  | +2.9
| Conservative | Frederick Polhill-Turner | 389  | 46.9  | −2.9
Majority | 52  | 6.2  | +5.8
Turnout | 830  | 89.5  | −5.3
Registered electors | 927  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | +2.9  |

* Caused by Whitbread's appointment as a Civil Lord of the Admiralty.

General election 1859: Bedford (2 seats) [41] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Samuel Whitbread | 455  | 25.9  | −5.5
| Conservative | William Stuart | 449  | 25.5  | +12.4
| Liberal | Thomas Barnard | 427  | 24.3  | −5.9
| Conservative | Frederick Polhill-Turner | 427  | 24.3  | +11.2
Turnout | 879 (est)  | 94.8 (est)  | +12.9
Registered electors | 927  |  |
Majority | 6  | 0.4  | −3.7
| Liberal hold | Swing | −8.7  |
Majority | 22  | 1.2  | N/A
| Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +9.1  |
General election 1857: Bedford (2 seats) [41] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Samuel Whitbread | 452  | 31.4  | +13.3
| Whig | Thomas Barnard | 435  | 30.2  | +12.1
| Conservative | William Stuart | 376  | 26.1  | −16.8
| Radical | Edward Tyrrell Smith[42] | 176  | 12.2  | −8.7
Majority | 59  | 4.1  | N/A
Turnout | 720 (est)  | 81.9 (est)  | +15.7
Registered electors | 879  |  |
| Whig hold | Swing | +10.9  |
| Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | +10.3  |

* Smith was also supported by the Conservatives.[43]

By-election, 6 December 1854: Bedford[41] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | William Stuart | 422  | 56.0  | +13.1
| Radical | John Salusbury-Trelawny[44][45][46] | 331  | 44.0  | +23.1
Majority | 91  | 12.0  | +5.2
Turnout | 753  | 82.5  | +16.3
Registered electors | 913  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | −5.0  |

* Caused by Stuart's death.

General election 1852: Bedford (2 seats) [41] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Henry Stuart | 517  | 42.9  | −21.6
| Whig | Samuel Whitbread | 435  | 36.1  | +0.6
| Radical | Thomas Chisholm Anstey[47][48] | 252  | 20.9  | N/A
Turnout | 602 (est)  | 66.2 (est)  | −14.4
Registered electors | 910  |  |
Majority | 82  | 6.8  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | −11.0  |
Majority | 183  | 15.2  | +10.4
| Whig hold | Swing | +5.6  |

Back to Elections

### Elections in the 1840s

[edit]

General election 1847: Bedford (2 seats) [41] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Harry Verney | 453  | 35.5  | +3.1
| Conservative | Henry Stuart | 432  | 33.8  | +0.5
| Conservative | Frederick Polhill | 392  | 30.7  | −3.6
Majority | 61  | 4.8  | N/A
Turnout | 865 (est)  | 80.6 (est)  | −17.3
Registered electors | 1,073  |  |
| Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | +3.1  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | −0.5  |
General election 1841: Bedford (2 seats) [41][19] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Frederick Polhill | 433  | 34.3  | −1.7
| Conservative | Henry Stuart | 421  | 33.3  | +1.0
| Whig | William Henry Whitbread | 410  | 32.4  | +0.7
Majority | 12  | 0.9  | +0.3
Turnout | 809  | 97.9  | +29.5
Registered electors | 1,073  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | −1.0  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +0.3  |

Back to Elections

### Elections in the 1830s

[edit]

General election 1837: Bedford (2 seats) [41][19] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Frederick Polhill | 467  | 36.0  | +16.8
| Conservative | Henry Stuart | 419  | 32.3  | +13.1
| Whig | Samuel Crawley | 412  | 31.7  | −29.9
Majority | 7  | 0.6  | N/A
Turnout | 815  | 68.4  | +1.8
Registered electors | 1,192  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +15.9  |
| Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +14.0  |

* On petition, Stuart was unseated and Crawley was declared elected.

General election 1835: Bedford (2 seats) [41][19] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Frederick Polhill | 490  | 38.4  | +7.6
| Whig | Samuel Crawley | 403  | 31.6  | +0.6
| Whig | William Henry Whitbread | 383  | 30.0  | −8.2
Majority | 107  | 8.4  | N/A
Turnout | 834  | 66.6  | +5.5
Registered electors | 1,252  |  |
| Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +7.6  |
| Whig hold | Swing | −1.6  |
General election 1832: Bedford (2 seats) [41][19] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | William Henry Whitbread | 599  | 38.2  | N/A
| Whig | Samuel Crawley | 486  | 31.0  | N/A
| Tory | Frederick Polhill | 483  | 30.8  | N/A
Majority | 3  | 0.2  | N/A
Turnout | 961  | 61.1  | N/A
Registered electors | 1,572  |  |
| Whig hold | Swing | N/A |
| Whig gain from Tory | Swing | N/A |
General election 1831: Bedford (2 seats)[19] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | William Henry Whitbread | Unopposed
| Tory | Frederick Polhill | Unopposed
| Whig hold
| Tory hold
General election 1830: Bedford (2 seats) [41][19] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | William Henry Whitbread | 515  | 34.4  | N/A
| Tory | Frederick Polhill | 491  | 32.8  | N/A
| Whig | John Russell | 490  | 32.8  | N/A
Turnout | 914  |  | N/A
Majority | 24  | 1.6  | N/A
| Whig hold | Swing | N/A |
Majority | 1  | 0.0  | N/A
| Tory gain from Whig | Swing | N/A |

Back to Elections

### Elections in the 1820s

[edit]

[49]

* 1826: Lord George Russell and William Henry Whitbread (both Whig) elected unopposed
* 1820: Lord George Russell and William Henry Whitbread (both Whig) elected unopposed

Back to Elections

### Elections in the 1810s

[edit]

[50]

* 1818: Lord George Russell and William Henry Whitbread (both Whig) elected unopposed
* 1815: Following the death of Samuel Whitbread, Hon. William Waldegrave (Whig) elected unopposed
* 1812: Lord George Russell and Samuel Whitbread (both Whig) elected unopposed

Back to Elections

### Elections in the 1800s

[edit]

[50]

* 1807: William Lee Antonie and Samuel Whitbread (both Whig) elected unopposed
* 1806: William Lee Antonie and Samuel Whitbread (both Whig) elected unopposed
* 1802: William Lee Antonie and Samuel Whitbread (both Whig) elected unopposed

Back to Elections

### Elections in the 1790s

[edit]

[50]

* 1796: William MacDowall Colhoun (Tory) and Samuel Whitbread (Whig) elected unopposed

General election 1790: Bedford (2 seats) [50] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Tory | William MacDowall Colhoun | 616  | 34.4  |
| Whig | Samuel Whitbread | 601  | 33.6  |
| Tory | John Payne  | 574  | 32.0  |
Majority | 27  | 1.5  |
Registered electors | c.1,200  |  |
| Tory hold | Swing |  |
| Whig hold | Swing |  |

Back to Elections

## See also

[edit]

* List of parliamentary constituencies in Bedfordshire
* Opinion polling in United Kingdom constituencies, 2010–15

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
2. ^ As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years. It formerly had two members as set out in the article
3. ^ a 5th baronet, the lowest order of nobility

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Bedford: Usual Resident Population, 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
2. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – Eastern". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
3. ^ a b c d e "'Bedford', Feb 1974 – May 1983". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Archived from the original on 18 March 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
4. ^ Page 77, Lewis Namier, The Structure of Politics at the Accession of George III (2nd edition – London: St Martin's Press, 1961)
5. ^ The Times Guide to the House of Commons 2019. Glasgow: Times Books. 2020. p. 95\. ISBN 978-0-00-839258-1.
6. ^ a b Craig, Fred W. S. (1972). Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1885-1972;. Chichester: Political Reference Publications. p. 11\. ISBN 0-900178-09-4. OCLC 539011.
7. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983" (PDF).
8. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007".
9. ^ "The Bedford (Electoral Changes) Order 2022".
10. ^ "New Seat Details - Bedford". www.electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
11. ^ "Manningham, Thomas (d.c.1455), of Ardsley and Wrenthorpe, Yorks. and Wrestlingworth, Beds". historyofparliamentonline.org. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
12. ^ a b "Jordan, Thomas, of Bedford". historyofparliamentonline.org. Archived from the original on 25 April 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
13. ^ "Wright, John, of Bedford". historyofparliamentonline.org. Archived from the original on 24 April 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
14. ^ "Kempston, Roger, of Bedford". historyofparliamentonline.org. Archived from the original on 9 August 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
15. ^ a b "Clerevaux, William, of Bedford". historyofparliamentonline.org. Archived from the original on 9 August 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
16. ^ "Frepurs, John, of Bedford". historyofparliamentonline.org. Archived from the original on 9 August 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
17. ^ Double return for April 1640 -William Boteler taken off
18. ^ a b c d Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "B" (part 2)
19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Stooks Smith, Henry. (1973) [1844–1850]. Craig, F. W. S. (ed.). The Parliaments of England (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. pp. 2–4, 20. ISBN 978-0-900178-13-9.
20. ^ Lloyd, Ernest Marsh (1897). "Russel, George William" . In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 49\. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
21. ^ Fisher, David R. (2009). "Whitbread, William Henry (1795–1867), of Southill, nr. Biggleswade, Beds". The History of Parliament. Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
22. ^ a b "Miscellaneous". Coventry Standard. 18 August 1837. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 26 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
23. ^ a b "Huntingdon, Bedford & Peterborough Gazette". 8 July 1837. p. 8. Retrieved 26 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
24. ^ Martin, Howard (1996). "Years of Whig Achievement and Conservative Renewal, 1833–41". Britain in the 19th Century. Cheltenham: Thomas Nelson and Sons. p. 117\. ISBN 978-0174350620. Archived from the original on 14 February 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2020 – via Google Books.
25. ^ "Cambridge General Advertiser". 14 July 1847. p. 1. Retrieved 26 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
26. ^ "The Midland Region". The Spectator. 20 March 1852. p. 9\. Archived from the original on 9 April 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
27. ^ "Statement as to Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll – Bedford constituency". Bedford Borough Council. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
28. ^ "Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". Rallings & Thrasher, Professor David Denver (Scotland), Nicholas Whyte (NI) for Sky News, PA, BBC News and ITV News. UK Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
29. ^ "Bedford Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Archived from the original on 14 June 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
30. ^ "Commons Briefing Paper 8749. General Election 2019: results and analysis" (PDF). London: House of Commons Library. 28 January 2020. p. 72\. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
31. ^ "Election 2017: Ipswich". BBC News. 9 June 2017. Archived from the original on 14 June 2017.
32. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
33. ^ "Ben Foley to contest Bedford & Kempston Constituency for Greens". Bedfordshire News. Archived from the original on 11 January 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
34. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
35. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
36. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
37. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
38. ^ Benton, Sarah (6 June 2002). "Betty Matthews". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 17 April 2017.
39. ^ a b c d e f g h British parliamentary election results, 1885–1918 (Craig)
40. ^ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886
41. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885 (e-book) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
42. ^ "Bedford Election". Hertford Mercury and Reformer. 28 March 1857. p. 5. Retrieved 8 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
43. ^ "Mr. E. T. Smith for Bedford". Cheltenham Chronicle. 31 March 1857. p. 3. Retrieved 8 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
44. ^ Hoppen, K. Theodore (2016). Governing Hibernia: British Politicians and Ireland 1800–1921. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 133\. ISBN 9780198207436. Archived from the original on 14 February 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
45. ^ "Bedford Election". Worcester Journal. 9 December 1854. pp. 7–8. Retrieved 8 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
46. ^ "Bedford Election". Leeds Intelligencer. 9 December 1854. p. 3. Retrieved 8 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
47. ^ "The Elections". Aberdeen Press and Journal. 14 July 1852. p. 8. Retrieved 8 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
48. ^ "Election Intelligence". Morning Chronicle. 8 July 1852. pp. 2–6. Retrieved 8 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
49. ^ Fisher, D.R. (ed.). "Bedford - 1820-1832". History of Parliament Online. Cambridge University Press. Archived from the original on 14 February 2022. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
50. ^ a b c d Thorne, R. (ed.). "Bedford - 1790-1820". History of Parliament Online. Boydell and Brewer. Archived from the original on 3 September 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2019.

## Sources

[edit]

* Beatson, Robert (1807). A chronological register of both houses of the British Parliament, Volume II.
* F. W. S. Craig, "British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885" (2nd edition, Aldershot: Parliamentary Research Services, 1989)
* F W S Craig, "British Parliamentary Election Results 1918–1949" (Glasgow: Political Reference Publications, 1969)
* T. H. B. Oldfield, The Representative History of Great Britain and Ireland (London: Baldwin, Cradock & Joy, 1816)
* J Holladay Philbin, Parliamentary Representation 1832 – England and Wales (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1965)
* Edward Porritt and Annie G Porritt, The Unreformed House of Commons (Cambridge University Press, 1903)
* Henry Stooks Smith, "The Parliaments of England from 1715 to 1847" (2nd edition, edited by FWS Craig – Chichester: Parliamentary Reference Publications, 1973)
* Frederic A Youngs, jr, Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England, Vol I (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979)
* The Constitutional Year Book for 1913 (London: National Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations, 1913)

## External links

[edit]

* Bedford UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK
* Bedford UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK
* Bedford UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK

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