Bedford (UK Parliament 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]

Bedford
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Boundary of Bedford in Bedfordshire
Location of Bedfordshire within England
CountyBedfordshire
Population101,066 (2011 census)[1]
Electorate70,364 (2018)[2]
Major settlementsBedford, Kempston
Current constituency
Created1997
Member of ParliamentMohammad Yasin (Labour)
Number of membersOne
Created fromNorth Bedfordshire and Mid Bedfordshire[3]
1918–1983
Number of membersOne
Type of constituencyCounty constituency
Replaced byNorth Bedfordshire
1295–1918
Number of members1295–1885: Two
1885–1918: One
Type of constituencyBorough constituency

The seat dates to the earliest century of regular parliaments, in 1295; its double representation was halved in 1885, then being altered by the later-termed Fourth Reform Act in 1918.

Constituency profile
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

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 of 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. 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. 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 (formerly 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 the surrounding rural area, which had previously been part of the abolished Biggleswade Division.

Under the Representation of the People Act 1948, a boundary change which came into effect at the 1950 election reduced its size somewhat, with part of the Bedford Rural District, including Eaton Socon, being transferred to the Mid Bedfordshire constituency.

Under the Third Review of Westminster Constituencies in 1983, the constituency was abolished and absorbed into the new County Constituency of North Bedfordshire, with the exception of Kempston, which was transferred to Mid Bedfordshire.

Under the Fourth Review, effective from the 1997 general election, Bedford was restored as a Borough Constituency, comprising the town of Bedford from the now abolished constituency of North Bedfordshire, and Kempston, regained from Mid Bedfordshire.

In the latest boundary changes under the Fifth Review, effective from the 2010 general election, there were marginal gains from Mid Bedfordshire 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.[4]

Boundaries

1918–1950: The Municipal Borough of Bedford, the Urban District of Kempston, and the Rural Districts of Bedford and Eaton Socon.[5]

1950–1983: The Municipal Borough of Bedford, the Urban District of Kempston, and part of the Rural District of Bedford.[5]

1997–2010: The Borough of Bedford wards of Brickhill, Castle, Cauldwell, De Parys, Goldington, Harpur, Kempston East, Kempston West, Kingsbrook, Newnham, Putnoe, and Queen's Park.[6]

2010–present: The Borough of Bedford wards of Brickhill, Castle, Cauldwell, De Parys, Goldington, Harpur, Kempston Central and East, Kempston North, Kempston South, Kingsbrook, Newnham, Putnoe, Queens Park.[7]

Members of Parliament

MPs 1295–1660
  • 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
No.SummonedElectedAssembledDissolved1st member2nd member
29th30 September 1295+129527 November 12954 December 1295John CullebereSimon de Holand
30th26 August 129612963 November 129629 November 1296unknownunknown
33rd6 October 1297129715 September 129714 October 1297unknownunknown
34th15 March 1298March 129830 March 1298...unknownunknown
35th10 April 1298129825 May 1298...Thomas HalydayRobert de Sywell
39th29 December 12991299/006 March 130020 March 1300John WymondWilliam Benne
40th26 September 13001300/0120 January 130130 January 1301
42nd14 July 1302130214 October 130221 October 1302Simon le TannerRobert de Sywell
43rd12 November 13041304/0528 February 130520 March 1305John HalydayWilliam Costyn
45th5 April 1306130630 May 130630 May 1306Simon de WilshamsteadGeoffrey le Blund
46th3 November 13061306/0720 January 130719 March 1307William CostynJohn le Marescal

Parliaments of King Edward II
No.SummonedElectedAssembledDissolved1st member2nd member
1st26 August 1307130713 October 130716 October 1307William BonumJohn atte Wal
2nd19 January 130813083 March 1308...unknownunknown
5th4 March 1309130927 April 130913 May 1309Gilbert de HolmJohn le Marescal
8th16 June 131113118 August 1311...John HalydayGeoffrey Clogon (Glogon)
...131112 November 131118 December 1311William Costyn (Costantyn)
9th3 June 1312131220 August 131216 December 1312Roger Cullebere
10th8 January 1313131318 March 13139 May 1313Thomas de NorfolkJohn atte Wal
11th23 May 131313138 July 131327 July 1313
12th26 July 1313131323 September 131315 November 1313
13th29 July 131413149 September 131427/28 September 1314William Costantyn
14th24 October 13141314/1520 January 13159 March 1315Geoffrey Glogon
15th16 October 13151315/1627 January 131620 February 1316no return
16th24–25 August 1318131820 October 13189 December 1318Henry OliverGeoffrey de Blunham
17th20 March 131913196 May 131925 May 1319Simon de BydenhamRalph le Collere
19th5 August 132013206 October 132025/26 October 1320Richard de CaveThomas Halyday
20th15 May 1321132115 July 132122 August 1321John de SohamRichard le Ussher
21st14 March 132213222 May 132219 May 1322Simon de KnightwykWilliam Costantyn
22nd18 September 1322132214 November 132229 November 1322Richard de Cave
23rd20 November 13231323/2423 February 132418 March 1324Thomas HalydayRoger atte Wal
24th6 May 1325132525 June 1325...unknownunknown
25th10 October 1325132518 November 13255 December 1325unknownunknown
26th28 October 13261326/277 January 132720 January 1327Hugh BalleHugh Cok

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Parliaments of King Edward III
No.SummonedElectedAssembledDissolved1st member2nd member
1st.........9 March 1327unknownunknown
2nd7 August 1327132715 September 132723 September 1327Roger atte WalSimon Cullebere
3rd10 December 13271327/287 February 13285 March 1328Hugh CokWilliam de Hoghton
4th5 March 1328132824 April 132814 May 1328John de Lund, jnr.Geoffrey le Neveu
5th28 August 1328132816 October 132822 February 1329William FlourJohn Scot
6th25 January 1330133011 March 133021 March 1330Richard de CaveSimon de Stevynton
7th23 October 1330133026 November 13309 December 1330Robert CroweJohn Elcock
8th16 July 1331133130 September 13319 October 1331William Costantynunknown
9th27 January 1332133216 March 133221 March 1332John de Soham, jnr.Geoffrey Walcock
10th20 July 133213329 September 133212 September 1332Hugh BalleJohn Scot
11th20 October 133213324 December 133227 January 1333John de SohamJohn de Codenho (Boddenho?)
12th2 January 1334133421 February 13342 March 1334Richard de CaveWilliam le Clerk
13th24 July 1334133419 September 133423 September 1334
14th1 April 1335133526 May 13353 June 1335William de Holewelle
15th22 January 1336133611 March 133620 March 1336John atte LoundHenry Arnold
16th29 November 13361336/373 March 1337c.16 March 1337unknownunknown
17th20 December 13371337/383 February 133814 February 1338John de StyvecleWilliam de Holewell
18th15 November 13381338/393 February 133917 February 1339Robert CarbonelWilliam de Holewell
19th25 August 1339133913 October 1339c.3 November 1339unknownunknown
20th16 November 13391339/4020 January 134019 February 1340unknownunknown
21st21 February 1340134029 March 134010 May 1340unknownunknown
22nd30 May 1340134012 July 134026 July 1340unknownunknown
23rd3 March 1341134123 April 134127–28 May 1341unknownunknown
24th24 February 1343134328 April 134320 May 1343unknownunknown
25th20 April 134413447 June 134428 June 1344unknownunknown
26th30 July 1346134611 September 134620 September 1346unknownunknown
27th13 November 13471348/4814 January 134812 February 1348unknownunknown
28th14 February 1348134831 March 134813 April 1348unknownunknown
29th25 November 13501350/519 February 13511 March 1351unknownunknown
30th15 November 13511351/5213 January 135211 February 1352unknownunknown
31st15 March 1354135428 April 135420 May 1354unknownunknown
32nd20 September 1355135523 November 135530 November 1355unknownunknown
33rd15 February 1357135717 April 13578–16 May 1357unknownunknown
34th15 December 13571357/585 February 135827 February 1358unknownunknown
35th3 April 1360136015 May 1360...unknownunknown
36th20 November 13601360/6124 January 136118 February 1361unknownunknown
37th14 August 1362136213 October 136217 November 1362unknownunknown
38th1 June 136313636 October 136330 October 1363unknownunknown
39th4 December 13641364/6520 January 136517 February 1365unknownunknown
40th20 January 136613664 May 136611 May 1366unknownunknown
41st24 February 136813681 May 136821 May 1368unknownunknown
42nd6 April 136913693 June 136911 June 1369unknownunknown
43rd8 January 1371137124 February 137129 March 1371unknownunknown
44th1 September 137213723 November 137224 November 1372unknownunknown
45th4 October 1373137321 November 137310 December 1373unknownunknown
46th28 December 13751375/7628 April 137610 July 1376unknownunknown
47th1 December 13761376/7727 January 13772 March 1377unknownunknown

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Parliaments of King Richard II
No.SummonedElectedAssembledDissolved1st member2nd member
1st4 August 1377137713 October 13775 December 1377unknownunknown
2nd3 September 1378137820 October 137816 November 1378unknownunknown
3rd16 February 1379137924 April 137927 May 1379unknownunknown
4th20 October 13791379/8016 January 13803 March 1380unknownunknown
5th26 August 138013805 November 13806 December 1380unknownunknown
6th16 July 138113813 November 138125 February 1382unknownunknown
7th24 March 138213827 May 138222 May 1382unknownunknown
8th9 August 138213826 October 138224 October 1382unknownunknown
9th7 January 1383138323 February 138310 March 1383unknownunknown
10th20 August 1383138326 October 138326 November 1383unknownunknown
11th3 March 1384138429 April 138427 May 1384unknownunknown
12th28 September 1384138412 November 138414 December 1384unknownunknown
13th3 September 1385138520 October 13856 December 1385unknownunknown
14th8 August 138613861 October 138628 November 1386unknownunknown
15th17 December 13871387/883 February 13884 June 1388unknownunknown
16th28 July 138813889 September 138817 October 1388unknownunknown
17th6 December 13891389/9017 January 13902 March 1390unknownunknown
18th12 September 1390139012 November 13903 December 1390unknownunknown
19th7 September 139113913 November 13912 December 1391unknownunknown
20th23 November 13921392/9320 January 139310 February 1393unknownunknown
21st13 November 13931393/9427 January 13946 March 1394unknownunknown
22nd20 November 13941394/9527 January 139515 February 1395unknownunknown
23rd30 November 13961396/9722 January 139712 February 1397unknownunknown
24th18 July 1397139717 September 139731 January 1398unknownunknown
25th19 August 1399138930 September 139930 September 1399unknownunknown

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Parliaments of King Henry IV
No.SummonedElectedAssembledDissolved1st member2nd member
1st30 September 139913996 October 139919 November 1399unknownunknown
2nd9 September 14001400/0120 January 140110 March 1401unknownunknown
3rd19 June 1402140230 September 140225 November 1402unknownunknown
4th20 October 14031403/0414 January 140420 March 1404unknownunknown
5th25 August 140414046 October 140413 November 1404unknownunknown
6th21 December 14051405/061 March 140622 December 1406unknownunknown
7th26 August 1407140720 October 14072 December 1407unknownunknown
8th26 October 14091409/1027 January 14109 May 1410unknownunknown
9th21 September 141114113 November 141119 December 1411unknownunknown
10th1 December 14121412/133 February 141320 March 1413unknownunknown

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Parliaments of King Henry V
No.SummonedElectedAssembledDissolved1st member2nd member
1st22 March 1413141314 May 14139 June 1413unknownunknown
2nd1 December 14131413/1430 April 141429 May 1414unknownunknown
3rd26 September 1414141419 November 1414...unknownunknown
4th12 August 141514154 November 141512 November 1415unknownunknown
5th21 January 1416141616 March 1416May 1416unknownunknown
6th3 September 1416141619 October 141618 November 1416unknownunknown
7th5 October 1417141716 November 141717 December 1417unknownunknown
8th24 August 1419141916 October 141913 November 1419unknownunknown
9th21 October 142014202 December 1420...unknownunknown
10th26 February 142114212 May 1421...unknownunknown
11th20 October 142114211 December 1421...Thomas Manningham[8]unknown

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Parliaments of King Henry VI
No.SummonedElectedAssembledDissolved1st member2nd member
1st29 September 142214229 November 142218 December 1422unknownunknown
2nd1 September 1423142320 October 142328 February 1424unknownunknown
3rd24 February 1425142530 April 142514 July 1425unknownunknown
4th7 January 1426142618 February 14261 June 1426unknownunknown
5th15 July 1427142713 October 142725 March 1428unknownunknown
6th12 July 1429142922 September 142923 February 1430unknownunknown
7th27 November 14301430/3112 January 143120 March 1431unknownunknown
8th25 February 1432143212 May 143217 July 1432unknownunknown
9th24 May 143314338 July 1433>c.18 December 1433unknownunknown
10th5 July 1435143510 October 143523 December 1435unknownunknown
11th29 October 14361436/3721 January 143727 March 1437unknownunknown
12th26 September 1439143912 November 1439c.15–24 February 1440unknownunknown
13th3 December 14411441/4225 January 144227 March 1442unknownunknown
14th13 January 1445144525 February 14459 April 1445unknownunknown
15th14 December 14461446/4710 February 14473 March 1447unknownunknown
16th2 January 1449144912 February 144916 July 1449unknownunknown
17th23 September 144914496 November 1449c.5–8 June 1450unknownunknown
18th5 September 145014506 November 1450c.24–31 May 1451unknownunknown
19th20 January 145314536 March 1453c.16–21 April 1454unknownunknown
20th26 May 145514559 July 145512 March 1456unknownunknown
21st9 October 1459145920 November 145920 December 1459unknownunknown
22nd30 July 146014607 October 1460c.4 March 1461unknownunknown
23rd15 October 1470147026 November 1470c. 11 April 1471unknownunknown

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1377–1427
YearFirst memberSecond member
1377 (Jan)Thomas Jordan [9]
1380 (Jan)Thomas Jordan [9]
1381John Wright [10]
1382Roger Kempston [11]
1384 (Apr)William Clerevaux[12]
1385William Clerevaux [12]Thomas Frereman
1386William ClerevauxThomas Bedford
1388 (Feb)William ClerevauxThomas Frereman
1388 (Sep)Roger KempstonWilliam Barber
1390 (Jan)William ClerevauxThomas Frereman
1390 (Nov)
1391Henry WestJohn Wright
1393Thomas BedfordJohn Tyringham
1394Thomas BedfordWilliam Cotterstock
1395Thomas BedfordWilliam Cotterstock
1397 (Jan)Thomas BedfordWilliam Cotterstock
1397 (Sep)Thomas JordanWilliam Brown
1399Richard BethewaterRalph Pyrewelle
1401
1402Thomas BedfordRoger Tunstall
1404 (Jan)
1404 (Oct)
1406John GreyJohn Kent
1407
1410
1411
1413(Feb)
1413 (May)Thomas BedfordWilliam Cotterstock
1414 (Apr)
1414 (Nov)William DoweWilliam Wallyngton
1415
1416 (Mar)
1416 (Oct)
1417John FrepursRichard Marston
1419John Lyt..
1420Thomas HuntWilliam Hunt
1421 (May)Thomas FerrourJohn Leighton
1421 (Dec)Thomas BoleThomas Kempston
1427John Frepurs[13]

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Parliaments of King Edward IV
No.SummonedElectedAssembledDissolved1st member2nd member
1st23 May 146114614 November 14616 May 1462unknownunknown
2nd22 December 14621462/6329 April 146328 March 1465unknownunknown
3rd28 February 146714673 June 14677 June 1468John BostonWilliam Colet, jnr.
4th19 August 147214726 October 147214 March 1475Thomas Adams
5th20 November 14771477/7816 January 147826 February 1478William Colet
6th15 November 14821482/8320 January 148318 February 1483unknownunknown

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Parliaments of King Richard III
No.SummonedElectedAssembledDissolved1st member2nd member
1st9 December 14831483/8423 January 148420 February 1484unknownunknown

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Parliaments of King Henry VII
No.SummonedElectedAssembledDissolved1st member2nd member
1st15 September 148514857 November 1485c. 4 March 1486unknownunknown
2nd...14879 November 1487c. 18 December 1487unknownunknown
3rd...?1488/8913 January 148927 February 1490unknownunknown
4th12 August 1491149117 October 14915 March 1492unknownunknown
5th15 September 1495149514 October 149521–22 December 1495unknownunknown
6th20 November 14961496/9716 January 149713 March 1497unknownunknown
7th...?1503/0425 January 1504c. 1 April 1504unknownunknown

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Parliaments of King Henry VIII
No.SummonedElectedAssembledDissolved1st member2nd member
1st17 October 15091509/1021 January 151023 February 1510unknownunknown
2nd28 November 15111511/124 February 15124 March 1514unknownunknown
3rd23 November 15141514/155 February 151522 December 1515unknownunknown
4th...152315 April 152313 August 1523unknownunknown
5th9 August 152915293 November 152914 April 1536John BakerWilliam Bourne
6th27 April 153615368 June 153618 July 1536unknownunknown
7th1 March 1539153928 April 153924 July 1540William Johnsonunknown
8th23 November 15411541/4216 January 154228 March 1544William JohnsonMichael Thrayle
9th1 December 15441544/4523 November 154531 January 1547George BlaggeHenry Parker

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Parliaments of King Edward VI
No.SummonedElectedAssembledDissolved1st member2nd member
1st2 August 154715474 November 154715 April 1552Gerard Harvey alias SmartGeorge Wright
2nd5 January 155315531 March 155331 March 1553Thomas LeighWilliam Godolphin

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Parliaments of Queen Mary I
No.SummonedElectedAssembledDissolved1st member2nd member
1st14 August 155315535 October 15535 December 1553Edmund MordauntThomas Leigh
2nd17 February 155415542 April 15543 May 1554
3rd3 October 1554155412 November 155416 January 1555William HallJohn Williams
4th3 September 1555155521 October 15559 December 1555unknownunknown
5th6 December 15571557/5820 January 155817 November 1558George GascoigneThomas Leigh

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Parliaments of Queen Elizabeth I
No.SummonedElectedAssembledDissolved1st member2nd member
1st5 December 155828 December 155823 January 15598 May 1559Thomas LeighGeorge Gascoigne
2nd10 November 15621562/6311 January 15632 January 1567Oliver St JohnJohn Burgoyne
3rd...15712 April 157129 May 1571Henry CheekeRobert Hatley
4th28 March 157215728 May 157219 April 1583Henry CheekeMichael Hawtry
5th12 October 1584158423 November 158414 September 1585John PuckeringNicholas Potts
6th15 September 1586158615 October 158623 March 1587William BotelerThomas Snagge jnr
7th18 September 15881588/894 February 158929 March 1589John PigottThomas Snagge
8th4 January 1593159318 February 159310 April 1593Humphrey Winch
9th23 August 1597159724 October 15979 February 1598Oliver Luke
10th11 September 16017 October 160127 October 160119 December 1601Thomas Fanshawe

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Parliaments of King James I
No.SummonedElectedAssembledDissolved1st member2nd member
1st31 January 1604160419 March 16049 February 1611Sir Humphrey Winch
(made a judge in Ireland 1606)		Thomas Hawes
1606Sir Christopher Hatton
2nd...?16145 April 16147 June 1614Alexander St JohnJohn Leigh
3rd13 November 16201620/2116 January 16218 February 1622Sir Alexander St JohnRichard Taylor
4th20 December 16231623/2412 February 162427 March 1625

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Parliaments of King Charles I
No.SummonedElectedAssembledDissolved1st member2nd member
1st2 April 1625162517 May 162512 August 1625Sir Alexander St JohnRichard Taylor
2nd20 December 162516266 February 162615 June 1626Sir Beauchamp St John
3rd31 January 1628162817 March 162810 March 1629
4th20 February 1640164013 April 16405 May 1640Sir Samuel Luke[14]
5th24 September 164016403 November 164016 March 1660

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Parliaments of the Protectorate
No.ElectedAssembledDissolved1st member
1stJuly 16543 September 165422 January 1655Bulstrode Whitelocke
4 November 1654Henry Chester
2nd165617 September 16564 February 1658Thomas Margets
3rd165927 January 165922 April 1659Thomas Margets
Samuel Browne

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MPs 1660–1885
YearFirst member[15]First partySecond member[15]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 BaronetTory Thomas Christie[mpnotes 2]Tory
9 January 1689 Thomas HillersdenWhig
13 May 1690
5 May 1695 William FarrerWhig
18 March 1698 William Spencer
20 July 1698 Sir Thomas Alston, 3rd Baronet
c. January 1701 Samuel RoltTory
21 November 1701 William FarrerWhig
17 July 1702 Edward CarteretWhig
11 May 1705 William FarrerWhig Sir Philip Monoux, 3rd BaronetWhig
15 December 1707 William HillersdenWhig
5 May 1708
14 April 1710 John CaterWhig
6 October 1710
27 August 1713 Samuel RoltTory
28 January 1715 William FarrerWhig John Thurlow BraceWhig
2 December 1715
21 March 1722 George Huxley
9 June 1725 John Thurlow BraceWhig
15 August 1727 John OrlebarWhig
16 April 1728 James Metcalfe[mpnotes 3]Tory
30 January 1731 Sir Jeremy Vanacker Sambrooke, BtTory
26 April 1734 Samuel OngleyTory
24 November 1740 Sir Boteler Chernock, 4th BaronetTory
5 May 1741
29 June 1747 Thomas Gore John Offley
15 April 1754 Francis Herne Robert Henley-Ongley
26 March 1761 Richard VernonWhig
24 April 1764
17 March 1768 Samuel WhitbreadTory
18 October 1774 Sir William Wake, 8th BaronetTory[16] Robert SparrowTory[16]
23 March 1775 Samuel Whitbread[mpnotes 4]Whig[16]
14 September 1780
5 April 1784 William MacDowall ColhounTory[16]
28 June 1790 Samuel WhitbreadWhig[16]
27 May 1796
6 July 1802 William Lee-AntonieWhig[16]
30 October 1806
11 May 1807
6 October 1812 Lord George RussellWhig[16][17]
17 July 1815 Hon. William WaldegraveWhig[16]
17 June 1818 William Henry WhitbreadWhig[16][18]
8 March 1820
9 June 1826
2 August 1830 Frederick PolhillTory[16]
29 April 1831
1832 Samuel CrawleyWhig[16][19][20]
1835 Frederick PolhillConservative[16]
1837 Henry Stuart [mpnotes 5]Conservative[16]
1838 Samuel CrawleyWhig[16][19][20]
1841 Henry StuartConservative[16]
1847 Sir Harry Verney, 2nd BaronetWhig[21][16][22]
1852 Samuel WhitbreadWhig[23]
1854 William StuartConservative
1857 Thomas BarnardWhig
1859 William StuartConservativeLiberal
1868 James HowardLiberal
1874 Frederick Polhill-TurnerConservative
1880 Charles MagniacLiberal
  • Reduced to one member (1885)

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MPs 1885–1983
ElectionMember[15]Party
1885 Samuel WhitbreadLiberal
1895 Charles PymConservative
1906 Percy BarlowLiberal
1910 (Jan) Walter AttenboroughConservative
1910 (Dec) Frederick KellawayLiberal
1922 Sir Richard Wells, 1st BaronetConservative
1945 Thomas Skeffington-LodgeLabour
1950 Christopher SoamesConservative
1966 Brian ParkynLabour
1970 Trevor SkeetConservative
1983 Constituency abolished: see North Bedfordshire

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MPs 1997–2017
ElectionMember[15]Party
1997 Patrick HallLabour
2010 Richard FullerConservative
2017 Mohammad YasinLabour

Notes
  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

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Elections

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 2010s
General election 2019: Bedford[24]
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 +3.9
Green Adrian Spurrell 960 2.0 0.0
Brexit Party Charles Bunker 896 1.9 +1.9
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.[25]

General election 2017: Bedford[26]
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 +1.6
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[27]
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 −15.6
Green Ben Foley [28] 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[29]
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

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Elections in the 2000s
General election 2005: Bedford[30]
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[31]
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 −1.9
Turnout 40,579 59.9 −13.6
Labour hold Swing −0.9

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Elections in the 1990s
General election 1997: Bedford[32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Patrick Hall 24,774 50.6 N/A
Conservative Bob Blackman 16,474 33.7 N/A
Liberal Democrats Christopher Noyce 6,044 12.3 N/A
Referendum Peter Conquest 1,503 3.1 N/A
Natural Law Patricia Saunders 149 0.3 N/A
Majority 8,300 17.0 N/A
Turnout 48,944 73.5 N/A
Labour win (new seat)

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Elections in the 1970s
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
Turnout 52,121 77.31
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +5.45

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Elections in the 1960s
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 0.77
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 6.65 −8.01
Turnout 47,372 80.41
Conservative hold Swing −4.00

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Elections in the 1950s
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[33] 207 0.45
Majority 2,108 4.58
Turnout 46,043 87.55
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

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Elections in the 1940s
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
Turnout 73.10
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

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Elections in the 1930s
General election 1935: Bedford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Wells 22,476 62.29
Labour Norman Mickle 13,604 37.71
Majority 8,872 24.59
Turnout 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 44.33
Turnout 73.25
Conservative hold Swing

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Elections in the 1920s
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 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
Turnout 81.7
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
Turnout 73.5
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 −19.8
Liberal Mary Camilla Lawson 2,075 7.8 n/a
Majority 7,746 28.9
Turnout 26,726 79.1
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
Liberal hold Swing n/a
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

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Elections in the 1910s
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 45.2 −46.0
Liberal hold Swing n/a
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 the 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[34]
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 3.4
Turnout 91.2 −2.3
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +1.7
General election January 1910 Bedford[34]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Walter Attenborough 2,919 51.5
Liberal Percy Barlow 2,750 48.5
Majority 169 3.0
Turnout 93.5
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing

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Elections in the 1900s
Barlow
General election 1906 Bedford[34]
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[34]
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

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Elections in the 1890s
General election 1895: Bedford [34]
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 [34]
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

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Elections in the 1880s
General election 1886: Bedford [34]
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 [34][35]
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 10.3 +3.0
Turnout 2,874 91.7 −2.6 (est)
Registered electors 3,134
Liberal hold Swing −17.4
General election 1880: Bedford (2 seats) [36]
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 +2.7
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

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Elections in the 1870s
General election 1874: Bedford (2 seats) [36]
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 4.6 −7.8
Liberal hold Swing +2.2
Majority 4 0.1 N/A
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +1.7

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Elections in the 1860s
General election 1868: Bedford (2 seats) [36]
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 +5.4
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) [36]
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 +6.7
Liberal hold Swing +11.6
Majority 131 9.4 +8.1
Conservative hold Swing −11.6

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Elections in the 1850s
By-election, 28 June 1859: Bedford[36]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Samuel Whitbread 441 53.1 +2.9
Conservative Frederick Polhill-Turner 389 46.9 −2.9
Majority 52 6.3 +6.0
Turnout 830 89.5 −5.3
Registered electors 927
Liberal hold Swing +2.9
General election 1859: Bedford (2 seats) [36]
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 0.3 −0.9
Liberal hold Swing −8.7
Majority 22 1.3 N/A
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +9.1
General election 1857: Bedford (2 seats) [36]
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[37] 176 12.2 −8.7
Majority 17 1.2 −14.0
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.[38]
By-election, 6 December 1854: Bedford[36]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Stuart 422 56.0 +13.1
Radical John Salusbury-Trelawny[39][40][41] 331 44.0 +23.1
Majority 91 12.1 +5.3
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) [36]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Stuart 517 42.9 −21.6
Whig Samuel Whitbread 435 36.1 +0.6
Radical Thomas Chisholm Anstey[42][43] 252 20.9 N/A
Turnout 602 (est) 66.2 (est) −14.4
Registered electors 910
Majority 82 6.8 N/A
Conservative hold Swing −11.0
Majority 183 15.2 +8.4
Whig hold Swing +5.6

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Elections in the 1840s
General election 1847: Bedford (2 seats) [36]
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 21 1.6 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) [36][16]
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 +0.4
Turnout 809 97.9 +29.5
Registered electors 1,073
Conservative hold Swing −1.0
Conservative hold Swing +0.3

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Elections in the 1830s
General election 1837: Bedford (2 seats) [36][16]
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 0.5 −6.3
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) [36][16]
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 87 6.8 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) [36][16]
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)[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig William Henry Whitbread Unopposed
Tory Frederick Polhill Unopposed
Whig hold
Tory hold
General election 1830: Bedford (2 seats) [36][16]
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

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Elections in the 1820s

[44]

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Elections in the 1810s

[45]

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Elections in the 1800s

[45]

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Elections in the 1790s

[45]

General election 1790: Bedford (2 seats) [45]
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

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See also

Notes
  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
  1. "Bedford: Usual Resident Population, 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  2. "England Parliamentary electorates 2010-2018". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  3. "'Bedford', Feb 1974 – May 1983". ElectionWeb Project. Cognitive Computing Limited. Archived from the original on 18 March 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  4. The Times Guide to the House of Commons 2019. Glasgow: Times Books. 2020. p. 95. ISBN 978-0-00-839258-1.
  5. S., Craig, Fred W. (1972). Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1885-1972;. Chichester: Political Reference Publications. ISBN 0900178094. OCLC 539011.
  6. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  7. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  8. "MANNINGHAM, Thomas (d.c.1455), of Ardsley and Wrenthorpe, Yorks. and Wrestlingworth, Beds". historyofparliamentonline.org.
  9. "JORDAN, Thomas, of Bedford". historyofparliamentonline.org.
  10. "WRIGHT, John, of Bedford". historyofparliamentonline.org.
  11. "KEMPSTON, Roger, of Bedford". historyofparliamentonline.org.
  12. "CLEREVAUX, William, of Bedford". historyofparliamentonline.org.
  13. "FREPURS, John, of Bedford". historyofparliamentonline.org.
  14. Double return for April 1640 -William Boteler taken off
  15. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "B" (part 2)
  16. 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.
  17. Lloyd, Ernest Marsh (1897). "Russel, George William" . In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. 49. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  18. Fisher, David R. (2009). "WHITBREAD, William Henry (1795–1867), of Southill, nr. Biggleswade, Beds". The History of Parliament.
  19. "Miscellaneous". Coventry Standard. 18 August 1837. pp. 1–2 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  20. "Huntingdon, Bedford & Peterborough Gazette". 8 July 1837. p. 8 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  21. 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 – via Google Books.
  22. "Cambridge General Advertiser". 14 July 1847. p. 1 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  23. "The Midland Region". The Spectator. 20 March 1852. p. 9.
  24. "Bedford Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  25. http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-8749/CBP-8749.pdf
  26. "Election 2017: Ipswich". BBC News. 9 June 2017. Archived from the original on 14 June 2017.
  27. "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  28. "Ben Foley to contest Bedford & Kempston Constituency for Greens". Bedfordshire News.
  29. "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  30. "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  31. "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  32. "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  33. Benton, Sarah (6 June 2002). "Betty Matthews". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 17 April 2017.
  34. British parliamentary election results, 1885–1918 (Craig)
  35. Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886
  36. 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.
  37. "Bedford Election". Hertford Mercury and Reformer. 28 March 1857. p. 5 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  38. "Mr. E. T. Smith for Bedford". Cheltenham Chronicle. 31 March 1857. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  39. Hoppen, K. Theodore (2016). Governing Hibernia: British Politicians and Ireland 1800–1921. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 133. ISBN 9780198207436.
  40. "Bedford Election". Worcester Journal. 9 December 1854. pp. 7–8 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  41. "Bedford Election". Leeds Intelligencer. 9 December 1854. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  42. "The Elections". Aberdeen Press and Journal. 14 July 1852. p. 8 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  43. "Election Intelligence". Morning Chronicle. 8 July 1852. pp. 2–6 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  44. Fisher, D.R. (ed). "Bedford - 1820-1832". History of Parliament Online. Cambridge University Press. Retrieved 12 December 2019.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  45. Thorne, R. (ed). "Bedford - 1790-1820". History of Parliament Online. Boydell and Brewer. Retrieved 12 December 2019.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)

Sources
  • 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)
  • Lewis Namier, The Structure of Politics at the Accession of George III (2nd edition – London: St Martin's Press, 1961)
  • 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)
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