Parliamentary representation from Bedfordshire

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

Contents

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

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

List of constituencies

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

Key to abbreviations:

Constituencies wholly or predominantly in the historic county

ConstituencyTypeFromToMPsNotes
Bedford BC (1295-1918)129519832 (1295-1654)B
1 (1654–1659)
2 (1659–1885)
1 (1885–1983)
CC (1918–1983)
BC (1997-*)1997*1 (1997-*)
Bedfordshire CC129018852 (1290-1654)B
5 (1654–1659)
2 (1659–1885)
Mid Bedfordshire CC1918*1B
North Bedfordshire CC198319971B
North East Bedfordshire CC1997*1B
South Bedfordshire CC195019831B
South West Bedfordshire CC1983*1B
Biggleswade CC188519181B
Luton CC (1885–1950)188519741B
BC (1950–1974)
Luton East BC197419831B
Luton North CC (1983–1997)1983*1B: Including North Luton 1983-1997
BC (1997-*)
Luton South BC1983*1B
Luton West BC197419831B

Constituencies mostly in another historic county

ConstituencyTypeFromToMPsNotes

Periods constituencies represented

 129012951295188518851918191819501950197419741983198319971997*
Bedford  12951983 1997*
Bedfordshire 12901885 
Mid Bedfordshire  1918*
North Bedfordshire  19831997 
North East Bedfordshire  1997*
South Bedfordshire  19501983 
South West Bedfordshire  1983*
Biggleswade  18851918 
Luton  18851974 
Luton East  19741983 
Luton North  1983*
Luton South  1983*
Luton West  19741983 

Summaries

Summary of Constituencies by Type and Period

Type1290129516541659188519181950197419831997
Borough-1111-1213
County1111233343
Total1222334556

Summary of Members of Parliament by Type and Period

Type1290129516541659188519181950197419831997
Borough-2121-1213
County2252233343
Total2464334556

See also

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References