Bedford (UK Parliament constituency)
Encyclopedia
Bedford is a parliamentary constituency
represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
. The seat was established in its current form in 1997
, restoring a centuries old name. It elects one Member of Parliament
(MP) by the first-past-the-post
system of election. It is a marginal seat between the Labour Party
and the Conservatives
.
A two seat representation for the parliamentary borough
of Bedford was originally established in 1295, electing two MPs by the bloc vote
system. The Redistribution of Seats Act 1885
reduced it to one seat for the 1885 general election
. The parliamentary borough was abolished in 1918
and replaced with a county constituency of the same name. The constituency was abolished in boundary changes for the 1983 general election
, and restored in 1997.
and Kempston
in Bedfordshire
.
, the Boundary Commission for England made only minor changes to each of the existing constituencies.
The Bedford seat is formed from electoral wards entirely within the borough of Bedford
:
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 then Duke
, and decided to free the borough from his influence. They elected a Huntingdonshire
squire, 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 freeman.
Even at other periods, the influence of the Dukes of Bedford seems sometimes to have been more nominal than real. In the 1750s and 1760s, before Bernard's intervention, there was generally an amicable agreement that the Duke should nominate 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 was decided by a single 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 election
, although under the Redistribution of Seats Act, 1885, its representation was reduced to a single member. On the eve of the First World War its population was just under 40,000, of whom 6,500 could vote.
In 1918 the borough was abolished, but town's name was applied to the county constituency into which it was placed. The new constituency (strictly speaking The Bedford division of Bedfordshire) covered the northern end of the county and included Kempston
and Eaton Socon
together with the surrounding rural area. A boundary change which came into effect at the 1950 election
reduced its size somewhat, part of the Bedford Rural District
including Eaton Socon being transferred to the Mid Bedfordshire
constituency.
In 1983, further boundary changes took Kempston out of the constituency, and its name was changed to North Bedfordshire, although it was recognisably still the same constituency and Bedford itself was still much its largest component. The following boundary review, effective from the 1997 general election
, restored the Bedford name.
In the latest boundary changes, the constituency lost all the rural settlements and villages to the Mid Bedfordshire and North East Bedfordshire constituencies. This means that the Bedford Constituency is now solely formed from the towns of Bedford and Kempston.
United Kingdom constituencies
In the United Kingdom , each of the electoral areas or divisions called constituencies elects one or more members to a parliament or assembly.Within the United Kingdom there are now five bodies with members elected by constituencies:...
represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
. The seat was established in its current form in 1997
United Kingdom general election, 1997
The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
, restoring a centuries old name. It elects one Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) by the first-past-the-post
First-past-the-post
First-past-the-post voting refers to an election won by the candidate with the most votes. The winning potato candidate does not necessarily receive an absolute majority of all votes cast.-Overview:...
system of election. It is a marginal seat between the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
and the Conservatives
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
.
A two seat representation for the parliamentary borough
Parliamentary borough
Parliamentary boroughs are a type of administrative division, usually covering urban areas, that are entitled to representation in a Parliament...
of Bedford was originally established in 1295, electing two MPs by the bloc vote
Plurality-at-large voting
Plurality-at-large voting is a non-proportional voting system for electing several representatives from a single multimember electoral district using a series of check boxes and tallying votes similar to a plurality election...
system. The Redistribution of Seats Act 1885
Redistribution of Seats Act 1885
The Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was a piece of electoral reform legislation that redistributed the seats in the House of Commons, introducing the concept of equally populated constituencies, in an attempt to equalise representation across...
reduced it to one seat for the 1885 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1885
-Seats summary:-See also:*List of MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1885*Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885–1918*Representation of the People Act 1884*Redistribution of Seats Act 1885-References:...
. The parliamentary borough was abolished in 1918
United Kingdom general election, 1918
The United Kingdom general election of 1918 was the first to be held after the Representation of the People Act 1918, which meant it was the first United Kingdom general election in which nearly all adult men and some women could vote. Polling was held on 14 December 1918, although the count did...
and replaced with a county constituency of the same name. The constituency was abolished in boundary changes for the 1983 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1983
The 1983 United Kingdom general election was held on 9 June 1983. It gave the Conservative Party under Margaret Thatcher the most decisive election victory since that of Labour in 1945...
, and restored in 1997.
Boundaries
The current constituency covers the towns of BedfordBedford
Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town...
and Kempston
Kempston
Kempston is a town and civil parish located in Bedfordshire, England. Once known as the largest village in England, Kempston is now a town with its own town council. It has a population of about 20,000, and together with Bedford, it forms an urban area with around 100,000 inhabitants, which is the...
in Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
.
Boundary review
Following the latest review of parliamentary representation in BedfordshireBedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
, the Boundary Commission for England made only minor changes to each of the existing constituencies.
The Bedford seat is formed from electoral wards entirely within the borough of Bedford
Bedford
Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town...
:
- BrickhillBrickhillBrickhill is a civil parish and electoral ward within northern Bedford in Bedfordshire, England.The boundaries of Brickhill are approximately Kimbolton Road to the east, Bedford Park and the old Bedford cemetery to the south, with Cemetery Hill and the Manton Heights Industrial Estate to the...
, CastleCastle, BedfordCastle is an electoral ward and area of Bedford, Bedfordshire, England.The boundaries of Castle are approximately Bromham Road and Goldington Road to the north, Denmark Street and George Street to the east, Rope Walk to the south, with the Midland Main Line railway line and Ashburnam Road to the...
, Cauldwell, De ParysDe ParysDe Parys is an electoral ward and area within the town of Bedford, Bedfordshire, England.The boundaries of De Parys are approximately Bedford Park and Stancliffe Road to the north, the Bedford campus of the University of Bedfordshire to the east, Goldington Road to the south, with De Parys Avenue...
, GoldingtonGoldingtonGoldington is an electoral ward and former village within the town of Bedford, Bedfordshire, England.The boundaries of Goldington are approximately Norse Road and Cemetery to the north and east, Goldington Road to the south, with Church Lane and Haylands Way to the west...
, HarpurHarpurHarpur is an electoral ward and area within the town of Bedford, England.The boundaries of Harpur are approximately Manton Lane to the north, De Parys Avenue to the east, Bromham Road to the south, with the Midland Main Line railway line to the west....
, Kempston EastKempston EastKempston East is an electoral ward and area within Kempston, Bedfordshire, England.The boundaries of Kempston East are approximately Bedford Road to the north, the Midland Main Line railway line to the east, with Elstow Road to south....
, Kempston NorthKempston NorthKempston North is an electoral ward and area within the town of Kempston, Bedfordshire, England.The boundaries of Kempston North are approximately the River Great Ouse to the north west, with Kempston High Steet and Bedford Road to the south east....
, Kempston SouthKempston SouthKempston South is an electoral ward and area within the town of Kempston, Bedfordshire, England.The boundaries of Kempston South are approximately Kempston High Street and Elstow Road to the north, Ampthill Road to the east, with the A421 road to the south....
, KingsbrookKingsbrookKingsbrook is an electoral ward and area within the town of Bedford, England.The boundaries of Kingsbrook are approximately the River Great Ouse and Priory Country Park to the north, Cambridge Road and the A421 to the south and east, with Redwood Grove and Willow Road to the west.The Fenlake and ...
, Newnham, PutnoePutnoePutnoe is an electoral ward and area on the northern side of the town of Bedford, Bedfordshire, England.The boundaries of Putnoe are approximately Mowsbury Park and golf course to the north, Church Lane and Haylands Way to the east, Polhill Avenue to the south, with Kimbolton Road to the west...
, Queens ParkQueens Park, BedfordQueens Park is an electoral ward and area in Bedford, England. The areas borders are approximately Bromham Road and Beverley Crescent to the north, the Midland Main Line railway line to the east, and the River Great Ouse to the south....
.
History
Bedford was first represented in the Model ParliamentModel Parliament
The Model Parliament is the term, attributed to Frederic William Maitland, used for the 1295 Parliament of England of King Edward I. This assembly included members of the clergy and the aristocracy, as well as representatives from the various counties and boroughs. Each county returned two knights,...
of 1295. The constituency was originally a parliamentary borough
Parliamentary borough
Parliamentary boroughs are a type of administrative division, usually covering urban areas, that are entitled to representation in a Parliament...
electing two Members of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MPs) to the House of Commons, and consisted of the five parishes making up the town of Bedford
Bedford
Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town...
.
Before the Reform Act of 1832, the right to vote was exercised by all freemen
Freedom of the City
Freedom of the City is an honour bestowed by some municipalities in Australia, Canada, Ireland, France, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, Gibraltar and Rhodesia to esteemed members of its community and to organisations to be honoured, often for service to the community;...
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
Duke of Bedford
thumb|right|240px|William Russell, 1st Duke of BedfordDuke of Bedford is a title that has been created five times in the Peerage of England. The first creation came in 1414 in favour of Henry IV's third son, John, who later served as regent of France. He was made Earl of Kendal at the same time...
, 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 then Duke
John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford
John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford KG, PC, FRS was an 18th century British statesman. He was the fourth son of Wriothesley Russell, 2nd Duke of Bedford, by his wife, Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of John Howland of Streatham, Surrey...
, and decided to free the borough from his influence. They elected a Huntingdonshire
Huntingdonshire
Huntingdonshire is a local government district of Cambridgeshire, covering the area around Huntingdon. Traditionally it is a county in its own right...
squire, Sir Robert Bernard, as Recorder
Recorder (judge)
A Recorder is a judicial officer in England and Wales. It now refers to two quite different appointments. The ancient Recorderships of England and Wales now form part of a system of Honorary Recorderships which are filled by the most senior full-time circuit judges...
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
Francis Russell, 5th Duke of Bedford
Francis Russell, 5th Duke of Bedford was an English aristocrat and Whig politician, responsible for much of the development of central Bloomsbury.-Life:...
managed to regain the Corporation's loyalty, and had 350 of his own retainers made freeman.
Even at other periods, the influence of the Dukes of Bedford seems sometimes to have been more nominal than real. In the 1750s and 1760s, before Bernard's intervention, there was generally an amicable agreement that the Duke should nominate 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
United Kingdom general election, 1830
The 1830 United Kingdom general election, was triggered by the death of King George IV and produced the first parliament of the reign of his successor, William IV. Fought in the aftermath of the Swing Riots, it saw electoral reform become a major election issue...
the result was decided by a single vote - the defeated candidate being Lord John Russell
John Russell, 1st Earl Russell
John Russell, 1st Earl Russell, KG, GCMG, PC , known as Lord John Russell before 1861, was an English Whig and Liberal politician who served twice as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in the mid-19th century....
, who was not only one of the Whig
British Whig Party
The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule...
leaders but The Duke of Bedford
John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford
John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford KG, PC, LLD, FSA , known as Lord John Russell until 1802, was a British Whig politician and notably served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in the Ministry of All the Talents...
'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 election
United Kingdom general election, 1918
The United Kingdom general election of 1918 was the first to be held after the Representation of the People Act 1918, which meant it was the first United Kingdom general election in which nearly all adult men and some women could vote. Polling was held on 14 December 1918, although the count did...
, although under the Redistribution of Seats Act, 1885, its representation was reduced to a single member. On the eve of the First World War its population was just under 40,000, of whom 6,500 could vote.
In 1918 the borough was abolished, but town's name was applied to the county constituency into which it was placed. The new constituency (strictly speaking The Bedford division of Bedfordshire) covered the northern end of the county and included Kempston
Kempston
Kempston is a town and civil parish located in Bedfordshire, England. Once known as the largest village in England, Kempston is now a town with its own town council. It has a population of about 20,000, and together with Bedford, it forms an urban area with around 100,000 inhabitants, which is the...
and Eaton Socon
Eaton Socon
Eaton Socon is a district of St Neots in Cambridgeshire, England. It was originally a village in Bedfordshire, along with the neighbouring village of Eaton Ford, but officially became part of the town in 1965...
together with the surrounding rural area. A boundary change which came into effect at the 1950 election
United Kingdom general election, 1950
The 1950 United Kingdom general election was the first general election ever after a full term of a Labour government. Despite polling over one and a half million votes more than the Conservatives, the election, held on 23 February 1950 resulted in Labour receiving a slim majority of just five...
reduced its size somewhat, part of the Bedford Rural District
Bedford Rural District
Bedford was a rural district in Bedfordshire, England from 1894 to 1974. The district largely surrounded but did not include the municipal borough of Bedford....
including Eaton Socon being transferred to the Mid Bedfordshire
Mid Bedfordshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Mid Bedfordshire is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
constituency.
In 1983, further boundary changes took Kempston out of the constituency, and its name was changed to North Bedfordshire, although it was recognisably still the same constituency and Bedford itself was still much its largest component. The following boundary review, effective from the 1997 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1997
The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
, restored the Bedford name.
In the latest boundary changes, the constituency lost all the rural settlements and villages to the Mid Bedfordshire and North East Bedfordshire constituencies. This means that the Bedford Constituency is now solely formed from the towns of Bedford and Kempston.
Parliaments of King Edward I
| No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | 1st member | 2nd member |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29th Model Parliament The Model Parliament is the term, attributed to Frederic William Maitland, used for the 1295 Parliament of England of King Edward I. This assembly included members of the clergy and the aristocracy, as well as representatives from the various counties and boroughs. Each county returned two knights,... |
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
| No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | 1st member | 2nd member |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
1386-1421
| Year | First member | Second member |
|---|---|---|
| 1386 | William Clerevaux | Thomas Bedford |
| 1388 (Feb) | William Clerevaux | Thomas Frereman |
| 1388 (Sep) | Roger Kempston | William Barber |
| 1390 (Jan) | William Clerevaux | Thomas Bedford |
| 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 |
Parliaments of King Edward IV
| No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | 1st member | 2nd 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 Thomas Adams Thomas Adams may refer to:*Sir Thomas Adams, 1st Baronet , Lord Mayor of London*Thomas Adams , pioneer of urban planning*Thomas Adams , American professional basketball player... |
|
| 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 |
Parliament of King Richard III
| No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | 1st member | 2nd member |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 9 December 1483 | 1483/84 | 23 January 1484 | 20 February 1484 | unknown | unknown |
Parliaments of King Henry VII
| No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | 1st member | 2nd member |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Parliaments of King Henry VIII
| No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | 1st member | 2nd 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 George Blagge Sir George Blagge was an English politician. He was the Member of Parliament for Bedford from 1545 to 1547, and Westminster from 1547 to 1551, during the reign of Edward VI.-Controversy:... |
Henry Parker |
Parliaments of King Edward VI
| No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | 1st member | 2nd member |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2 August 1547 | 1547 | 4 November 1547 | 15 April 1552 | Gerard Harvey alias Smart | George Wright George Wright - Politics, law and government :*George Wright , Canadian politician, Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island*George Wright , Australian judge, Old Newingtonian*George Wright , Solicitor General for Ireland... |
| 2nd | 5 January 1553 | 1553 | 1 March 1553 | 31 March 1553 | Thomas Leigh | William Godolphin |
Parliaments of Queen Mary I
| No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | 1st member | 2nd 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 William Hall William Nelson Hall VC was the first black person, first Nova Scotian, and third Canadian to receive the Victoria Cross... |
John Williams John Williams John Towner Williams is an American composer, conductor, and pianist. In a career spanning almost six decades, he has composed some of the most recognizable film scores in the history of motion pictures, including the Star Wars saga, Jaws, Superman, the Indiana Jones films, E.T... |
| 4th | 3 September 1555 | 1555 | 21 October 1555 | 9 December 1555 | unknown | unknown |
| 5th | 6 December 1557 | 1557/58 | 20 January 1558 | 17 November 1558 | George Gascoigne George Gascoigne George Gascoigne was an English poet, soldier, artist, and unsuccessful courtier. He is considered the most important poet of the early Elizabethan era, following Sir Thomas Wyatt and Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey and leading to the emergence of Philip Sidney... |
Thomas Leigh |
Parliaments of Queen Elizabeth I
| No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | 1st member | 2nd member |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 5 December 1558 | 28 December 1558 | 23 January 1559 | 8 May 1559 | Thomas Leigh | George Gascoigne George Gascoigne George Gascoigne was an English poet, soldier, artist, and unsuccessful courtier. He is considered the most important poet of the early Elizabethan era, following Sir Thomas Wyatt and Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey and leading to the emergence of Philip Sidney... |
| 2nd | 10 November 1562 | 1562/63 | 11 January 1563 | 2 January 1567 | Oliver St John Oliver St John Sir Oliver St John , was an English judge and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 to 1653. He supported the Parliamentary cause in the English Civil War.- Early life :... |
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 John Puckering Sir John Puckering was a lawyer, politician, Speaker of the English House of Commons, and Lord Keeper from 1592 until his death... |
Nicholas Potts |
| 6th | 15 September 1586 | 1586 | 15 October 1586 | 23 March 1587 | William Boteler William Boteler William Boteler was a Colonel of Horse in the New Model Army during the English Civil War. By the end of the war, Boteler had been appointed Major-General for Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, Northamptonshire and Rutland during the Rule of the Major-Generals.... |
Thomas Snagge Thomas Snagge Sir Thomas Snagge was an M.P., lawyer and wealthy landowner who served as Speaker of the English House of Commons, Attorney General for Ireland and as the Queen's Sergeant.-Life:... |
| 7th | 18 September 1588 | 1588/89 | 4 February 1589 | 29 March 1589 | John Pigott | |
| 8th | 4 January 1593 | 1593 | 18 February 1593 | 10 April 1593 | Humphrey Winch Humphrey Winch Sir Humphrey Winch was a judge who had a distinguished career in Ireland and England, but whose reputation was seriously damaged by the Leicester witch trials of 1616.- Family :He was born in Bedfordshire, second son of John Winch of Northhill... |
|
| 9th | 23 August 1597 | 1597 | 24 October 1597 | 9 February 1598 | Oliver Luke Oliver Luke Oliver Luke was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons of England from 1614 to 1648.Luke was born at Cople Bedfordshire, the son of Sir Nicholas Luke and his wife Margaret St John.... |
|
| 10th | 11 September 1601 | 7 October 1601 | 27 October 1601 | 19 December 1601 | Thomas Fanshawe Thomas Fanshawe Sir Thomas Fanshawe of Jenkins and Barking Manor was an English politician and government official.... |
|
Parliaments of King James I
| No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | 1st member | 2nd member |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 31 January 1604 | 1604 | 19 March 1604 | 9 February 1611 | Sir Humphrey Winch Humphrey Winch Sir Humphrey Winch was a judge who had a distinguished career in Ireland and England, but whose reputation was seriously damaged by the Leicester witch trials of 1616.- Family :He was born in Bedfordshire, second son of John Winch of Northhill... (made judge 1606) |
Thomas Hawes |
| 1606 | Sir Christopher Hatton Christopher Hatton (died 1619) Sir Christopher Hatton was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1601 and 1614.Hatton was the eldest son of John Hatton of Long Stanton, Cambridgeshire and his wife Jane Shute, daughter of Robert Shute. He succeeded to the estates of Sir Christopher Hatton in 1597 and was... |
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| 2nd Addled Parliament The Addled Parliament was the second Parliament of England of the reign of James I of England , which sat between 5 April and 7 June 1614... |
... | ?1614 | 5 April 1614 | 7 June 1614 | Alexander St John Alexander St John Sir Alexander St John was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1621 and 1629.St John was a son of Oliver St John, 3rd Baron St John of Bletso and his wife Dorothy Reid, daughter of Sir John Rede or Reid, of Odington, Gloucestershire... |
John Leigh John Leigh John Leigh is an actor in New Zealand. He has had roles in New Zealand TV shows such as Shortland Street, Mercy Peak and as Sparky in Outrageous Fortune. He is a voice actor, and worked for the Power Rangers franchise since 2003... |
| 3rd | 13 November 1620 | 1620/21 | 16 January 1621 | 8 February 1622 | Sir Alexander St John Alexander St John Sir Alexander St John was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1621 and 1629.St John was a son of Oliver St John, 3rd Baron St John of Bletso and his wife Dorothy Reid, daughter of Sir John Rede or Reid, of Odington, Gloucestershire... |
Richard Taylor Richard Taylor (died 1641) Richard Taylor was an English lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1621 to 1629.Taylor was the son of Thomas Taylor of Grimesbury-in-Bolnhurst, Bedfordshire. He matriculated from Christ's College, Cambridge in 1597 and was awarded BA in 1600. He was admitted at Lincoln's Inn... |
| 4th | 20 December 1623 | 1623/24 | 12 February 1624 | 27 March 1625 | ||
Parliaments of King Charles I
| No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | 1st member | 2nd member |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2 April 1625 | 1625 | 17 May 1625 | 12 August 1625 | Sir Alexander St John Alexander St John Sir Alexander St John was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1621 and 1629.St John was a son of Oliver St John, 3rd Baron St John of Bletso and his wife Dorothy Reid, daughter of Sir John Rede or Reid, of Odington, Gloucestershire... |
Richard Taylor Richard Taylor (died 1641) Richard Taylor was an English lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1621 to 1629.Taylor was the son of Thomas Taylor of Grimesbury-in-Bolnhurst, Bedfordshire. He matriculated from Christ's College, Cambridge in 1597 and was awarded BA in 1600. He was admitted at Lincoln's Inn... |
| 2nd | 20 December 1625 | 1626 | 6 February 1626 | 15 June 1626 | Sir Beauchamp St John Beauchamp St John Sir Beauchamp St John was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1621 and 1653. He supported the Parliamentary side in the English Civil War.... |
|
| 3rd | 31 January 1628 | 1628 | 17 March 1628 | 10 March 1629 | ||
| 4th Short Parliament The Short Parliament was a Parliament of England that sat from 13 April to 5 May 1640 during the reign of King Charles I of England, so called because it lasted only three weeks.... |
20 February 1640 | 1640 | 13 April 1640 | 5 May 1640 | Sir Samuel Luke Samuel Luke Sir Samuel Luke was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons of England from 1640 to 1653 and in 1660.Luke was born in Southill, Bedfordshire, England to Sir Oliver Luke Member of Parliament and his wife Elizabeth Knightley... |
|
| 5th Long Parliament The Long Parliament was made on 3 November 1640, following the Bishops' Wars. It received its name from the fact that through an Act of Parliament, it could only be dissolved with the agreement of the members, and those members did not agree to its dissolution until after the English Civil War and... |
24 September 1640 | 1640 | 3 November 1640 | 16 March 1660 |
Parliaments of the Protectorate
| No. | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | 1st member |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | July 1654 | 3 September 1654 | 22 January 1655 | Bulstrode Whitelocke Bulstrode Whitelocke Sir Bulstrode Whitelocke was an English lawyer, writer, parliamentarian and Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England.- Biography :... |
| 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 Samuel Browne (judge) Samuel Browne , of Arlesey, Bedfordshire, was the Member of Parliament during the English Civil War and the First Commonwealth who supported the Parliamentary cause. However he refused to support the trial and execution of Charles I and along with five of his colleagues, resigned his seat on the... |
MPs 1660–1885
| Year | First member | First party | Second member | Second party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1660 | Sir Samuel Luke Samuel Luke Sir Samuel Luke was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons of England from 1640 to 1653 and in 1660.Luke was born in Southill, Bedfordshire, England to Sir Oliver Luke Member of Parliament and his wife Elizabeth Knightley... |
Humphrey Winch Sir Humphrey Winch, 1st Baronet Sir Humphrey Winch, 1st Baronet was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1660 and 1689.Winch was the son of Onslow Winch of Everton Huntingdonshire and grandson of Sir Humphry Winch... |
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| 1661 | Richard Taylor | John Kelyng | ||||
| 1663 | Paulet St John Paulet St John, 3rd Earl of Bolingbroke Paulet St John, 3rd Earl of Bolingbroke , known as Paulet St John until 1688, was an English peer and politician.... |
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| 1667 | Sir William Beecher | |||||
| 1679 | Sir William Francklyn | |||||
| 1685 | Sir Anthony Chester, Bt | Thomas Christie | ||||
| 1689 | Thomas Hillersden | |||||
| 1695 | William Farrer | |||||
| March 1698 | William Spencer | |||||
| July 1698 | Sir Thomas Alston, Bt Sir Thomas Alston, 3rd Baronet Sir Thomas Alston, 3rd Baronet was an English Member of Parliament.Thomas Alston was the eldest son of Sir Rowland Alston, 2nd Baronet of Odell, Bedfordshire and Temperance Crew; the family included Puritans on both sides. He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge.Alston succeeded his father... |
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| January 1701 | Samuel Rolt | |||||
| November 1701 | William Farrer | |||||
| 1702 | Edward Carteret Edward Carteret Edward Carteret was an English politician and served as Postmaster General from 1721 until his death.-Life:Edward Carteret was the third son of Philip Carteret FRS and younger brother of George Carteret, 1st Baron Carteret. He was educated at Brentwood School and Trinity College, Cambridge... |
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| 1705 | William Farrer | Sir Philip Monoux, Bt | ||||
| 1707 | William Hillersden | |||||
| 1710 | John Cater | |||||
| 1713 | Samuel Rolt | |||||
| 1715 | William Farrer | John Thurlow Brace | ||||
| 1722 | George Huxley | |||||
| 1725 | John Thurlow Brace | |||||
| 1727 | John Orlebar | |||||
| 1728 | James Metcalfe | |||||
| 1731 | Sir Jeremy Vanacker Sambrooke, Bt | |||||
| 1734 | Samuel Ongley | |||||
| 1740 | Sir Boteler Chernock, Bt | |||||
| 1747 | Thomas Gore | John Offley | ||||
| 1754 | Francis Herne | Robert Henley-Ongley | ||||
| 1761 | Richard Vernon | Whig British Whig Party The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule... |
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| 1768 | Samuel Whitbread Samuel Whitbread (brewer) Samuel Whitbread was an English brewer and Member of Parliament. In 1742, he established a brewery that in 1799 became Whitbread & Co Ltd.-Biography:... |
Tory Tory Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada... |
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| 1774 | Sir William Wake, Bt | Tory | Robert SparrowUnseated on petition; Whitbread declared elected | Tory | ||
| 1775 | Samuel Whitbread Samuel Whitbread (brewer) Samuel Whitbread was an English brewer and Member of Parliament. In 1742, he established a brewery that in 1799 became Whitbread & Co Ltd.-Biography:... |
Whig British Whig Party The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule... |
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| 1784 | William MacDowall Colhoun | Tory | ||||
| 1790 | Samuel Whitbread | Whig British Whig Party The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule... |
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| 1802 | William Lee-Antonie | Whig British Whig Party The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule... |
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| 1812 | Lord George Russell Lord George Russell Major-General Lord George William Russell was a British soldier, politician and diplomat.The second son of John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford and brother of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Lord Russell, he sat as Member of Parliament for Bedford from 1812 until 1830.Russell married Elizabeth... |
Whig British Whig Party The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule... |
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| 1815 | Hon. William Waldegrave William Waldegrave, 8th Earl Waldegrave Vice-Admiral William Waldegrave, 8th Earl Waldegrave, CB was a British naval commander and politician.Waldegrave was the son of the 4th Earl Waldegrave and was educated at Eton. In 1802, he became a Midshipman in the Royal Navy, rising to the ranks of Lieutenant in 1806 and Commander in 1809... |
Whig British Whig Party The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule... |
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| 1818 | William Henry Whitbread William Henry Whitbread William Henry Whitbread was an English Whig and Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1818 to 1835.... |
Whig British Whig Party The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule... |
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| 1830 | Frederick Polhill | Tory | ||||
| 1832 | Samuel Crawley Samuel Crawley Samuel Crawley was an English Whig and Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1818 and 1841.... |
Whig British Whig Party The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule... |
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| 1835 | Frederick Polhill | Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| 1837 | Henry Stuart Henry Stuart (MP) Henry Stuart was an English politician.Stuart was elected MP for Bedford in 1837, but unseated on petition in May 1838. He was MP for Bedford again from 1841 until his death.- External links :... 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 |
Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| 1838 | Samuel Crawley Samuel Crawley Samuel Crawley was an English Whig and Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1818 and 1841.... |
Whig British Whig Party The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule... |
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| 1841 | Henry Stuart Henry Stuart (MP) Henry Stuart was an English politician.Stuart was elected MP for Bedford in 1837, but unseated on petition in May 1838. He was MP for Bedford again from 1841 until his death.- External links :... |
Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| 1847 | Sir Harry Verney, Bt Sir Harry Verney, 2nd Baronet Sir Harry Verney, 2nd Baronet PC, DL, JP was an English soldier and Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1832 and 1885.-Background and education:... |
Whig British Whig Party The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule... |
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| 1852 | Samuel Whitbread Samuel Whitbread (1830–1915) Samuel Whitbread was an English brewer and Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1852 to 1895.-Biography:... |
Liberal Liberal Party (UK) The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day... |
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| 1854 | William Stuart | Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| 1857 | Thomas Barnard | Liberal Liberal Party (UK) The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day... |
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| 1859 | William Stuart | Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| 1868 | James Howard James Howard (agriculturalist) James Howard , was an English agriculturalist, Liberal politician, manufacturer, and Bedfordshire landowner.-Life:Howard was one of the sons of John Howard, of Cauldwell House, Bedford, and was educated at Bedford Modern School.... |
Liberal Liberal Party (UK) The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day... |
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| 1874 | Frederick Charles Polhill-Turner | Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| 1880 | Charles Magniac Charles Magniac Charles Magniac was a British financier and Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons in two periods between 1868 and 1886.He was the eldest son of Hollingworth Magniac of Colworth, Bedfordshire... |
Liberal Liberal Party (UK) The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day... |
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- Reduced to one member (1885)
MPs 1885–1983
| Election | Member | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1885 United Kingdom general election, 1885 -Seats summary:-See also:*List of MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1885*Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885–1918*Representation of the People Act 1884*Redistribution of Seats Act 1885-References:... |
Samuel Whitbread Samuel Whitbread (1830–1915) Samuel Whitbread was an English brewer and Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1852 to 1895.-Biography:... |
Liberal Liberal Party (UK) The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day... |
|
| 1895 United Kingdom general election, 1895 The United Kingdom general election of 1895 was held from 13 July - 7 August 1895. It was won by the Conservatives led by Lord Salisbury who formed an alliance with the Liberal Unionist Party and had a large majority over the Liberals, led by Lord Rosebery... |
Charles Guy Pym Charles Guy Pym Charles Guy Pym was a British politician.Charles Guy Pym was born in Willian, the younger son of Rev. William Pym and Sophie Gambier. His grandfather Francis Pym had been MP for Bedfordshire.... |
Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
|
| 1906 United Kingdom general election, 1906 -Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1906*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**... |
Percy Barlow Percy Barlow Percy Barlow JP was a British Liberal Party politician and barrister.-Background and education:He was the youngest son of Thomas Barlow and his wife Mary Ann Emmott, daughter of George Emmott. His older brother was Sir John Barlow, 1st Baronet... |
Liberal Liberal Party (UK) The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day... |
|
| 1910 (Jan) | Walter Annis Attenborough | Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
|
| 1910 (Dec) | Frederick George Kellaway | Liberal Liberal Party (UK) The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day... |
|
| 1922 United Kingdom general election, 1922 The United Kingdom general election of 1922 was held on 15 November 1922. It was the first election held after most of the Irish counties left the United Kingdom to form the Irish Free State, and was won by Andrew Bonar Law's Conservatives, who gained an overall majority over Labour, led by John... |
Sir Sydney Richard Wells, Bt | Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
|
| 1945 United Kingdom general election, 1945 The United Kingdom general election of 1945 was a general election held on 5 July 1945, with polls in some constituencies delayed until 12 July and in Nelson and Colne until 19 July, due to local wakes weeks. The results were counted and declared on 26 July, due in part to the time it took to... |
Thomas Skeffington-Lodge Thomas Skeffington-Lodge Thomas Cecil Skeffington-Lodge was a British Labour Party politician. He was Member of Parliament for Bedford from 1945 to 1950.He was from a Yorkshire farming family which owned 2,000 acres... |
Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after... |
|
| 1950 United Kingdom general election, 1950 The 1950 United Kingdom general election was the first general election ever after a full term of a Labour government. Despite polling over one and a half million votes more than the Conservatives, the election, held on 23 February 1950 resulted in Labour receiving a slim majority of just five... |
Christopher Soames Christopher Soames, Baron Soames Arthur Christopher John Soames, Baron Soames, GCMG, GCVO, CH, CBE, PC was a British politician belonging to the Conservative Party and the son-in-law of Winston Churchill. A European Commissioner and the last Governor of Southern Rhodesia, he had previously been the longtime Member of Parliament... |
Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
|
| 1966 United Kingdom general election, 1966 The 1966 United Kingdom general election on 31 March 1966 was called by sitting Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson. Wilson's decision to call an election turned on the fact that his government, elected a mere 17 months previously in 1964 had an unworkably small majority of only 4 MPs... |
Brian Parkyn Brian Parkyn Brian Stewart Parkyn was a British Labour Party politician.Parkyn was educated at King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford and technical college. He was a conscientious objector in the Second World War... |
Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after... |
|
| 1970 United Kingdom general election, 1970 The United Kingdom general election of 1970 was held on 18 June 1970, and resulted in a surprise victory for the Conservative Party under leader Edward Heath, who defeated the Labour Party under Harold Wilson. The election also saw the Liberal Party and its new leader Jeremy Thorpe lose half their... |
Trevor Skeet Trevor Skeet Sir Trevor Herbert Harry Skeet was a New Zealand lawyer and a British Conservative politician.Skeet was born in New Zealand and was educated at King's College, Auckland and New Zealand University. He served with the New Zealand Army and Navy during World War II... |
Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
|
| 1983 United Kingdom general election, 1983 The 1983 United Kingdom general election was held on 9 June 1983. It gave the Conservative Party under Margaret Thatcher the most decisive election victory since that of Labour in 1945... |
Constituency abolished: see North Bedfordshire | ||
MPs since 1997
| Election | Member | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 United Kingdom general election, 1997 The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general... |
Patrick Hall Patrick Hall Patrick Hall is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Bedford from 1997 to 2010.-Early life:... |
Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after... |
|
| 2010 | Richard Fuller Richard Fuller (politician) Richard Fuller is a British Conservative Party politician. He was elected at the 2010 general election as the Member of Parliament for Bedford, where he was born.-Early life:... |
Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
|
Elections in the 2010s
Elections in the 2000s
Elections in the 1990s
Sources
- 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)
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