South West Bedfordshire (UK Parliament constituency)

South West Bedfordshire is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament.[n 1] As with all constituencies of the UK Parliament, it elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.

South West Bedfordshire
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of South West Bedfordshire in Bedfordshire
Outline map
Location of Bedfordshire within England
CountyBedfordshire
Electorate79,137 (2018)[1]
Major settlementsDunstable, Leighton Buzzard
Current constituency
Created1983
Member of ParliamentAndrew Selous (Conservative)
SeatsOne
Created fromSouth Bedfordshire

The serving Member since 2001 is Conservative Andrew Selous, who succeeded Conservative David Madel. Selous has been re-elected five times: in 2005, 2010, 2015, 2017 and 2019.

Under the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the constituency will only be subject to minor boundary changes, but is to be renamed Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard - to be first contested at the next general election.[2]

Constituency profile

At the 2011 Census, the population of the constituency was 102,031, of whom 50,277 were male, and 51,754 were female.[3] 74.30% of residents aged 16–74 are economically active, including 4.22% unemployed. A further 13.27% of the population are retired (lower than both the regional average of 14.4% and national average of 13.7%), and 3.75% are students.[4] A statistical compilation by The Guardian showed unemployment benefits claimants in the constituency for April 2013 were 3.3% of the population, lower than the regional average of 3.6%.[5]

Turnout at the 2015 general election was 51,304, or 64.4% of those eligible to vote; lower than the national turnout of 66.4%.[6] This rose at the time of the 2017 general election to 55,635, or 69.8% of those eligible to vote, which was a percentage point higher than the national turnout of 68.8%.[7]

History

The constituency was created in 1983, mostly from the former seat of South Bedfordshire. It was represented by Sir David Madel, a Conservative, from its creation until his retirement in 2001; he almost suffered one of the biggest upsets of the 1997 general election, when the Labour candidate spectacularly slashed his majority from 21,273 in 1992 to just 132.

The present Conservative MP for the seat is Andrew Selous; he won the seat in 2001, when he managed to increase the party's majority, but only just: this increased somewhat more substantially each time in 2005 and 2010, ultimately to more than 16,000. The 2010 election also saw the second-placed candidate's party change, to the Liberal Democrats, similar to the results of 1983 and 1987, when this was the joint platform for R. Byfield and J.R. Burrow respectively, the (SDP-Liberal Alliance).

Boundaries and boundary changes

1983–1997
  • The District of South Bedfordshire wards of Beaudesert, Brooklands, Dunstable Central, Eaton Bray, Heath and Reach, Hockliffe, Houghton Central, Houghton East, Houghton South, Icknield, Kensworth, Linslade, Northfields, Plantation, Priory, Southcott, Stanbridge, Studham, Totternhoe, and Watling; and
  • The District of Mid Bedfordshire wards of Aspley, Cranfield, Marston, and Woburn.[8]

The constituency was formed largely from the bulk of the abolished seat of South Bedfordshire, including Dunstable, Houghton Regis, Leighton Buzzard and Linslade.  It was extended northwards to include south-western part of Mid Bedfordshire.

1997–2010
  • The District of South Bedfordshire wards of Beaudesert, Brooklands, Dunstable Central, Eaton Bray, Heath and Reach, Hockliffe, Houghton Central, Houghton East, Houghton South, Icknield, Kensworth, Linslade, Northfields, Plantation, Priory, Southcott, Stanbridge, Studham, Totternhoe, and Watling.[9]

Northern areas (comprising the District of Mid Bedfordshire wards) transferred back to Mid Bedfordshire.

2010–present
  • The Central Bedfordshire unitary authority wards of All Saints, Chiltern, Dunstable Central, Eaton Bray, Grovebury, Heath and Reach, Houghton Hall, Icknield, Kensworth and Totternhoe, Linslade, Manshead, Northfields, Parkside, Planets, Plantation, Southcott, Stanbridge, Tithe Farm, and Watling.[10]

Local authority wards revised, but no changes to boundaries.

Members of Parliament
ElectionMember[11] Party
1983 Sir David Madel Conservative
2001 Andrew Selous Conservative

Elections

Elections in the 2010s
General election 2019: South West Bedfordshire[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Andrew Selous 32,212 60.4 +1.2
Labour Callum Anderson 13,629 25.6 -8.2
Liberal Democrats Emma Matanle 5,435 10.2 +5.5
Green Andrew Waters 2,031 3.8 +2.1
Majority 18,583 34.8 +9.4
Turnout 53,307 66.7 -3.1
Conservative hold Swing +4.7
General election 2017: South West Bedfordshire[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Andrew Selous 32,961 59.2 +4.2
Labour Daniel Scott 18,793 33.8 +13.5
Liberal Democrats Daniel Norton 2,630 4.7 -0.5
Green Morvern Rennie 950 1.7 -2.4
CPA Morenike Mafoh 301 0.5 New
Majority 14,168 25.4 -9.3
Turnout 55,635 69.8 +5.4
Conservative hold Swing
General election 2015: South West Bedfordshire[14][15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Andrew Selous[16] 28,212 55.0 +2.2
Labour Daniel Scott [16] 10,399 20.3 +0.7
UKIP John van Weenen [17] 7,941 15.5 +11.3
Liberal Democrats Stephen Rutherford [18] 2,646 5.2 −14.8
Green Emily Lawrence [19] 2,106 4.1 New
Majority 17,813 34.7 +1.9
Turnout 51,304 64.4 -1.9
Conservative hold Swing
General election 2010: South West Bedfordshire[20][21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Andrew Selous 26,815 52.8 +4.5
Liberal Democrats Rod Cantrill 10,166 20.0 +3.2
Labour Jenny Bone 9,948 19.6 −10.6
UKIP Martin Newman 2,142 4.2 0.0
BNP Mark Tolman 1,703 3.4 New
Majority 16,649 32.8 +14.7
Turnout 50,774 66.3 +4.5
Conservative hold Swing +0.7

Elections in the 2000s
General election 2005: South West Bedfordshire[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Andrew Selous 22,114 48.3 +6.2
Labour Joyce Still 13,837 30.2 −10.2
Liberal Democrats Andrew Strange 7,723 16.9 +2.1
UKIP Tom Wise 1,923 4.2 +1.5
Open-Forum Kenson Gurney 217 0.5 New
Majority 8,277 18.1 +16.4
Turnout 45,814 61.8 -0.3
Conservative hold Swing
General election 2001: South West Bedfordshire[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Andrew Selous 18,477 42.1 +1.4
Labour Andrew Date 17,701 40.4 −0.1
Liberal Democrats Martin Pantling 6,473 14.8 +0.5
UKIP Tom Wise 1,203 2.7 +1.9
Majority 776 1.7 +1.5
Turnout 43,854 62.1 −13.7
Conservative hold Swing +0.7

Elections in the 1990s
General election 1997: South West Bedfordshire[24][25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Madel 21,534 40.7 −15.5
Labour Andrew Date 21,402 40.5 +14.7
Liberal Democrats Stephen Owen 7,559 14.3 −2.3
Referendum Rosalind Hill 1,761 3.3 New
UKIP Tom Wise 446 0.8 New
Natural Law Alexander Le Carpentier 162 0.3 −0.1
Majority 132 0.2 -32.2
Turnout 52,864 75.8 -6.1
Conservative hold Swing −16.1
General election 1992: Bedfordshire South West[26][27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Madel 37,498 57.1 −1.1
Labour Barry Elliott 16,225 24.7 +6.4
Liberal Democrats Mark Freeman 10,988 16.7 −5.6
Green Peter Rollings 689 1.0 −0.3
Natural Law John Gilmour 239 0.4 New
Majority 21,273 32.4 −3.5
Turnout 65,639 81.9 +3.2
Conservative hold Swing −3.7

Elections in the 1980s
General election 1987: South West Bedfordshire[28][29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Madel 36,140 58.2 +3.2
SDP John Burrow 13,835 22.3 −5.5
Labour Paul Dimoldenberg 11,352 18.3 +1.1
Green Peter Rollings 822 1.3 New
Majority 22,305 35.9 +8.7
Turnout 62,149 78.7 +3.1
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1983: South West Bedfordshire[30][31]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Madel 31,767 55.0
SDP Richard Byfield 16,036 27.8
Labour William Cochrane 9,899 17.2
Majority 15,731 27.2
Turnout 57,702 75.6
Conservative win (new seat)

See also

Notes
  1. South West Bedfordshire is a county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer).

References
  1. "England Parliamentary electorates 2010-2018". Boundary Commission for England. Archived from the original on 23 March 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  2. "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume one: Report – Eastern | Boundary Commission for England". boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  3. "Key Figures for 2011 Census: Key Statistics". Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 11 October 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  4. "Key Figures for 2011 Census: Economic Activity". Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 11 October 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  5. "Unemployment: the key UK data and benefit claimants for every constituency". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2 August 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  6. "The May 2015 UK elections: Report on the administration of the 7 May 2015 elections, including the UK Parliamentary general election" (PDF). p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 June 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  7. "General Election 2017: full results and analysis". House of Commons Library. 22 September 2017. Archived from the original on 30 September 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  8. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1983". www.legislation.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 29 January 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  9. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 1995". www.legislation.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 29 January 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  10. "The Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order 2007". www.legislation.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 20 November 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  11. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "B" (part 2)
  12. "Statement of Persons Nominated". centralbedfordshire.app.box.com. 15 November 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  13. Carr, Richard (11 May 2017). "Dated Thursday 11 May 2017 Richard Carr Acting Returning Officer Printed and published by the Acting Returning Officer , Priory House, Monks Walk, Chicksands, Shefford, Bedfordshire, SG17 5TQ STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED, NOTICE OF POLL AND SITUATION OF POLLING STATIONS" (PDF). Central Bedfordshire Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 June 2017.
  14. "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  15. "Statement Of Persons Nominated And Notice Of Poll" (PDF). Acting Returning Officer. 9 April 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 July 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  16. "UK ELECTION RESULTS". electionresults.blogspot.co.uk. Archived from the original on 17 February 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  17. "2015 Parliamentary Adopted Candidates". myukip.com. Archived from the original on 31 March 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  18. "List of selected candidates". Liberal Democrats. Archived from the original on 9 August 2017. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  19. "Bedfordshire South West parliamentary constituency - Election 2015 - BBC News". bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 21 April 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  20. "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  21. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 May 2010. Retrieved 24 April 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  22. "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  23. "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  24. "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  25. "Bedfordshire South West". politicsresources.net. Archived from the original on 30 April 2010. Retrieved 25 August 2009.
  26. "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  27. "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  28. "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  29. "UK General Election results: June 1987 [Archive]". politicsresources.net. Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2009.
  30. "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  31. "UK General Election results: June 1983 [Archive]". politicsresources.net. Archived from the original on 28 June 2017. Retrieved 25 August 2009.

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