Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1983-2024
South West Bedfordshire was a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament. As with all constituencies of the UK Parliament, it elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.
The serving Member from 2001 to 2024 was Conservative Andrew Selous, who succeeded Conservative David Madel. Selous was re-elected five times: in 2005, 2010, 2015, 2017 and 2019.
Under the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the constituency was subject to only minor boundary changes, but was renamed Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard with effect from the 2024 general election.
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. 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. 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%.
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%. 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%.
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 last MP for the seat was the Conservative 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 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.
"Northern areas (comprising the District of Mid Bedfordshire wards) transferred back to Mid Bedfordshire".
2010–2024.
"Local authority wards revised, but no changes to boundaries".
Elections.
Elections in the 2010s.
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! colspan="3" style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" scope=row | Turnout
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! colspan="3" style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" scope=row | Turnout
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! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 130px"|Party
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! colspan="3" style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" scope=row | Turnout
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Elections in the 2000s.
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 130px"|Party
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! colspan="3" style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" scope=row | Turnout
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 130px"|Party
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! colspan="3" style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" | Majority
! colspan="3" style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" scope=row | Turnout
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
Elections in the 1990s.
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 130px"|Party
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! colspan="3" style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" scope=row | Turnout
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 130px"|Party
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! colspan="3" style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" | Majority
! colspan="3" style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" scope=row | Turnout
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
Elections in the 1980s.
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 130px"|Party
! scope="col" style="width: 17em"|Candidate
! scope="col" style="width: 5em"|Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"|%
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! colspan="3" style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" | Majority
! colspan="3" style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" scope=row | Turnout
! style="text-align:right;" | Swing
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 130px"|Party
! scope="col" style="width: 17em"|Candidate
! scope="col" style="width: 5em"|Votes
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! colspan="3" style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" | Majority
! colspan="3" style="text-align: right; margin-right: 0.5em" scope=row | Turnout
Notes.
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References.
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