# Bedford (UK Parliament constituency)

Bedford /ˈbɛdfərd/ is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2017 by Mohammad Yasin of the Labour Party.
The seat dates back to the earliest century of regular parliaments, in 1295; its double representation was halved in 1885, then altered by the Representation of the People Act 1918. It was abolished in 1983 but re-established at the next periodic review for the 1997 general election.

## 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
### Up to the Great Reform Act 1832

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 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, 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.

### 1832–1983

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 (formally 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 surrounding rural areas.
Under the Representation of the People Act 1948, a boundary change which came into effect at the 1950 election reduced its size somewhat, and under the Third Review of Westminster Constituencies in 1983, the constituency was abolished.

#### 1997 onwards

Under the Fourth Review, effective from the 1997 general election, Bedford was restored as a borough constituency, comprising the towns of Bedford and Kempston.
In the latest boundary changes under the Fifth Review, effective from the 2010 general election, there were marginal changes 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.

## Boundaries and boundary changes
### 1832–1918

* The Municipal Borough of Bedford.

### 1918–1950

* The Municipal Borough of Bedford;
* the Urban District of Kempston; and
* the Rural Districts of Bedford and Eaton Socon.
Expanded to include Kempston and rural areas in the north of Bedfordshire, transferred from the abolished constituency of Biggleswade.

### 1950–1983

* The Municipal Borough of Bedford;
* the Urban District of Kempston; and
* part of the Rural District of Bedford.
Eastern and southern rural areas, including Eaton Socon, transferred to Mid Bedfordshire.
Seat abolished in 1983 and absorbed into the new constituency of North Bedfordshire, with the exception of Kempston, which was transferred to Mid Bedfordshire.

### 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.
Re-established as a borough constituency, comprising the towns of Bedford from the now abolished seat of North Bedfordshire, and Kempston, regained from Mid Bedfordshire.

### 2010–2024

* The Borough of Bedford wards of Brickhill, Castle, Cauldwell, De Parys, Goldington, Harpur, Kempston East, Kempston North, Kempston South, Kingsbrook, Newnham, Putnoe, Queens Park.
Marginal changes due to the revision of local authority wards.

### 2024–present

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the constituency comprises the following, after taking into account the local government boundary review which came into effect in May 2023:
* The Borough of Bedford wards of: Brickhill (most); Castle & Newnham; Cauldwell (most); De Parys; Greyfriars; Goldington; Harpur (nearly all); Kempston Central and East; Kempston North; Kempston South; Kempston West (majority); Kingsbrook; Putnoe; Queens Park; Renhold & Ravensden (small part); Riverfield.
Marginal changes due to further revisions to local authority wards.

## Members of Parliament
### MPs 1295–1660

* Constituency created (1295)

#### Parliaments of King Edward I

| No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | First member | Second member |
| 29th | 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 | John Wymond | William Benne |
| 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 | First member | Second 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) |
| 8th | ... | 1311 | 12 November 1311 | 18 December 1311 | William Costyn (Costantyn) | Geoffrey Clogon (Glogon) |
| 9th | 3 June 1312 | 1312 | 20 August 1312 | 16 December 1312 | William Costyn (Costantyn) | 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 | Thomas de Norfolk | John atte Wal |
| 12th | 26 July 1313 | 1313 | 23 September 1313 | 15 November 1313 | Thomas de Norfolk | John atte Wal |
| 13th | 29 July 1314 | 1314 | 9 September 1314 | 27/28 September 1314 | Thomas de Norfolk | William Costantyn |
| 14th | 24 October 1314 | 1314–15 | 20 January 1315 | 9 March 1315 | Geoffrey Glogon | William Costantyn |
| 15th | 16 October 1315 | 1315–16 | 27 January 1316 | 20 February 1316 | no return | William Costantyn |
| 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 | Simon de Knightwyk | 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 |
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#### Parliaments of King Edward III

| No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | First member | Second member |
| 1st | ... | ... | ... | 9 March 1327 | unknown | unknown |
| 2nd | 7 August 1327 | 1327 | 15 September 1327 | 23 September 1327 | Roger atte Wal | Simon Cullebere |
| 3rd | 10 December 1327 | 1327–28 | 7 February 1328 | 5 March 1328 | Hugh Cok | William de Hoghton |
| 4th | 5 March 1328 | 1328 | 24 April 1328 | 14 May 1328 | John de Lund, jnr. | Geoffrey le Neveu |
| 5th | 28 August 1328 | 1328 | 16 October 1328 | 22 February 1329 | William Flour | John Scot |
| 6th | 25 January 1330 | 1330 | 11 March 1330 | 21 March 1330 | Richard de Cave | Simon de Stevynton |
| 7th | 23 October 1330 | 1330 | 26 November 1330 | 9 December 1330 | Robert Crowe | John Elcock |
| 8th | 16 July 1331 | 1331 | 30 September 1331 | 9 October 1331 | William Costantyn | unknown |
| 9th | 27 January 1332 | 1332 | 16 March 1332 | 21 March 1332 | John de Soham, jnr. | Geoffrey Walcock |
| 10th | 20 July 1332 | 1332 | 9 September 1332 | 12 September 1332 | Hugh Balle | John Scot |
| 11th | 20 October 1332 | 1332 | 4 December 1332 | 27 January 1333 | John de Soham | John de Codenho (Boddenho?) |
| 12th | 2 January 1334 | 1334 | 21 February 1334 | 2 March 1334 | Richard de Cave | William le Clerk |
| 13th | 24 July 1334 | 1334 | 19 September 1334 | 23 September 1334 | Richard de Cave | William le Clerk |
| 14th | 1 April 1335 | 1335 | 26 May 1335 | 3 June 1335 | Richard de Cave | William de Holewelle |
| 15th | 22 January 1336 | 1336 | 11 March 1336 | 20 March 1336 | John atte Lound | Henry Arnold |
| 16th | 29 November 1336 | 1336–37 | 3 March 1337 | c.16 March 1337 | unknown | unknown |
| 17th | 20 December 1337 | 1337–38 | 3 February 1338 | 14 February 1338 | John de Styvecle | William de Holewell |
| 18th | 15 November 1338 | 1338–39 | 3 February 1339 | 17 February 1339 | Robert Carbonel | William de Holewell |
| 19th | 25 August 1339 | 1339 | 13 October 1339 | c.3 November 1339 | unknown | unknown |
| 20th | 16 November 1339 | 1339–40 | 20 January 1340 | 19 February 1340 | unknown | unknown |
| 21st | 21 February 1340 | 1340 | 29 March 1340 | 10 May 1340 | unknown | unknown |
| 22nd | 30 May 1340 | 1340 | 12 July 1340 | 26 July 1340 | unknown | unknown |
| 23rd | 3 March 1341 | 1341 | 23 April 1341 | 27–28 May 1341 | unknown | unknown |
| 24th | 24 February 1343 | 1343 | 28 April 1343 | 20 May 1343 | unknown | unknown |
| 25th | 20 April 1344 | 1344 | 7 June 1344 | 28 June 1344 | unknown | unknown |
| 26th | 30 July 1346 | 1346 | 11 September 1346 | 20 September 1346 | unknown | unknown |
| 27th | 13 November 1347 | 1348–48 | 14 January 1348 | 12 February 1348 | unknown | unknown |
| 28th | 14 February 1348 | 1348 | 31 March 1348 | 13 April 1348 | unknown | unknown |
| 29th | 25 November 1350 | 1350–51 | 9 February 1351 | 1 March 1351 | unknown | unknown |
| 30th | 15 November 1351 | 1351–52 | 13 January 1352 | 11 February 1352 | unknown | unknown |
| 31st | 15 March 1354 | 1354 | 28 April 1354 | 20 May 1354 | unknown | unknown |
| 32nd | 20 September 1355 | 1355 | 23 November 1355 | 30 November 1355 | unknown | unknown |
| 33rd | 15 February 1357 | 1357 | 17 April 1357 | 8–16 May 1357 | unknown | unknown |
| 34th | 15 December 1357 | 1357–58 | 5 February 1358 | 27 February 1358 | unknown | unknown |
| 35th | 3 April 1360 | 1360 | 15 May 1360 | ... | unknown | unknown |
| 36th | 20 November 1360 | 1360–61 | 24 January 1361 | 18 February 1361 | unknown | unknown |
| 37th | 14 August 1362 | 1362 | 13 October 1362 | 17 November 1362 | unknown | unknown |
| 38th | 1 June 1363 | 1363 | 6 October 1363 | 30 October 1363 | unknown | unknown |
| 39th | 4 December 1364 | 1364–65 | 20 January 1365 | 17 February 1365 | unknown | unknown |
| 40th | 20 January 1366 | 1366 | 4 May 1366 | 11 May 1366 | unknown | unknown |
| 41st | 24 February 1368 | 1368 | 1 May 1368 | 21 May 1368 | unknown | unknown |
| 42nd | 6 April 1369 | 1369 | 3 June 1369 | 11 June 1369 | unknown | unknown |
| 43rd | 8 January 1371 | 1371 | 24 February 1371 | 29 March 1371 | unknown | unknown |
| 44th | 1 September 1372 | 1372 | 3 November 1372 | 24 November 1372 | unknown | unknown |
| 45th | 4 October 1373 | 1373 | 21 November 1373 | 10 December 1373 | unknown | unknown |
| 46th | 28 December 1375 | 1375–76 | 28 April 1376 | 10 July 1376 | unknown | unknown |
| 47th | 1 December 1376 | 1376–77 | 27 January 1377 | 2 March 1377 | unknown | unknown |
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#### Parliaments of King Richard II

| No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | First member | Second member |
| 1st | 4 August 1377 | 1377 | 13 October 1377 | 5 December 1377 | unknown | unknown |
| 2nd | 3 September 1378 | 1378 | 20 October 1378 | 16 November 1378 | unknown | unknown |
| 3rd | 16 February 1379 | 1379 | 24 April 1379 | 27 May 1379 | unknown | unknown |
| 4th | 20 October 1379 | 1379–80 | 16 January 1380 | 3 March 1380 | unknown | unknown |
| 5th | 26 August 1380 | 1380 | 5 November 1380 | 6 December 1380 | unknown | unknown |
| 6th | 16 July 1381 | 1381 | 3 November 1381 | 25 February 1382 | unknown | unknown |
| 7th | 24 March 1382 | 1382 | 7 May 1382 | 22 May 1382 | unknown | unknown |
| 8th | 9 August 1382 | 1382 | 6 October 1382 | 24 October 1382 | unknown | unknown |
| 9th | 7 January 1383 | 1383 | 23 February 1383 | 10 March 1383 | unknown | unknown |
| 10th | 20 August 1383 | 1383 | 26 October 1383 | 26 November 1383 | unknown | unknown |
| 11th | 3 March 1384 | 1384 | 29 April 1384 | 27 May 1384 | unknown | unknown |
| 12th | 28 September 1384 | 1384 | 12 November 1384 | 14 December 1384 | unknown | unknown |
| 13th | 3 September 1385 | 1385 | 20 October 1385 | 6 December 1385 | unknown | unknown |
| 14th | 8 August 1386 | 1386 | 1 October 1386 | 28 November 1386 | unknown | unknown |
| 15th | 17 December 1387 | 1387–88 | 3 February 1388 | 4 June 1388 | unknown | unknown |
| 16th | 28 July 1388 | 1388 | 9 September 1388 | 17 October 1388 | unknown | unknown |
| 17th | 6 December 1389 | 1389–90 | 17 January 1390 | 2 March 1390 | unknown | unknown |
| 18th | 12 September 1390 | 1390 | 12 November 1390 | 3 December 1390 | unknown | unknown |
| 19th | 7 September 1391 | 1391 | 3 November 1391 | 2 December 1391 | unknown | unknown |
| 20th | 23 November 1392 | 1392–93 | 20 January 1393 | 10 February 1393 | unknown | unknown |
| 21st | 13 November 1393 | 1393–94 | 27 January 1394 | 6 March 1394 | unknown | unknown |
| 22nd | 20 November 1394 | 1394–95 | 27 January 1395 | 15 February 1395 | unknown | unknown |
| 23rd | 30 November 1396 | 1396–97 | 22 January 1397 | 12 February 1397 | unknown | unknown |
| 24th | 18 July 1397 | 1397 | 17 September 1397 | 31 January 1398 | unknown | unknown |
| 25th | 19 August 1399 | 1389 | 30 September 1399 | 30 September 1399 | unknown | unknown |
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#### Parliaments of King Henry IV

| No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | First member | Second member |
| 1st | 30 September 1399 | 1399 | 6 October 1399 | 19 November 1399 | unknown | unknown |
| 2nd | 9 September 1400 | 1400–01 | 20 January 1401 | 10 March 1401 | unknown | unknown |
| 3rd | 19 June 1402 | 1402 | 30 September 1402 | 25 November 1402 | unknown | unknown |
| 4th | 20 October 1403 | 1403–04 | 14 January 1404 | 20 March 1404 | unknown | unknown |
| 5th | 25 August 1404 | 1404 | 6 October 1404 | 13 November 1404 | unknown | unknown |
| 6th | 21 December 1405 | 1405–06 | 1 March 1406 | 22 December 1406 | unknown | unknown |
| 7th | 26 August 1407 | 1407 | 20 October 1407 | 2 December 1407 | unknown | unknown |
| 8th | 26 October 1409 | 1409–10 | 27 January 1410 | 9 May 1410 | unknown | unknown |
| 9th | 21 September 1411 | 1411 | 3 November 1411 | 19 December 1411 | unknown | unknown |
| 10th | 1 December 1412 | 1412–13 | 3 February 1413 | 20 March 1413 | unknown | unknown |
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#### Parliaments of King Henry V

| No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | First member | Second member |
| 1st | 22 March 1413 | 1413 | 14 May 1413 | 9 June 1413 | unknown | unknown |
| 2nd | 1 December 1413 | 1413–14 | 30 April 1414 | 29 May 1414 | unknown | unknown |
| 3rd | 26 September 1414 | 1414 | 19 November 1414 | ... | unknown | unknown |
| 4th | 12 August 1415 | 1415 | 4 November 1415 | 12 November 1415 | unknown | unknown |
| 5th | 21 January 1416 | 1416 | 16 March 1416 | May 1416 | unknown | unknown |
| 6th | 3 September 1416 | 1416 | 19 October 1416 | 18 November 1416 | unknown | unknown |
| 7th | 5 October 1417 | 1417 | 16 November 1417 | 17 December 1417 | unknown | unknown |
| 8th | 24 August 1419 | 1419 | 16 October 1419 | 13 November 1419 | unknown | unknown |
| 9th | 21 October 1420 | 1420 | 2 December 1420 | ... | unknown | unknown |
| 10th | 26 February 1421 | 1421 | 2 May 1421 | ... | unknown | unknown |
| 11th | 20 October 1421 | 1421 | 1 December 1421 | ... | Thomas Manningham | unknown |
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#### Parliaments of King Henry VI

| No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | First member | Second member |
| 1st | 29 September 1422 | 1422 | 9 November 1422 | 18 December 1422 | unknown | unknown |
| 2nd | 1 September 1423 | 1423 | 20 October 1423 | 28 February 1424 | unknown | unknown |
| 3rd | 24 February 1425 | 1425 | 30 April 1425 | 14 July 1425 | unknown | unknown |
| 4th | 7 January 1426 | 1426 | 18 February 1426 | 1 June 1426 | unknown | unknown |
| 5th | 15 July 1427 | 1427 | 13 October 1427 | 25 March 1428 | unknown | unknown |
| 6th | 12 July 1429 | 1429 | 22 September 1429 | 23 February 1430 | unknown | unknown |
| 7th | 27 November 1430 | 1430–31 | 12 January 1431 | 20 March 1431 | unknown | unknown |
| 8th | 25 February 1432 | 1432 | 12 May 1432 | 17 July 1432 | unknown | unknown |
| 9th | 24 May 1433 | 1433 | 8 July 1433 | >c.18 December 1433 | unknown | unknown |
| 10th | 5 July 1435 | 1435 | 10 October 1435 | 23 December 1435 | unknown | unknown |
| 11th | 29 October 1436 | 1436–37 | 21 January 1437 | 27 March 1437 | unknown | unknown |
| 12th | 26 September 1439 | 1439 | 12 November 1439 | c.15–24 February 1440 | unknown | unknown |
| 13th | 3 December 1441 | 1441–42 | 25 January 1442 | 27 March 1442 | unknown | unknown |
| 14th | 13 January 1445 | 1445 | 25 February 1445 | 9 April 1445 | unknown | unknown |
| 15th | 14 December 1446 | 1446–47 | 10 February 1447 | 3 March 1447 | unknown | unknown |
| 16th | 2 January 1449 | 1449 | 12 February 1449 | 16 July 1449 | unknown | unknown |
| 17th | 23 September 1449 | 1449 | 6 November 1449 | c.5–8 June 1450 | unknown | unknown |
| 18th | 5 September 1450 | 1450 | 6 November 1450 | c.24–31 May 1451 | unknown | unknown |
| 19th | 20 January 1453 | 1453 | 6 March 1453 | c.16–21 April 1454 | unknown | unknown |
| 20th | 26 May 1455 | 1455 | 9 July 1455 | 12 March 1456 | unknown | unknown |
| 21st | 9 October 1459 | 1459 | 20 November 1459 | 20 December 1459 | unknown | unknown |
| 22nd | 30 July 1460 | 1460 | 7 October 1460 | c.4 March 1461 | unknown | unknown |
| 23rd | 15 October 1470 | 1470 | 26 November 1470 | c. 11 April 1471 | unknown | unknown |
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#### 1377–1427

| Year | First member | Second member |
| 1377 (Jan) | Thomas Jordan | |
| 1380 (Jan) | Thomas Jordan | |
| 1381 | John Wright |
| 1382 | Roger Kempston | |
| 1384 (Apr) | William Clerevaux | |
| 1385 | William Clerevaux | Thomas Frereman |
| 1386 | William Clerevaux | Thomas Bedford |
| 1388 (Feb) | William Clerevaux | Thomas Frereman |
| 1388 (Sep) | Roger Kempston | William Barber |
| 1390 (Jan) | William Clerevaux | Thomas Frereman |
| 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 |
| 1427 | John Frepurs | |
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#### Parliaments of King Edward IV

| No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | First member | Second 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 | John Boston | Thomas Adams |
| 5th | 20 November 1477 | 1477–78 | 16 January 1478 | 26 February 1478 | William Colet | Thomas Adams |
| 6th | 15 November 1482 | 1482–83 | 20 January 1483 | 18 February 1483 | unknown | unknown |
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#### Parliaments of King Richard III

| No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | First member | Second member |
| 1st | 9 December 1483 | 1483–84 | 23 January 1484 | 20 February 1484 | unknown | unknown |
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#### Parliaments of King Henry VII

| No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | First member | Second 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 |
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#### Parliaments of King Henry VIII

| No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | First member | Second 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 | Henry Parker |
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#### Parliaments of King Edward VI

| No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | First member | Second member |
| 1st | 2 August 1547 | 1547 | 4 November 1547 | 15 April 1552 | Gerard Harvey alias Smart | George Wright |
| 2nd | 5 January 1553 | 1553 | 1 March 1553 | 31 March 1553 | Thomas Leigh | William Godolphin |
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#### Parliaments of Queen Mary I

| No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | First member | Second 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 | Edmund Mordaunt | Thomas Leigh |
| 3rd | 3 October 1554 | 1554 | 12 November 1554 | 16 January 1555 | William Hall | John Williams |
| 4th | 3 September 1555 | 1555 | 21 October 1555 | 9 December 1555 | Edmund Mordaunt | Thomas Leigh |
| 5th | 6 December 1557 | 1557–58 | 20 January 1558 | 17 November 1558 | George Gascoigne | Thomas Leigh |
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#### Parliaments of Queen Elizabeth I

| No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | First member | Second member |
| 1st | 5 December 1558 | 28 December 1558 | 23 January 1559 | 8 May 1559 | Thomas Leigh | George Gascoigne |
| 2nd | 10 November 1562 | 1562–63 | 11 January 1563 | 2 January 1567 | Oliver St John | 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 | Nicholas Potts |
| 6th | 15 September 1586 | 1586 | 15 October 1586 | 23 March 1587 | William Boteler | Thomas Snagge jnr |
| 7th | 18 September 1588 | 1588–89 | 4 February 1589 | 29 March 1589 | John Pigott | Thomas Snagge |
| 8th | 4 January 1593 | 1593 | 18 February 1593 | 10 April 1593 | John Pigott | Humphrey Winch |
| 9th | 23 August 1597 | 1597 | 24 October 1597 | 9 February 1598 | Oliver Luke | Humphrey Winch |
| 10th | 11 September 1601 | 7 October 1601 | 27 October 1601 | 19 December 1601 | Thomas Fanshawe | Humphrey Winch |
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#### Parliaments of King James I

| No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | First member | Second member |
| 1st | 31 January 1604 | 1604 | 19 March 1604 | 9 February 1611 | Sir Humphrey Winch (made a judge in Ireland 1606) | Thomas Hawes |
| 1st | 31 January 1604 | 1606 | 19 March 1604 | 9 February 1611 | Sir Christopher Hatton | Thomas Hawes |
| 2nd | ... | ?1614 | 5 April 1614 | 7 June 1614 | Alexander St John | John Leigh |
| 3rd | 13 November 1620 | 1620–21 | 16 January 1621 | 8 February 1622 | Sir Alexander St John | Richard Taylor |
| 4th | 20 December 1623 | 1623–24 | 12 February 1624 | 27 March 1625 | Sir Alexander St John | Richard Taylor |
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#### Parliaments of King Charles I

| No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | First member | Second member |
| 1st | 2 April 1625 | 1625 | 17 May 1625 | 12 August 1625 | Sir Alexander St John | Richard Taylor |
| 2nd | 20 December 1625 | 1626 | 6 February 1626 | 15 June 1626 | Sir Beauchamp St John | Richard Taylor |
| 3rd | 31 January 1628 | 1628 | 17 March 1628 | 10 March 1629 | Sir Beauchamp St John | Richard Taylor |
| 4th | 20 February 1640 | 1640 | 13 April 1640 | 5 May 1640 | Sir Beauchamp St John | Sir Samuel Luke |
| 5th | 24 September 1640 | 1640 | 3 November 1640 | 16 March 1660 | Sir Beauchamp St John | Sir Samuel Luke |
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#### Parliaments of the Protectorate

| No. | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved | First member |
| 1st | July 1654 | 3 September 1654 | 22 January 1655 | Bulstrode Whitelocke |
| 1st | 4 November 1654 | 3 September 1654 | 22 January 1655 | Henry Chester |
| 2nd | 1656 | 17 September 1656 | 4 February 1658 | Thomas Margets |
| 3rd | 1659 | 27 January 1659 | 22 April 1659 | Thomas Margets Samuel Browne |
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### MPs 1660–1885

| Year | First member | First party | Second member | Second party |
| 10 April 1660 | Sir Samuel Luke | | Humphrey Winch | |
| 25 March 1661 | Richard Taylor | | John Kelyng | |
| 10 July 1663 | Richard Taylor | | Paulet St John | |
| 30 December 1667 | Sir William Beecher | | Paulet St John | |
| 12 February 1679 | Sir William Francklyn | | Paulet St John | |
| 18 August 1679 | Sir William Francklyn | | Paulet St John | |
| 17 February 1681 | Sir William Francklyn | | Paulet St John | |
| 6 March 1685 | Sir Anthony Chester, 3rd Baronet | Tory | Thomas Christie | Tory |
| 9 January 1689 | Thomas Hillersden | Whig | Thomas Christie | Tory |
| 13 May 1690 | Thomas Hillersden | Whig | Thomas Christie | Tory |
| 5 May 1695 | Thomas Hillersden | Whig | William Farrer | Whig |
| 18 March 1698 | William Spencer | | William Farrer | Whig |
| 20 July 1698 | William Spencer | | Sir Thomas Alston, 3rd Baronet | |
| c. January 1701 | William Spencer | | Samuel Rolt | Tory |
| 21 November 1701 | William Spencer | | William Farrer | Whig |
| 17 July 1702 | William Spencer | | Edward Carteret | Whig |
| 11 May 1705 | William Farrer | Whig | Sir Philip Monoux, 3rd Baronet | Whig |
| 15 December 1707 | William Farrer | Whig | William Hillersden | Whig |
| 5 May 1708 | William Farrer | Whig | William Hillersden | Whig |
| 14 April 1710 | William Farrer | Whig | John Cater | Whig |
| 6 October 1710 | William Farrer | Whig | John Cater | Whig |
| 27 August 1713 | Samuel Rolt | Tory | John Cater | Whig |
| 28 January 1715 | William Farrer | Whig | John Thurlow Brace | Whig |
| 2 December 1715 | William Farrer | Whig | John Thurlow Brace | Whig |
| 21 March 1722 | William Farrer | Whig | George Huxley | |
| 9 June 1725 | William Farrer | Whig | John Thurlow Brace | Whig |
| 15 August 1727 | John Orlebar | Whig | John Thurlow Brace | Whig |
| 16 April 1728 | John Orlebar | Whig | James Metcalfe | Tory |
| 30 January 1731 | John Orlebar | Whig | Sir Jeremy Vanacker Sambrooke, Bt | Tory |
| 26 April 1734 | Samuel Ongley | Tory | Sir Jeremy Vanacker Sambrooke, Bt | Tory |
| 24 November 1740 | Samuel Ongley | Tory | Sir Boteler Chernock, 4th Baronet | Tory |
| 5 May 1741 | Samuel Ongley | Tory | Sir Boteler Chernock, 4th Baronet | Tory |
| 29 June 1747 | Thomas Gore | | John Offley | |
| 15 April 1754 | Francis Herne | | Robert Henley-Ongley | |
| 26 March 1761 | Francis Herne | | Richard Vernon | Whig |
| 24 April 1764 | Francis Herne | | Richard Vernon | Whig |
| 17 March 1768 | Samuel Whitbread | Tory | Richard Vernon | Whig |
| 18 October 1774 | Sir William Wake, 8th Baronet | Tory | Robert Sparrow | Tory |
| 23 March 1775 | Sir William Wake, 8th Baronet | Tory | Samuel Whitbread | Whig |
| 14 September 1780 | Sir William Wake, 8th Baronet | Tory | Samuel Whitbread | Whig |
| 5 April 1784 | William MacDowall Colhoun | Tory | Samuel Whitbread | Whig |
| 28 June 1790 | William MacDowall Colhoun | Tory | Samuel Whitbread | Whig |
| 27 May 1796 | William MacDowall Colhoun | Tory | Samuel Whitbread | Whig |
| 6 July 1802 | William Lee-Antonie | Whig | Samuel Whitbread | Whig |
| 30 October 1806 | William Lee-Antonie | Whig | Samuel Whitbread | Whig |
| 11 May 1807 | William Lee-Antonie | Whig | Samuel Whitbread | Whig |
| 6 October 1812 | Lord George Russell | Whig | Samuel Whitbread | Whig |
| 17 July 1815 | Lord George Russell | Whig | Hon. William Waldegrave | Whig |
| 17 June 1818 | Lord George Russell | Whig | William Henry Whitbread | Whig |
| 8 March 1820 | Lord George Russell | Whig | William Henry Whitbread | Whig |
| 9 June 1826 | Lord George Russell | Whig | William Henry Whitbread | Whig |
| 2 August 1830 | Frederick Polhill | Tory | William Henry Whitbread | Whig |
| 29 April 1831 | Frederick Polhill | Tory | William Henry Whitbread | Whig |
| 1832 | Samuel Crawley | Whig | William Henry Whitbread | Whig |
| 1835 | Samuel Crawley | Whig | Frederick Polhill | Conservative |
| 1837 | Henry Stuart | Conservative | Frederick Polhill | Conservative |
| 1838 | Samuel Crawley | Whig | Frederick Polhill | Conservative |
| 1841 | Henry Stuart | Conservative | Frederick Polhill | Conservative |
| 1847 | Henry Stuart | Conservative | Sir Harry Verney, 2nd Baronet | Whig |
| 1852 | Henry Stuart | Conservative | Samuel Whitbread | Whig |
| 1854 | William Stuart | Conservative | Samuel Whitbread | Whig |
| 1857 | Thomas Barnard | Whig | Samuel Whitbread | Whig |
| 1859 | William Stuart | Conservative | Samuel Whitbread | Liberal |
| 1868 | James Howard | Liberal | Samuel Whitbread | Liberal |
| 1874 | Frederick Polhill-Turner | Conservative | Samuel Whitbread | Liberal |
| 1880 | Charles Magniac | Liberal | Samuel Whitbread | Liberal |
* Reduced to one member (1885)
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### MPs 1885–1983

| Election | Member | Party |
| 1885 | Samuel Whitbread | Liberal |
| 1895 | Charles Pym | Conservative |
| 1906 | Percy Barlow | Liberal |
| 1910 (Jan) | Walter Attenborough | Conservative |
| 1910 (Dec) | Frederick Kellaway | Liberal |
| 1922 | Sir Richard Wells, 1st Baronet | Conservative |
| 1945 | Thomas Skeffington-Lodge | Labour |
| 1950 | Christopher Soames | Conservative |
| 1966 | Brian Parkyn | Labour |
| 1970 | Trevor Skeet | Conservative |
| 1983 | Constituency abolished: see North Bedfordshire | Constituency abolished: see North Bedfordshire |
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### MPs 1997–2017

| Election | Member | Party |
| 1997 | Patrick Hall | Labour |
| 2010 | Richard Fuller | Conservative |
| 2017 | Mohammad Yasin | Labour |