# Bebington (UK Parliament constituency)

Bebington was a parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, which existed from 1950 to 1974. The constituency was centred on the town of Bebington on the Wirral Peninsula, England.

## History

Bebington was created by the Representation of the People Act 1948 for the 1950 general election, ceasing to exist with the implementation of the boundary changes brought in for the February 1974 general election.

## Boundaries

The Borough of Bebington, and the County Borough of Birkenhead wards of Bebington, Devonshire, Egerton, Mersey, and Prenton.
The Borough of Bebington and the Prenton ward of the County Borough of Birkenhead had previously been part of the Wirral constituency, with remaining Birkenhead wards being added from the former Birkenhead East constituency.
On abolition in 1974, the Borough of Bebington became part of the new constituency of Bebington and Ellesmere Port, the Prenton ward was returned to Wirral and the remaining wards added to the redrawn Birkenhead constituency.

## Members of Parliament

| Election | Election | Member | Party |
| | 1950 | Hendrie Oakshott | Conservative |
| | 1964 | Geoffrey Howe | Conservative |
| | 1966 | Edwin Brooks | Labour |
| | 1970 | Eric Cockeram | Conservative |
| February 1974 | February 1974 | constituency abolished: see Bebington and Ellesmere Port | constituency abolished: see Bebington and Ellesmere Port |

## Elections
### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1950: Bebington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Hendrie Oakshott | 25,309 | 43.8 | |
| | Labour | Frank Soskice | 22,090 | 38.3 | |
| | Liberal | Graham White | 10,324 | 17.9 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,219 | 5.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 57,723 | 87.2 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
General election 1951: Bebington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Hendrie Oakshott | 30,611 | 53.44 |
| | Labour Co-op | Edward W. Harby | 22,190 | 38.74 |
| | Liberal | Thomas Mercer Banks | 4,477 | 7.82 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,421 | 14.70 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 57,278 | 85.82 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1955: Bebington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Hendrie Oakshott | 31,700 | 58.73 |
| | Labour | Thomas H. Hockton | 22,277 | 41.27 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,423 | 17.46 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,977 | 79.16 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1959: Bebington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Hendrie Oakshott | 33,705 | 58.57 |
| | Labour | Gordon Oakes | 23,844 | 41.43 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,861 | 17.13 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 57,549 | 81.78 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1964: Bebington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Geoffrey Howe | 26,943 | 45.33 | |
| | Labour | Edwin Brooks | 24,734 | 41.61 | |
| | Liberal | Michael J G Tompkins | 7,765 | 13.06 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,209 | 3.72 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 59,442 | 80.90 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1966: Bebington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Edwin Brooks | 30,545 | 51.99 | +10.38 |
| | Conservative | Geoffrey Howe | 28,208 | 48.01 | +2.68 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,337 | 3.98 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 58,753 | 79.77 | −1.13 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +3.85 | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1970: Bebington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Eric Cockeram | 31,260 | 50.59 | +2.58 |
| | Labour | Edwin Brooks | 30,535 | 49.41 | −2.58 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 725 | 1.17 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 61,795 | 75.44 | −4.33 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +2.58 | |