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.

Bebington
Former borough constituency
for the House of Commons
1950–February 1974
Created fromBirkenhead East and Wirral
Replaced byBebington and Ellesmere Port, Birkenhead and Wirral

History

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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

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The Borough of Bebington, and the County Borough of Birkenhead wards of Bebington, Devonshire, Egerton, Mersey, and Prenton.[1]

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

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

Elections

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Elections in the 1950s

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General election 1950: Bebington[2]
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 3,219 5.5
Turnout 57,723 87.2
Conservative win (new seat)
General election 1951: Bebington [3][4]
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 8,421 14.70
Turnout 57,278 85.82
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1955: Bebington [5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Hendrie Oakshott 31,700 58.73
Labour Thomas H. Hockton 22,277 41.27
Majority 9,423 17.46
Turnout 53,977 79.16
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1959: Bebington [6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Hendrie Oakshott 33,705 58.57
Labour Gordon Oakes 23,844 41.43
Majority 9,861 17.13
Turnout 57,549 81.78
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

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General election 1964: Bebington [7]
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 2,209 3.72
Turnout 59,442 80.90
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1966: Bebington [8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Edwin Brooks 30,545 51.99 +10.38
Conservative Geoffrey Howe 28,208 48.01 +2.68
Majority 2,337 3.98 N/A
Turnout 58,753 79.77 −1.13
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +3.85

Elections in the 1970s

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General election 1970: Bebington [9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Eric Cockeram 31,260 50.59 +2.58
Labour Edwin Brooks 30,535 49.41 −2.58
Majority 725 1.17 N/A
Turnout 61,795 75.44 −4.33
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +2.58

See also

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Sources

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  1. ^ Craig, F.W.S., ed. (1972). Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1985-1972. Chichester, Sussex: Political Reference Publications. ISBN 0-900178-09-4.
  2. ^ British Parliamentary Election Results 1950-1973 by FWS Craig
  3. ^ British Parliamentary Election Results 1950-1973 by FWS Craig
  4. ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1951.
  5. ^ British Parliamentary Election Results 1950-1973 by FWS Craig
  6. ^ British Parliamentary Election Results 1950-1973 by FWS Craig
  7. ^ British Parliamentary Election Results 1950-1973 by FWS Craig
  8. ^ British Parliamentary Election Results 1950-1973 by FWS Craig
  9. ^ British Parliamentary Election Results 1950-1973 by FWS Craig