Biggleswade (UK Parliament constituency)

Biggleswade was a county constituency in Bedfordshire which was represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1885 until its abolition in 1918. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first-past-the-post voting system.

Biggleswade
Former constituency
for the House of Commons
CountyBedfordshire
1885–1918
Number of membersOne
Replaced byBedford and Mid Bedfordshire
Created fromBedfordshire

Boundaries

The constituency was created as the Northern or Biggleswade Division of Bedfordshire under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, when the two-member Parliamentary County of Bedfordshire was divided into the two single-member constituencies of Biggleswade and Luton. It comprised the sessional divisions of Bedford, Biggleswade and Sharnbrook, part of the sessional division of Ampthill and the municipal borough of Bedford.[1] Only non-resident freeholders of the municipal borough (which comprised the Parliamentary Borough of Bedford) were entitled to vote.

The constituency was abolished in 1918. The northern part of the Division surrounding the Borough of Bedford, including Kempston, was included in the Bedford Division. The southern part, including Ampthill and Biggleswade, was included in the new Mid Bedfordshire Division.

Members of Parliament
ElectionMember[2] Party
1885 Charles MagniacLiberal
1886 Viscount BaringLiberal Unionist
1892 George RussellLiberal
1895 Lord Alwyne ComptonLiberal Unionist
1906 Arthur BlackLiberal
1918 Constituency abolished

Elections

Elections in the 1880s
General election 1885: Biggleswade [3][4][5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Charles Magniac 6,037 57.7 N/A
Conservative Walter Barttelot 4,422 42.3 N/A
Majority 1,615 15.4 N/A
Turnout 10,459 78.5 N/A
Registered electors 13,322
Liberal win (new seat)
General election 1886: Biggleswade [3][4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Unionist Francis Baring 4,853 52.6 +10.3
Liberal Charles Magniac 4,371 47.4 -10.3
Majority 482 5.2 N/A
Turnout 9,224 69.2 -9.3
Registered electors 13,322
Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal Swing +10.3

Elections in the 1890s
General election 1892: Biggleswade [3][4][6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal George Russell 5,600 52.6 +5.2
Liberal Unionist Francis Baring 5,056 47.4 -5.2
Majority 544 5.2 N/A
Turnout 10,656 77.9 +8.7
Registered electors 13,686
Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist Swing +5.2
General election 1895: Biggleswade [3][4][7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Unionist Alwyne Compton 5,643 51.2 +3.8
Liberal George Russell 5,376 48.8 -3.8
Majority 267 2.4 N/A
Turnout 11,019 80.2 +2.3
Registered electors 13,744
Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal Swing +3.8

Elections in the 1900s
General election 1900: Biggleswade [3][4][7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Unionist Alwyne Compton Unopposed
Liberal Unionist hold
General election 1906: Biggleswade [3][4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Arthur Black 6,902 61.6 N/A
Liberal Unionist Alwyne Compton 4,298 38.4 N/A
Majority 2,604 23.2 N/A
Turnout 11,200 79.5 N/A
Registered electors 14,085
Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist Swing N/A

Elections in the 1910s
General election January 1910: Biggleswade [3][8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Arthur Black 6,631 52.4 -9.2
Liberal Unionist Rowland Prothero 6,020 47.6 +9.2
Majority 611 4.8 -18.4
Turnout 90.2 +10.7
Liberal hold Swing -9.2
Black
General election December 1910: Biggleswade [3][8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Arthur Black 6,536 52.9 +0.5
Conservative Geoffrey Carr Glyn 5,808 47.1 -0.5
Majority 728 5.8 +1.0
Turnout 88.0 -2.2
Liberal hold Swing +0.5

General Election 1914/15:

Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by the July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;

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See also
  • List of former United Kingdom Parliamentary constituencies
  • Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918

References
  1. Debretts Guide to the House of Commons 1886
  2. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "B" (part 3)
  3. British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918, FWS Craig
  4. The Liberal Year Book, 1907
  5. Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886
  6. Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1896
  7. Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901
  8. Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916
  9. Biggleswade Chronicle 15 May 1914
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