Bebington (constituency)

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

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.^[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

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

Elections

Elections in the 1950s

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
Registered electors
	Conservative win (new seat)

General election 1951: Bebington^[2]^[3]
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
Registered electors
	Conservative hold		Swing

General election 1955: Bebington^[2]
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
Registered electors
	Conservative hold		Swing

General election 1959: Bebington^[2]
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
Registered electors
	Conservative hold		Swing

Elections in the 1960s

General election 1964: Bebington^[2]
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
Registered electors
	Conservative hold		Swing

General election 1966: Bebington^[2]
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
Registered electors
	Labour gain from Conservative		Swing	+3.85

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1970: Bebington^[2]
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
Registered electors
	Conservative gain from Labour		Swing	+2.58

Sources

↑ Craig, F.W.S., ed. (1972). Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1985-1972. Chichester, Sussex: Political Reference Publications. ISBN 0-900178-09-4.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Craig, Fred W. S (1983). British parliamentary election results, 1950-1973 (2nd ed.). Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0900178078. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
↑ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1951.

[1] Craig, F.W.S., ed. (1972). Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1985-1972. Chichester, Sussex: Political Reference Publications. ISBN 0-900178-09-4.

[1950-1973-2] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Craig, Fred W. S (1983). British parliamentary election results, 1950-1973 (2nd ed.). Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0900178078. Retrieved 5 April 2025.

[3] The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1951.

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