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Politics in Luton

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Luton Town Hall

Luton, England, is a unitary authority, and remains part of the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire. Luton is currently represented by 48 councillors of the Luton Borough Council, the Bedfordshire Police and crime commissioner, and two MPs in the constituencies of Luton North and Luton South and South Bedfordshire.

Between 1999 and 2010, Luton was additionally represented by the East of England Regional Assembly.

History

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Prior to the Local Government Act 1972, Luton had been a county borough, but still part of the county of Bedfordshire. However, with the abolition of the county boroughs, Luton was fully integrated into Bedfordshire and its county council. This wasn't to last however, as in 1992, the Local Government Commission for England, recommended that Luton be made into a unitary authority and be separate of the county council. The government agreed and this was enforced from 1997 onwards.

Luton remains part of Bedfordshire for ceremonial purposes and one Lord Lieutenant serves for the whole ceremonial county.

Luton Borough Council

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Luton Borough Council
Company typeUnitary authority
Founded1997
HeadquartersLuton, Bedfordshire
Websitewww.luton.gov.uk
Map of the 19 wards in Luton

As of 2024, Luton Borough Council is represented by 48 councillors across 20 wards. The council offices are centred on the Town Hall on George Street, Luton.

Local election results

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Luton Local Election Result 2015[1]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Labour 35 0 1 -1 72.9
  Liberal Democrats 8 0 0 0 16.7
  Conservative 5 1 0 +1 10.5
  Independent 0 0 0 0 0.0
Luton Local Election Result 2011[2]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Labour 36 11 0 +11 75.0
  Liberal Democrats 8 0 9 -9 16.7
  Conservative 4 0 2 -2 8.3
  Independent 0 0 0 0 0.0
Luton Local Election Result 2007[3]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Labour 26 5 0 +5 54.2
  Liberal Democrats 17 0 4 -4 35.4
  Conservative 5 1 0 +1 10.4
  Independent 0 0 2 -2 0.0

NB: The make up of the council changed between 2003 and 2007, hence the apparent inconsistencies between the councillors in 2003 and the changes recorded for 2007.

Luton Local Election Result 2003
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Labour 23 0 -13 -13 47.9
  Liberal Democrats 21 11 0 11 43.8
  Conservative 4 1 0 1 8.3
  Independent 1 1 0 1 2.1
Luton Local Election Result 1999
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Labour 36 0 75
  Liberal Democrats 9 18.8
  Conservative 3 6.3
  Independent 0 0.0

East of England Regional Assembly

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Whilst not a directly elected body, the East of England Regional Assembly was responsible between 1999 and 2010 for promoting the economic, environmental and social well-being of the East England region. It was made up of representatives from councils across the region, business organisations, public sector agencies, education and training bodies, trade unions and co-operatives and the voluntary and community sector.

Police and Crime Commissioner

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The Police and Crime Commissioner is a Bedfordshire county-wide post. As of May 2024, the post is held by John Tizard for Labour.

UK Parliament

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The town of Luton historically was part of the Bedfordshire constituency which was created in 1290. In 1885, the county was redistributed into two seats, one of which was Luton, formally the Southern or Luton Division of Bedfordshire. After a Second Periodic Review of constituencies, which came into effect in February 1974, the town was divided into Luton West and Luton East. These two seats were fairly short lived; for 1983, after the third review, the town was reorganised as Luton North and Luton South. In the 2023 review, the latter was expanded and renamed Luton South and South Bedfordshire.

Members of Parliament for Luton constituency

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Election Member Party
1885 Cyril Flower Liberal
1892 Samuel Howard Whitbread
1895 Thomas Gair Ashton Liberal
1911 Cecil Bisshopp Harmsworth Liberal
1922 Sir John Prescott Hewett
1923 Geoffrey William Algernon Howard Liberal
1924 Terence James O'Connor Unionist
1929 Edward Leslie Burgin Liberal
1931 National Liberal
1945 William Warbey Labour
1950 Charles Hill Conservative
1963 William Howie Labour
1970 Charles Simeons Conservative
Feb 1974 Constituency abolished: see Luton East and Luton West

Luton East

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  • Constituency created (1974)
Election Member Party
Feb. 1974 Ivor Clemitson Labour
1979 Graham Bright Conservative
  • Constituency abolished (1983)

Luton West

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  • Constituency created (1974)
Election Member Party
Feb. 1974 Brian Sedgemore Labour
1979 John Russell Carlisle Conservative
  • Constituency abolished (1983)

Luton North

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  • Constituency created (1983)
Election Member Party
1983 John Russell Carlisle Conservative
1987 John Russell Carlisle Conservative
1992 John Russell Carlisle Conservative
1997 Kelvin Hopkins Labour
2001 Kelvin Hopkins Labour
2005 Kelvin Hopkins Labour
2010 Kelvin Hopkins Labour
2015 Kelvin Hopkins Labour
2017 Kelvin Hopkins Labour
2019 Sarah Owen Labour
2024 Sarah Owen Labour

Luton South

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  • Constituency created (1983)
Election Member Party
1983 Graham Bright Conservative
1987 Graham Bright Conservative
1992 Graham Bright Conservative
1997 Margaret Moran Labour
2001 Margaret Moran Labour
2005 Margaret Moran Labour
2010 Gavin Shuker Labour
2015 Gavin Shuker Labour
2017 Gavin Shuker Labour
2019 Rachel Hopkins Labour
2024 Rachel Hopkins Labour

References

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  1. ^ "Councillors".
  2. ^ "06/04/11 - 2011 Local election results - Luton BC". Archived from the original on 9 May 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
  3. ^ "Luton BC - Election results - May 2007". Archived from the original on 8 May 2007. Retrieved 4 May 2007. Luton Council Website with 2007 election results