BBC Profile:
The Conservatives lost this seat, held for them by Trevor Skeet since 1970, in 1997. Labour needed a swing of only 5% to win, and the swing to Labour was in fact 13%, giving current MP Patrick Hall the seat with a majority of 17%. He retained the seat in 2001 and 2005 with reduced majorities each time.

At the election, boundary changes mean that the seat loses its part ward of Wilshamstead to Mid Bedfordshire, while the seat gains two part-wards, Kingsbrook and Goldington from North-East Bedfordshire, and part-ward, Kempston South, is gained from Mid-Bedfordshire. To find out what might have happened had this boundary change been in force at the last election, see a notional - or estimated - result below.

Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, and an industrialised market town that continues to grow. It lies 50 miles north of London and today the seat is in one of the most cosmopolitan areas outside of the capital.

Almost 50 separate ethnic groups are represented in the Borough of Bedford that gives the seat its name.

The area retains its high levels of manufacturing, which is the highest in the South East outside London. The constituency has a wide range of employment opportunities, for instance in brewing and light industry. There are also a number of high achieving private schools, such as Bedford School, Bedford Modern School, and Bedford High School.

There are excellent transport links by rail and road, making it a major commuter area fo

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BBC Profile:
The Conservatives lost this seat, held for them by Trevor Skeet since 1970, in 1997. Labour needed a swing of only 5% to win, and the swing to Labour was in fact 13%, giving current MP Patrick Hall the seat with a majority of 17%. He retained the seat in 2001 and 2005 with reduced majorities each time.

At the election, boundary changes mean that the seat loses its part ward of Wilshamstead to Mid Bedfordshire, while the seat gains two part-wards, Kingsbrook and Goldington from North-East Bedfordshire, and part-ward, Kempston South, is gained from Mid-Bedfordshire. To find out what might have happened had this boundary change been in force at the last election, see a notional - or estimated - result below.

Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, and an industrialised market town that continues to grow. It lies 50 miles north of London and today the seat is in one of the most cosmopolitan areas outside of the capital.

Almost 50 separate ethnic groups are represented in the Borough of Bedford that gives the seat its name.

The area retains its high levels of manufacturing, which is the highest in the South East outside London. The constituency has a wide range of employment opportunities, for instance in brewing and light industry. There are also a number of high achieving private schools, such as Bedford School, Bedford Modern School, and Bedford High School.

There are excellent transport links by rail and road, making it a major commuter area for London. This is reflected in the high numbers of those in managerial, professional and technical jobs.

The University of Bedfordshire, formally De Montfort University, has a presence in Bedford.

Rallings & Thrasher Notional:
Lab 17,657 (41.59%)
C 14,244 (33.55%)
LD 9,263 (21.82%)
UKIP 1,011 (2.38%)
Others 283 (0.67%)

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