Luton, England, is a unitary authority, and remains part of the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire. Luton is 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 Prior to the Local Government Act 1972, Luton had been a county borough, but still part of the county of Bedfordshire. With the abolition of the county boroughs, Luton was fully integrated into Bedfordshire and its county council. 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

, 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

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.

East of England Regional Assembly

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

UK Parliament

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.

In 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 ElectionMemberParty1885Cyril Flower Liberal1892Samuel Howard Whitbread 1895Thomas Gair Ashton Liberal1911Cecil Bisshopp Harmsworth Liberal1922Sir John Prescott Hewett 1923Geoffrey William Algernon Howard Liberal1924Terence James O'Connor Unionist1929Edward Leslie Burgin Liberal1931National Liberal1945William Warbey Labour1950Charles Hill Conservative1963William Howie Labour1970Charles Simeons ConservativeFeb 1974Constituency abolished: see Luton East and Luton West

Luton East Constituency created (1974) ElectionMemberPartyFeb. 1974Ivor Clemitson Labour1979Graham Bright Conservative Constituency abolished (1983)

Luton West Constituency created (1974) ElectionMemberPartyFeb. 1974Brian Sedgemore Labour1979John Russell Carlisle Conservative Constituency abolished (1983)

Luton North Constituency created (1983) ElectionMemberParty1983John Russell Carlisle Conservative1987John Russell Carlisle Conservative1992John Russell Carlisle Conservative1997Kelvin Hopkins Labour2001Kelvin Hopkins Labour2005Kelvin Hopkins Labour2010Kelvin Hopkins Labour2015Kelvin Hopkins Labour2017Kelvin Hopkins Labour2019Sarah Owen Labour2024Sarah Owen Labour

Luton South Constituency created (1983) ElectionMemberParty1983Graham Bright Conservative1987Graham Bright Conservative1992Graham Bright Conservative1997Margaret Moran Labour2001Margaret Moran Labour2005Margaret Moran Labour2010Gavin Shuker Labour2015Gavin Shuker Labour2017Gavin Shuker Labour2019Rachel Hopkins Labour2024Rachel Hopkins Labour

References