Politics in Luton

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.

{{Infobox company

| name = Luton Borough Council

| logo = Image:Luton Council Logo, 2016.svg

| type = Unitary authority

| foundation = 1997

| location = Luton, Bedfordshire

| homepage = {{URL|https://www.luton.gov.uk/|}}

}}{{Further|Luton Borough Council elections}}Image:Luton Ward Map.png

{{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.

{{main|Council elections in Luton}}

{{Election summary begin|title = Luton Local Election Result 2015{{Cite web|url=https://www.luton.gov.uk/Council_government_and_democracy/Local-democracy/Your%20local%20councillors/Pages/default.aspx|title = Councillors}}}}

{{Election summary party|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|seats = 35

|gain = 0

|loss = 1

|net = -1

|seats % = 72.9

|votes % =

|votes =

|plus/minus =

}}

{{Election summary party|

|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|seats = 8

|gain = 0

|loss = 0

|net = 0

|seats % = 16.7

|votes % =

|votes =

|plus/minus =

}}

{{Election summary party|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|seats = 5

|gain = 1

|loss = 0

|net = +1

|seats % = 10.5

|votes % =

|votes =

|plus/minus =

}}

{{Election summary party|

|party = Independent (politician)

|seats = 0

|gain = 0

|loss = 0

|net = 0

|seats % = 0.0

|votes % =

|votes =

|plus/minus =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election summary begin|title = Luton Local Election Result 2011{{cite web |url=http://www.luton.gov.uk/internet/references/news/06_04_11%20-%202011%20local%20election%20results |title=06/04/11 – 2011 Local election results – Luton BC |access-date=2011-05-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110509044053/http://www.luton.gov.uk/internet/references/news/06_04_11%20-%202011%20local%20election%20results |archive-date=9 May 2011 }}}}

{{Election summary party|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|seats = 36

|gain = 11

|loss = 0

|net = +11

|seats % = 75.0

|votes % =

|votes =

|plus/minus =

}}

{{Election summary party|

|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|seats = 8

|gain = 0

|loss = 9

|net = -9

|seats % = 16.7

|votes % =

|votes =

|plus/minus =

}}

{{Election summary party|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|seats = 4

|gain = 0

|loss = 2

|net = -2

|seats % = 8.3

|votes % =

|votes =

|plus/minus =

}}

{{Election summary party|

|party = Independent (politician)

|seats = 0

|gain = 0

|loss = 0

|net = 0

|seats % = 0.0

|votes % =

|votes =

|plus/minus =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election summary begin|title = Luton Local Election Result 2007{{cite web |url=http://www.luton.gov.uk/results |title=Luton BC – Election results – May 2007 |access-date=2007-05-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070508112105/http://www.luton.gov.uk/results |archive-date=8 May 2007 }} Luton Council Website with 2007 election results}}

{{Election summary party|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|seats = 26

|gain = 5

|loss = 0

|net = +5

|seats % = 54.2

|votes % =

|votes =

|plus/minus =

}}

{{Election summary party|

|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|seats = 17

|gain = 0

|loss = 4

|net = -4

|seats % = 35.4

|votes % =

|votes =

|plus/minus =

}}

{{Election summary party|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|seats = 5

|gain = 1

|loss = 0

|net = +1

|seats % = 10.4

|votes % =

|votes =

|plus/minus =

}}

{{Election summary party|

|party = Independent (politician)

|seats = 0

|gain = 0

|loss = 2

|net = -2

|seats % = 0.0

|votes % =

|votes =

|plus/minus =

}}

{{Election box end}}

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.

{{Election summary begin|title = Luton Local Election Result 2003}}

{{Election summary party|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|seats = 23

|gain = 0

|loss = -13

|net = -13

|seats % = 47.9

|votes % =

|votes =

|plus/minus =

}}

{{Election summary party|

|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|seats = 21

|gain = 11

|loss = 0

|net = 11

|seats % = 43.8

|votes % =

|votes =

|plus/minus =

}}

{{Election summary party|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|seats = 4

|gain = 1

|loss = 0

|net = 1

|seats % = 8.3

|votes % =

|votes =

|plus/minus =

}}

{{Election summary party|

|party = Independent (politician)

|seats = 1

|gain = 1

|loss = 0

|net = 1

|seats % = 2.1

|votes % =

|votes =

|plus/minus =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election summary begin|title = Luton Local Election Result 1999}}

{{Election summary party|

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|seats = 36

|gain = 0

|loss =

|net =

|seats % = 75

|votes % =

|votes =

|plus/minus =

}}

{{Election summary party|

|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|seats = 9

|gain =

|loss =

|net =

|seats % = 18.8

|votes % =

|votes =

|plus/minus =

}}

{{Election summary party|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|seats = 3

|gain =

|loss =

|net =

|seats % = 6.3

|votes % =

|votes =

|plus/minus =

}}

{{Election summary party|

|party = Independent (politician)

|seats = 0

|gain =

|loss =

|net =

|seats % = 0.0

|votes % =

|votes =

|plus/minus =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{main|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.

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

{{main|Parliament of the United Kingdom}}

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.

• Constituency created (1974)

• Constituency abolished (1983)

• Constituency created (1974)

• Constituency abolished (1983)

• Constituency created (1983)

• Constituency created (1983)

{{reflist}}

{{Luton}}

Category:Luton