One constituency other than Luton North includes Luton; Luton South. Both cover a similar housing profile and economic ambit that have seen house prices increase above the national average since 1997, two periods of relatively high numbers of the unemployed and lowest wage earners. The former covers roughly the LU3 and 4 postcode districts and excludes the town centre of what one broadsheet characterised as a tough town whereas other commentators state that Luton has a resilient economy which "revolves around the airport as well as the retail sector." At creation, Luton North included eight wards from the neighbouring districts of Mid Bedfordshire and South Bedfordshire; these made it a much safer seat for the Conservatives than Luton South, which included only one ward from outside the Borough of Luton. Boundary changes in 1997 reduced the Conservative majority from 13,094 to 7,357, and it was 81st on Labour's list of target seats; Labour duly gained it on a 17.1% swing, and since then the Labour MP elected in 1997, Kelvin Hopkins, has held the seat with comfortable majorities. From 2005 to 2015, Luton North was Labour's safest seat in the East of England by both vote and vote share majority; in 2017 it was overtaken in the former count by Norwich South, but the percentage margin in Luton North is slightly higher.
Boundaries and boundary changes
1983–1997: The Borough of Luton wards of Bramingham, Challney, Icknield, Leagrave, Lewsey, Limbury, and Sundon Park, the District of Mid Bedfordshire wards of Flitton and Pulloxhill, Flitwick East, Flitwick West, Harlington, and Westoning, and the District of South Bedfordshire wards of Barton-le-Clay, Streatley, and Toddington. Created as a County Constituency formally known as North Luton, incorporating the bulk of the abolished Borough Constituency of Luton West. Extended northwards to include part of the abolished County Constituency of South Bedfordshire as well as Flitwick, transferred from Mid Bedfordshire. 1997–2010: The Borough of Luton wards of Bramingham, Challney, Icknield, Leagrave, Lewsey, Limbury, Saints, and Sundon Park. Redesignated as the Borough Constituency of Luton North. The Saints ward of the Borough of Luton transferred from Luton South. The parts of the Districts of Mid Bedfordshire and South Bedfordshire transferred to the County Constituency of Mid Bedfordshire. 2010–present: The Borough of Luton wards of Barnfield, Bramingham, Challney, Icknield, Leagrave, Lewsey, Limbury, Northwell, Saints, and Sundon Park. Marginal loss changes due to revision of local authority wards.
