Bedford Borough Council is the local authority for the unitary authority of Bedford in Bedfordshire, England. Until 1 April 2009 it was a non-metropolitan district. Since 2002 it has also had a directly elected mayor.

Council elections

+ Composition of the councilYearConservativeLabourLiberal DemocratsGreenIndependents& OthersCouncil controlafter electionLocal government reorganisation; council established (56 seats)19732022212197634960719793610703New ward boundaries (53 seats)The District of North Bedfordshire (Electoral Arrangements) Order 197919833299031984311110011986231415011987261214011988251314011990241513011991legislation.gov.uk – The Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Cambridgeshire (County Boundaries) Order 1991. Retrieved on 5 November 2015.211613031992251510031994221611041995162012051996102216051998922150719999191807200013181606New ward boundaries (54 seats)legislation.gov.uk – The Borough of Bedford (Electoral Changes) Order 2001. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.200225141104200318131201120041615130102006171215010200719121607Bedford becomes a unitary authority (39 seats)2009971307New ward boundaries (40 seats)20111212120420151514902201911111521New ward boundaries (46 seats)202313141333

Results maps

Mayoral elections Bedford held a referendum on 21 February 2002 on whether to introduce a directly elected mayor after a petition was signed by at least 5% of the electorate. The move was approved with 11,316 voting in favour and 5,357 against on a turnout of 15.5%. The first mayoral election on 17 October 2002 saw independent Frank Branston elected as mayor.

2007 In 2007 Frank Branston was re-elected as mayor. Bedford Mayoral Election Results 2007 Name Party 1st Preference Votes % 2nd Preference Votes¹ % Final %² Frank Branston Better Bedford Independent 15,966 3,732 19,698 Nicky Attenborough Conservative 10,710 2,603 13,313 Christine McHugh Lib Dem 10,553 N/A Randolph Charles Labour 4,758 N/A Justina McLennan Green 1,538 N/A ¹Using the Supplementary Vote system.

²Percentage figures are not officially used on the final votes, they are produced here for illustration and are calculated by the candidates final vote divided by the total of final votes.

2009 A by-election for Mayor of Bedford took place on 15 October 2009 after the death of the previous incumbent, Frank Branston in August 2009. The election was won by the Liberal Democrat, Dave Hodgson. Bedford Mayoral Election Results 2009 Name Party 1st Preference Votes % 2nd Preference Votes % Final % Dave Hodgson Liberal Democrat 9,428 26.8 4,127 13,555 54.0 Parvez Akhtar Conservative 9,105 25.9 2,438 11,543 46.0 Apu Bagchi Independent 7,631 21.7 N/A Tony Hare Independent 4,316 12.3 N/A James Valentine Labour 3,482 9.9 N/A Eve Morley Green Party 1,183 3.4 N/A

2011

2015

2019

2023

By-election results 1998-2002

2009-2011

2011-2015

2023-2027

European Union Membership Referendum 2016 The electorate of Bedford Borough voted by a margin of 51.8% to 48.2% (on a 72.1% turnout) to leave the European Union during the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum (reflecting the national picture). The Kingsbrook ward voted most heavily in favour of Leave (60.71%), while the Queen's Park ward voted most strongly for Remain (57.66%). Other areas of Bedford to favour Remain were Bromham and Biddenham, Castle, De Parys, Harpur, Kempston Rural, Newnham, Oakley and Sharnbrook.

District Votes Proportion of votes Remain Leave Remain Leave Brickhill 2,000 2,092 48.88% 51.12% Bromham and Biddenham 2,138 1,996 51.72% 48.28% Castle 1,835 1,366 57.33% 42.67% Cauldwell 1,322 1,880 41.29% 58.71% Clapham 1,256 1,731 42.05% 57.95% De Parys 1,683 1,302 56.38% 43.62% Eastcotts 1,111 1,322 45.66% 54.34% Elstow and Stewartby 1,406 1,677 45.60% 54.40% Goldington 1,575 2,062 43.30% 56.70% Great Barford 1,987 2,282 46.54% 53.46% Harpur 1,837 1,398 56.79 43.21% Harrold 1,295 1,316 49.60% 50.40% Kempston Central and East 1,664 2,080 44.44% 55.56% Kempston North 1,153 1,406 45.06% 54.94% Kempston Rural 2,066 1,889 52.24% 47.76% Kempston South 1,170 1,624 41.88% 58.12% Kempston West 1,433 1,747 45.06% 54.94% Kingsbrook 1,374 2,123 39.29% 60.71% Newnham 1,962 1,634 54.56% 45.44% Oakley 1,269 1,158 52.29% 47.71% Putnoe 1,818 2,028 47.27% 52.73% Queens Park 1,573 1,155 57.66% 42.34% Riseley 1,173 1,282 47.78% 52.22% Sharnbrook 1,425 1,200 54.29% 45.71% Wilshamstead 1,300 1,661 43.90% 56.10% Wootton 1,649 1,891 46.58% 53.42% Wyboston 1,023 1,268 44.65% 55.35%

Notes

References

External links Bedford Borough Council