2023 Bedford Borough Council election

Last updated

2023 Bedford Borough Council election
Bedfordshire County Flag.svg
←  2019 4 May 2023 (2023-05-04)2027 →
All 46 seats to Bedford Borough Council
24 seats needed for a majority
Turnout34.9%
 First partySecond partyThird party
  No image wide.svg No image wide.svg No image wide.svg
LeaderSue OliverGraeme Coombes Dave Hodgson [a]
Party Labour Conservative Liberal Democrats
Last election11 seats, 27.6%11 seats, 31.3%15 seats, 30.3%
Seats won141313
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 3Increase2.svg 2Decrease2.svg 2
Popular vote24,56323,31623,194
Percentage29.4%27.9%27.7%
SwingIncrease2.svg 1.8%Decrease2.svg 3.4%Decrease2.svg 2.6%
 Fourth partyFifth partySixth party
  No image wide.svg No image wide.svg No image wide.svg
LeaderN/AN/AN/A
Party Green Independent Vacant
Last election2 seats, 6.4%1 seat, 3.7%
Seats won321
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 1Increase2.svg 1Increase2.svg 1
Popular vote6,7865,479
Percentage8.1%6.5%
SwingIncrease2.svg 1.8%Increase2.svg 2.8%
Bedford UK ward map 2023.svg
Winner of each seat at the 2023 Bedford Borough Council election
Mayor before election

Dave Hodgson
Liberal Democrat
No overall control

Mayor after election

Tom Wootton
Conservative
No overall control

The 2023 Bedford Borough Council election took place on 4 May 2023, electing members of Bedford Borough Council in Bedfordshire, England. An election for the borough's directly-elected mayor took place at the same time. [1] This was the same day as other local elections.

Contents

The whole council was up for election on new ward boundaries. The total number of seats increased by 6, from 40 to 46. [2] Issues being debated by the candidates include the route of East West Rail through the town, with Government confirmation on the route still awaited at the time of the election. [3]

The council remained under no overall control after the election. The Conservative candidate, Tom Wootton, won the mayoralty, defeating the Liberal Democrat incumbent, Dave Hodgson, who had held the post since 2009. [4]

Summary

Election result

2023 Bedford Borough Council election (new boundaries)
PartyCandidatesSeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  Labour 451410Increase2.svg 331.129.424,563+1.8
  Conservative 451301Increase2.svg 228.927.923,316–3.4
  Liberal Democrats 461302Decrease2.svg 228.927.723,194–2.6
  Green 25310Increase2.svg 16.78.16,786+1.7
  Independent 9210Increase2.svg 14.46.55,479+2.8
  Reform UK 2000Steady2.svg0.00.4310New
  TUSC 1000Steady2.svg0.0<0.16New
  Communist 1000Steady2.svg0.0<0.15New
  Vacant 0100Steady2.svg2.2N/AN/AN/A

Ward results

Official results were published by Bedford Borough Council as the count progressed. [5] They were also reported live by the Bedford Independent [6] and also reported by the Bedford Times and Citizen newspaper, initially through its website. [7]

The Statement of Persons Nominated, which details the candidates standing in each ward, was released by Bedford Borough Council following the close of nominations on 5 April 2023. [8]

Biddenham

Biddenham
PartyCandidateVotes%
Conservative Jon Gambold* 442 44.4
Green Adrian Spurrell42342.5
Labour Christopher Howes909.0
Liberal Democrats Stelios Mores404.0
Majority191.9
Turnout 99541.4
Registered electors 2,406
Conservative win (new seat)

Brickhill

Brickhill (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Charles Royden* 1,208 50.3 –11.2
Liberal Democrats Wendy Rider* 1,201 50.0 –11.5
Conservative Gill Scott64526.8+8.4
Conservative Sharon Thompson60925.3+11.1
Labour Elizabeth Pugsley38015.8+4.7
Labour Warwick Mackie35214.6+4.4
Green Stephen Bywater2329.7+0.8
Turnout 2,40336.8–6.8
Registered electors 6,531
Liberal Democrats hold
Liberal Democrats hold

Bromham

Bromham (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%
Conservative Robert Rigby 1,061 47.2
Conservative Dylan Simmons 1,055 46.9
Liberal Democrats Richard Jones44920.0
Labour Gordon Charlton41918.6
Labour Ashley Frith38317.0
Green Kathryn Hill32014.2
Liberal Democrats Stephen Rutherford23010.2
Reform UK Kathy Wallis1948.6
Turnout 2,24839.0
Registered electors 5,764
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)

Castle and Newnham

Castle and Newnham (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%
Green Lucy Bywater* 1,689 63.3
Green Paul Edmonds 1,157 43.3
Labour Sam Blacklaws62623.4
Liberal Democrats Hilde Hendrickx*56621.2
Liberal Democrats Tom Pattinson34813.0
Conservative Simon Briggs29511.0
Conservative Josh Walker28410.6
Turnout 2,67044.6
Registered electors 5,986
Green win (new seat)
Green win (new seat)

Cauldwell

Cauldwell (3 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Fouzia Atiq* 1,331 62.1 +15.0
Labour Abu Sultan* 1,137 53.1 +2.9
Labour Harish Thapar 1,127 52.6 N/A
Conservative Suresh Sunda49823.2–2.4
Conservative Spenser Groves43320.2N/A
Conservative Ionut Milea38818.1N/A
Liberal Democrats Charlotte Bagnall27913.0–3.6
Liberal Democrats Eve McGrath24011.2–3.1
Green Susan Throssell22410.5–3.3
Liberal Democrats Tristan Steyn1738.1N/A
Turnout 2,14226.0–3.0
Registered electors 8,238
Labour hold
Labour hold
Labour win (new seat)

Clapham and Oakley

Clapham and Oakley (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%
Conservative Jane Walker* 1,101 55.5
Liberal Democrats Jonathan Abbott* 808 40.7
Conservative Phillipa Simms79540.1
Liberal Democrats John Manning53927.2
Labour June McDonald20010.1
Labour Thoufique Ali1758.8
Green Lynne Gray1638.2
Turnout 1,98537.9
Registered electors 5,328
Conservative win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)

De Parys

De Parys (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Henry Vann* 1,044 55.4 –2.7
Liberal Democrats David Sawyer* 968 51.4 –4.1
Conservative Jason Gordon36919.6–5.5
Conservative Freddie Linsley34718.4–4.1
Labour Shaun Bowman32217.1+5.1
Labour Mohammad Islam26814.2+3.9
Green Harrison Marley23012.2N/A
Turnout 1,88435.3–5.1
Registered electors 5,338
Liberal Democrats hold
Liberal Democrats hold

Goldington

Goldington (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Timothy Caswell* 792 45.6 +8.3
Liberal Democrats Christine McHugh* 729 42.0 +6.0
Labour Shane Kelly57833.3–0.8
Labour Cathrine Ward50529.1–1.6
Conservative Bernard Jones25714.8+3.1
Green Philippa Fleming1367.8+2.2
Reform UK Adrian Haynes1166.7N/A
Turnout 1,73629.3–4.4
Registered electors 5,925
Liberal Democrats hold
Liberal Democrats hold

Great Barford

Great Barford
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Phillippa Martin-Moran-Bryant* 781 69.9 +15.8
Green Toby Waltham16014.3±0.0
Liberal Democrats Malcolm Smith1039.2–13.7
Labour Harvey Stimson736.5–2.1
Majority 62155.6N/A
Turnout 1,11740.9+2.0
Registered electors 2,752
Conservative hold Swing Increase2.svg7.9

Great Denham

Great Denham
PartyCandidateVotes%
Conservative Jim Weir* 623 57.1
Liberal Democrats Joanna Szaub-Newton29527.0
Labour Mohammad Teahleel13212.1
Green Tim Crowhurst423.8
Majority32830.1
Turnout 1,09234.8
Registered electors 3,158
Conservative win (new seat)

Greyfriars

Greyfriars
PartyCandidateVotes%
Green Ben Foley* 274 36.2
Labour Sudesh Rani22329.5
Independent Syedur Rahman14419.0
Conservative Karen Boyes678.9
Liberal Democrats Nigel Spencer435.7
TUSC Paul Mannion60.8
Majority516.7
Turnout 75726.5
Registered electors 2,898
Green win (new seat)

Harpur

Harpur (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Colleen Atkins* 1,178 60.3 +2.9
Labour Zara Layne 977 50.0 +1.8
Conservative Steve Spring30215.4+2.0
Conservative Elizabeth Akinwande27614.1+2.3
Independent David Allen25813.2–5.4
Green Jonathan Westwood1658.4N/A
Green Barry Freeman1608.2N/A
Liberal Democrats Martin Kavanagh1588.1–7.8
Liberal Democrats Patricia Wood1286.5–5.4
Turnout 1,95530.4–4.0
Registered electors 6,431
Labour hold
Labour hold

Harrold

Harrold
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Alison Foster* 789 60.6 –7.1
Liberal Democrats James Thomson19014.6+8.8
Labour David Bevan16412.6+6.1
Green Niamh Lynch16012.3–7.7
Majority 59946.0
Turnout 1,30340.9
Registered electors 3,209
Conservative hold Swing Decrease2.svg8.0

Kempston Central and East

Kempston Central and East (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Mohammed Nawaz* 907 46.4 –3.1
Labour Caroline White 875 44.8 –9.1
Liberal Democrats Jas Parmar61231.3+20.3
Liberal Democrats Louise Crofts42921.9+14.2
Conservative Joseph Johnson27614.1–18.6
Conservative Simran Nahar22411.5–13.0
Green Mark Brown1708.7N/A
Turnout 1,92028.5–2.7
Registered electors 6,737
Labour hold
Labour hold

Kempston North

Kempston North
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Sue Oliver* 665 64.8 +17.5
Conservative Elizabeth Hedison23322.7–17.5
Green Laura Fitzgerald787.6–0.3
Liberal Democrats Bipinchandra Shah504.9+0.3
Majority 43242.1
Turnout 1,02632.0–4.1
Registered electors 3,228
Labour hold Swing Increase2.svg17.5

Kempston South

Kempston South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Carl Meader* 902 82.8 –0.7
Conservative Barry Ryan11310.4–2.7
Liberal Democrats Janet Trengrove444.0+0.6
Green Sanjay Patel312.8N/A
Majority 78972.4
Turnout 1,09033.5–3.9
Registered electors 3,256
Labour hold Swing Increase2.svg1.0

Kempston West

Kempston West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour James Valentine* 615 68.6 +16.5
Conservative Elizabeth Wootton19121.3–19.4
Liberal Democrats Paramjeet Kaur606.7–0.5
Green James Long262.9N/A
Communist Markus Keaney50.6N/A
Majority 42447.3
Turnout 89728.9–2.9
Registered electors 3,119
Labour hold Swing Increase2.svg18.0

Kingsbrook

Kingsbrook (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Dean Crofts* 879 39.5 –1.6
Labour Ralley Rahman 805 36.1 +1.4
Labour Mashuk Ullah77634.8+5.9
Liberal Democrats Henna Khanum70131.5–10.1
Conservative Caroline Fensome40518.2+5.5
Conservative Sharanjit Sira30913.9N/A
Green Nick Meek1878.4–1.7
Turnout 2,22729.9–0.3
Registered electors 7,448
Liberal Democrats hold
Labour gain from Liberal Democrats

Putnoe

Putnoe (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Michael Headley* 1,638 62.1 –1.8
Liberal Democrats Max Royden* 1,380 52.3 +2.5
Conservative Katherine Groves58122.0–4.7
Conservative Martin MacPherson-Lawley49518.8–0.6
Labour Wendie Harvey33612.7+3.9
Labour Geoffrey Pearce27510.4+2.4
Green Jen Feneley2459.3+1.8
Turnout 2,63840.6–5.0
Registered electors 6,498
Liberal Democrats hold
Liberal Democrats hold

Queens Park

Queens Park (3 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Nesreen Akhtar* 1,604 50.4 +1.6
Labour Mohammed Masud* 1,484 46.6 +4.8
Labour Mohammed Din 1,433 45.0 N/A
Independent Mohammad Rafi1,34942.4N/A
Independent Zaffar Iqbal1,04232.7N/A
Independent Gulam Monowar80325.2N/A
Independent Ishtiaq Ahmed2487.8N/A
Liberal Democrats Sydney Campbell1936.1+2.6
Conservative Jennifer Wootton1825.7–7.0
Conservative Peter Davis1635.1–1.3
Green Kelvin Plomer1464.6–3.9
Conservative Verity Wootton1464.6–3.9
Liberal Democrats James Baggaley1334.2+1.1
Liberal Democrats Rashid Rogers732.3N/A
Turnout 3,18448.8–1.0
Registered electors 6,524
Labour hold
Labour hold
Labour win (new seat)

Renhold and Ravensden

Renhold and Ravensden
PartyCandidateVotes%
Independent Nicola Gribble 564 49.6
Conservative Fiona Cardinale39734.9
Labour Melanie Purves988.6
Liberal Democrats Conrad Longmore786.9
Majority16714.7
Turnout 1,13737.0
Registered electors 3,081
Independent win (new seat)

Riseley

Riseley
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Martin Towler* 865 62.1 +1.6
Labour Min Rodruguez26519.0–6.9
Green Joanne Hill14210.2N/A
Liberal Democrats Lorna Marchant1218.7–4.9
Majority 60043.1
Turnout 1,39344.0+6.1
Registered electors 3,212
Conservative hold Swing Increase2.svg4.3

Riverfield

Riverfield
PartyCandidateVotes%
Liberal Democrats Billy Thompson 524 55.4
Conservative John Robertson22323.6
Labour Neil Mann14315.1
Green Daniel Stachowiak565.9
Majority30031.8
Turnout 94632.3
Registered electors 2,943
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)

Sharnbrook

Sharnbrook
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Doug McMurdo* 946 67.0 +2.9
Conservative Douglas Hansen-Luke25217.9–7.8
Labour Thomas McEwan1238.7+4.3
Liberal Democrats Paul Stekelis906.4+0.6
Majority 69449.1
Turnout 1,41144.6–5.3
Registered electors 3,185
Independent hold Swing Increase2.svg5.4

Shortstown

Shortstown (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%
Liberal Democrats Leigh Coombs 652 41.7
Conservative Sarah-Jayne Gallagher* 605 38.7
Liberal Democrats Stephen Bowering52933.8
Conservative Sam Holland41926.8
Labour Ali Akbor25316.2
Labour Mansoor Nasir20413.1
Green Richard Baker17010.9
Turnout 1,56330.9
Registered electors 5,059
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)

Wixams and Wilstead

Wixams and Wilstead (3 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%
Conservative Graeme Coombes* 1,307 45.0
Conservative Marc Frost 1,129 38.9
Conservative Andrea Spice 969 33.4
Liberal Democrats Linda Jack91831.6
Liberal Democrats John Symonds86829.9
Liberal Democrats Sachdev Goldi82928.5
Labour Steve Conway51617.8
Labour Terri Conway51117.6
Labour Amir Khan44815.4
Independent Lee Melville2699.3
Turnout 2,90531.4
Registered electors 9,252
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)

Wootton and Kempston Rural

Wootton and Kempston Rural (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%
Conservative John Wheeler* 885 43.7
Liberal Democrats Susan Abood 858 42.4
Liberal Democrats Peter Stephens84841.9
Conservative Tristan Tyerman65232.2
Labour John Dawson29614.6
Labour Hamayun Shaid26813.2
Turnout 2,02530.6
Registered electors 6,616
Conservative win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)

Wyboston

Wyboston
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Tom Wootton* 878 76.0 +4.5
Liberal Democrats Thomas Townsend15613.5–15.0
Labour Ian Nicholls12110.5N/A
Majority 72262.5
Turnout 1,15540.6–1.5
Registered electors 2,875
Conservative hold Swing Increase2.svg9.8

Note: since Wootton had been elected Mayor of Bedford the result was a vacant seat. [9]

Changes 2023–2027

Wyboston by-election: 29 June 2023
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Julie Cox 610 63.1 –12.9
Liberal Democrats Thomas Townsend32333.4+19.9
Labour Ian Nicholls343.5–7.0
Majority 28729.7
Turnout 96733.8−6.8
Registered electors 2,860
Conservative hold Swing -16.4

In November 2023, Mohammed Mahboob Din, elected as a Labour councillor, left the party to sit as an independent. [10]

Riverfield by-election: 2 May 2024 [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Hilde Hendrickx 579 57.3 +1.9
Conservative Natalie Christian-John24924.7+1.1
Labour Warwick Mackie13012.9−2.2
Green Emma Smart525.1−0.8
Majority 33032.6
Turnout 1,01034.3+2.0
Registered electors 2,953
Liberal Democrats hold Swing +0.4

The Riverfield by-election was triggered by the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Billy Thompson. [12]

Wyboston by-election: 4 July 2024 [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Sharan Sira 1,096 58.1 –5.0
Liberal Democrats Susan Henchley51527.3−6.1
Green Richard Baker27714.7N/A
Majority 58130.8+1.1
Turnout 1,88866.9+33.1
Registered electors 2,870
Conservative hold Swing +0.6

In June 2025, Caroline White, elected as a Labour councillor for the ward of Kempston East and Central, left the party to sit as an independent. [14]

References

  1. ↑ Dave Hodgson elected mayor, Christine McHugh group leader
  1. ↑ "Notice of Election". Bedford Borough Council . Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  2. ↑ "The Bedford (Electoral Changes) Order 2022", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 2022/268, retrieved 29 April 2023
  3. ↑ Holmes, Amy (13 April 2023). "East-West Rail: Bedford's mayoral candidates split on rail project". BBC News. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  4. ↑ "Local elections 2023: Conservatives take Bedford mayor from Lib Dems". BBC News. 6 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  5. ↑ "Election results - 4 May 2023". Bedford Borough Council . Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  6. ↑ "LIVE: Bedford Borough mayoral and council elections results 2023". Bedford Independent . Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  7. ↑ "Bedford Elections: Who has been elected to Bedford Borough Council and who is the mayor?". Bedford Times and Citizen . Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  8. ↑ "Election notices". Bedford Borough Council . Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  9. ↑ "Election results - 4 May 2023". Bedford Borough Council . Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  10. ↑ Hutchinson, Paul (3 November 2023). "Bedford Borough Councillor resigns from party over Gaza conflict". Bedford Independent. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  11. ↑ "Riverfield Ward by-election Thursday 2 May 2024". Bedford Borough Council. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  12. ↑ Guinn, John (26 March 2024). "Lib Dem councillor resigns following move from the area". Bedford Independent. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  13. ↑ "Wyboston Ward by-election Thursday 4 July 2024". Bedford Borough Council. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  14. ↑ Reporter, Local Democracy (2025-06-23). "Kempston councillor quits Labour over welfare cuts and Palestine stance". Bedford Independent. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
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