Bedford Elections

The Liberal Democrats are strong in Bedford & Kempston, having polled more votes than any other party in the Bedford & Kempston Constiuency in the elections in May 2007 and are the second largest group on the Borough Council. Bedford currently has a Labour MP, but there was a 6% swing to the Liberal Democrats in the 2005 General Election.

Bedford & Kempston Election Facts 2007

* Liberal Democrats had 32.6% of the votes cast, more than Labour or Tories.

* The Tories did not elect even a single councillor

* Lib Dems won 6 seats, Labour 3 and Tories none

* The Tories lost the only seat they were defending to the Lib Dems

* This was the best ever Liberal Democrat result in Bedford & Kempston.

Bedford Borough Council

In the 2007 elections, Lib Dems took Brickhill from the Conservatives with a 500-vote majority and held all the seats their existing seats once more.

The current composition of Bedford Borough Council is:

• 19 Conservative

• 16 Liberal Democrat

• 12 Labour

• 7 Independent

The council however has an elected Better Bedford Mayor, with a cabinet comprising of members from all groups except the Liberal Democrats. The Liberal Democrats therefore play the only genuinely independent role in holding the Mayor and the cabinet to account for local people. Bedford Borough Council is elected by thirds, with the next election due in May 2008.

Bedfordshire County Council

Bedford also elects councillors to Bedfordshire County Council, which covers the whole county except for the unitary authority of Luton. Of the 52 seats on Bedfordshire County Council, there are 36 Conservative, 7 Labour and 9 Liberal Democrat Councillors. All County Councillors are elected in "all-up" elections every four years, the last being in May 2005.

General Election 2005

At the last General Election (May 2005) the Liberal Democrats were the only main party to significantly increase their share of the vote. The May 2005 results were:

• Labour - 17,557 (-6.2%)

• Conservative - 14,174 (+0.9%)

• Liberal Democrats, Michael Headley - 9,063 (+5.7%)

• UKIP - 995 (+1.3%)

• Independent - 283 (+0.7%)

Voting and Postal Votes

Voting at all levels - Borough, County, Parliamentary and for the European Parliament is open to all people over the age of 18 (with a very few exceptions). If you would find it easier to vote by post than to go to a polling station on the day of the election to cast your vote, you can do so.

Details of how to make sure you are on the electoral roll and entitled to vote and how to get a postal vote are available from:

Postal voting information and form.

Electoral registration information and form.