Bedford Elections

Bedford Borough Council

The Liberal Democrats came first in the first elections of the Unitary Bedford Borough Council in June 2009, becoming the largest party on the Council after winning seats across both urban and rural areas of the Borough.

The current composition of Bedford Borough Council is:

• 13 Liberal Democrat

• 9 Conservative

• 7 Labour

• 7 Independent

Bedford Borough Council is elected by all-up elections, with the next election due in 2011. After this, all-up elections will follow every four years. A Mayoral by-election will take place on October 15th following the sad death of Frank Branston.

Bedford & Kempston Election Facts 2009

The Lib Dems won nine seats, Labour won seven and the Tories won three

The Liberal Democrats are strong in Bedford & Kempston, having won more seats than any other party in the Bedford & Kempston Constiuency in the local elections in June 2009, and they are the 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.

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.