Photo: M J Richardson · CC BY-SA 2.0No party holds a majority on Bedford Borough Council
Bedford is run by Bedford Borough Council. No party holds a majority on Bedford Borough Council. Bedford is split between 3 parliamentary constituencies.
£2,438
Band D, a year, the middle band every council sets its tax from.
Where it goes →How Bedford’s politics has changed since 2021
No majority on Bedford Borough Council
Labour, the largest group, holds 14 of its 46 seats as elected, 10 short of the 24 needed. The Conservatives hold 14, the Liberal Democrats 13, the Greens 3 and independents 2. Who’s in charge ↓
Council tax
A Band D bill in Bedford is £2,432 for 2026–27; Bedford Borough Council keeps 83% of it. The council area’s Band D has risen 51% in ten years, against England’s 56%. Council money ↓
Written from the data on this page: Democracy Club results since May 2021, the UK Parliament Members API and MHCLG council tax.
No party has a majority
Seats by party as elected. A party needs 24 of Bedford’s 46 seats to run the council alone.
- Conservative14
- Labour14
- Liberal Democrat13
- Green3
- Independent2
Latest election: May 2023.
Seats are counted from election results: each ward’s most recent winners until its seats are filled. Councillors who have since changed party or resigned aren’t reflected, and which parties lead the council, and who is leader, comes from the council itself.
Results: Democracy Club (CC BY 4.0), elections since May 2021; seats per ward from its EveryElection.
The councils that run Bedford
One council runs every main service here.
The parish council for the part of Bedford inside Brickhill parish.
10% of Bedford’s residents · Band D precept £35
The parish council for the part of Bedford inside Biddenham parish.
Who runs Bedford: same source as Who runs Bedford, above.
The parish council for the part of Bedford inside Elstow parish.
Who runs Bedford: same source as Who runs Bedford, above.
The parish council for the part of Bedford inside Renhold parish.
Who runs Bedford: same source as Who runs Bedford, above.
Every main council service: schools, social care, roads, bins, planning, housing and libraries.
Led by an elected mayor: Tom Wootton (Conservative), elected May 2023
Website ↗Who to ask
From GOV.UK’s “Understand how your council works”: here one council runs every main service.
81% of Bedford’s residents live outside any parish, with no parish council.
Councils from ONS lookups (wards and councils May 2026, parishes 2025), names and websites from GOV.UK’s local council finder; parish councils from MHCLG’s 2026–27 list of precepting parishes.
From the parish to Westminster
Every elected tier that speaks for Bedford, from the most recent elections.
- 1Town or parish4 parish councilsBrickhill parish councilBiddenham parish councilElstow parish councilRenhold parish council
- 2Bedford Borough Council14 wards · 27 councillorsLiberal Democrat 10 · Labour 9 · Conservative 4 · Green 3 · Independent 1 · all 27
- 3Mayor of BedfordBedford Borough Council · elected May 2023Tom Wootton
- 4Police and crime commissionerBedfordshire Police · elected May 2024John Tizard
- 5House of CommonsSplit between 3 constituencies
Party colours are neutral on purpose: they tell parties apart and aren’t the parties’ own. Tap an MP’s name for their contact page on parliament.uk.
27 councillors for 14 wards
Wards with at least 2% of the town’s residents, or half their own inside it. Each shows who won its most recent elections, newest first, until its seats are filled.
- Fouzia Zamir AtiqLabour · May 2023
- Abu SultanLabour · May 2023
- Harish ThaparLabour · May 2023
- Dean CroftsLiberal Democrat · May 2023
- Ralley RahmanLabour · May 2023
- Nesreen AkhtarLabour · May 2023
- Mohammed MasudLabour · May 2023
- Mohammed Mahboob DinLabour · May 2023
- Charles RoydenLiberal Democrat · May 2023
- Wendy RiderLiberal Democrat · May 2023
- Colleen AtkinsLabour · May 2023
- Zara LayneLabour · May 2023
- Tim CaswellLiberal Democrat · May 2023
- Christine McHughLiberal Democrat · May 2023
- Michael HeadleyLiberal Democrat · May 2023
- Max RoydenLiberal Democrat · May 2023
- Lucy BywaterGreen · May 2023
- Paul Richard EdmondsGreen · May 2023
- Henry VannLiberal Democrat · May 2023
- David SawyerLiberal Democrat · May 2023
- Ben FoleyGreen · May 2023
- Hilde Augusta Emilia HendrickxLiberal Democrat · May 2024 · by-election
- Jon GamboldConservative · May 2023
The other 2 wards
- Nicola Louise GribbleIndependent · May 2023
- Graeme CoombesConservative · May 2023
- Marc Jonathan FrostConservative · May 2023
- Andrea SpiceConservative · May 2023
Show as a table
| Ward | Seats | Elected | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cauldwellall in Bedford · 11,543 residents3 seats · May 2023 | 3 | Fouzia Zamir AtiqAbu SultanHarish Thapar | May 2023 |
| Kingsbrookall in Bedford · 10,682 residents2 seats · May 2023 | 2 | Dean CroftsRalley Rahman | May 2023 |
| Queens Parkall in Bedford · 9,778 residents3 seats · May 2023 | 3 | Nesreen AkhtarMohammed MasudMohammed Mahboob Din | May 2023 |
| Brickhillall in Bedford · 9,010 residents2 seats · May 2023 | 2 | Charles RoydenWendy Rider | May 2023 |
| Harpurall in Bedford · 8,864 residents2 seats · May 2023 | 2 | Colleen AtkinsZara Layne | May 2023 |
| Goldingtonall in Bedford · 8,220 residents2 seats · May 2023 | 2 | Tim CaswellChristine McHugh | May 2023 |
| Putnoeall in Bedford · 8,076 residents2 seats · May 2023 | 2 | Michael HeadleyMax Royden | May 2023 |
| Castle & Newnhamall in Bedford · 8,069 residents2 seats · May 2023 | 2 | Lucy BywaterPaul Richard Edmonds | May 2023 |
| De Parysall in Bedford · 7,131 residents2 seats · May 2023 | 2 | Henry VannDavid Sawyer | May 2023 |
| Greyfriarsall in Bedford · 4,189 residents1 seat · May 2023 | 1 | Ben Foley | May 2023 |
| Riverfieldall in Bedford · 3,999 residents1 seat · May 2024 | 1 | Hilde Augusta Emilia Hendrickxby-election | May 2024 |
| Biddenhamall in Bedford · 3,162 residents1 seat · May 2023 | 1 | Jon Gambold | May 2023 |
| Renhold & Ravensdenmostly in Bedford · 2,256 residents1 seat · May 2023 | 1 | Nicola Louise Gribble | May 2023 |
| Wixams & Wilstead18% in Bedford · 2,247 residents3 seats · May 2023 | 3 | Graeme CoombesMarc Jonathan FrostAndrea Spice | May 2023 |
Councillors can resign, change party or sit as independents between elections; a by-election winner replaces someone not named here. Bedford Borough Council’s website lists who sits now.
Results from Democracy Club’s candidates database (CC BY 4.0; elections since May 2021) and ward seats from its EveryElection, matched to ONS wards (May 2026) and county divisions (May 2025).
Bedford Borough Council council election, May 2023
Results in the wards that make up Bedford, as declared. Percentages are of votes cast for candidates in each ward; where a ward elects several councillors, each voter has that many votes.
14 wards voted. Every seat in the town’s wards was up.
No election is scheduled yet for Bedford’s wards in Democracy Club’s list. Councils publish a notice of election about five weeks before polling day.
Who can I vote for? ↗5,830 votes for candidates · 3 seats, so 3 votes each
4,062 votes for candidates · 2 seats, so 2 votes each
8,999 votes for candidates · 3 seats, so 3 votes each
Every ward’s result (11 more)
4,627 votes for candidates · 2 seats, so 2 votes each
3,602 votes for candidates · 2 seats, so 2 votes each
3,113 votes for candidates · 2 seats, so 2 votes each
4,950 votes for candidates · 2 seats, so 2 votes each
4,965 votes for candidates · 2 seats, so 2 votes each
3,548 votes for candidates · 2 seats, so 2 votes each
757 votes for candidates
946 votes for candidates
995 votes for candidates
1,137 votes for candidates
7,764 votes for candidates · 3 seats, so 3 votes each
Candidates and results: Democracy Club (CC BY 4.0), from councils’ declared results; polling dates from Democracy Club’s EveryElection.
Bedford is split between 3 constituencies
The constituencies’ MP and the 4 July 2024 general election, the whole constituency’s result.
Labour, MP since 8 June 2017
91% of Bedford’s residents live in this constituency.
Turnout 56% (England 60%).
Majority 9,430 of 40,659 votes (23.2%): wider than in 73% of England’s 543 constituencies.
Conservative, MP since 12 December 2019
6% of Bedford’s residents live in this constituency.
Turnout 65% (England 60%).
Majority 5,414 of 51,561 votes (10.5%): the 199th-narrowest of 543 in England.
Conservative, MP since 4 July 2024
3% of Bedford’s residents live in this constituency.
Turnout 66% (England 60%).
Majority 1,321 of 49,621 votes (2.7%): the 51st-narrowest of 543 in England.
40,659 votes for candidates · majority 9,430
Labour, MP since 8 June 2017.
turnout in July 2024: 40,659 votes from 72,478 registered voters. England: 60%.
Majority 9,430 of 40,659 votes (23.2%): wider than in 73% of England’s 543 constituencies.
North Bedfordshire
51,561 votes for candidates · majority 5,414
Conservative, MP since 12 December 2019.
turnout in July 2024: 51,561 votes from 78,850 registered voters. England: 60%.
Majority 5,414 of 51,561 votes (10.5%): the 199th-narrowest of 543 in England.
Mid Bedfordshire
49,621 votes for candidates · majority 1,321
Conservative, MP since 4 July 2024.
turnout in July 2024: 49,621 votes from 75,457 registered voters. England: 60%.
Majority 1,321 of 49,621 votes (2.7%): the 51st-narrowest of 543 in England.
MPs and results: UK Parliament Members API (Open Parliament Licence v3.0); constituencies from ONS (2024 boundaries). Percentages are of valid votes; turnout is votes cast over the electorate.
Bedford’s Band D council tax is £2,432 a year
Where a Band D bill goes, what it has cost over the years, and what the councils plan to spend per resident.
Bedford Borough Council keeps £2,011.28 of a Band D bill (83%); the rest goes to the Bedfordshire police and crime commissioner and the Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Authority.
Across the whole town the average Band D is £2,438 (parishes differ; weighted by residents).
Band D since 1993
Bedford’s Band D bill has risen 51% in ten years, from £1,634.44 in 2016–17, against England’s average (56%). It was £504.00 in 1993–94.
Your bill by band
A Band D home in the unparished part of Bedford, 2026–27, before discounts. The Valuation Office Agency’s band search gives any home’s band.
Bedfordshire’s councils
Average Band D in each council area, 2026–27, parish precepts included. Bars start at £2,300.
Council budgets per resident, 2026–27
Show as a table, with Bedfordshire
| Bedford | Bedford’s councils | Bedfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult social care | £486 | £474 | £487 |
| Children’s social care | £300 | £261 | £290 |
| Roads and transport | £53 | £48 | £41 |
| Housing (not council homes’ rents) | £87 | £60 | £61 |
| Bins, street cleaning, environment | £96 | £105 | £119 |
| Libraries, leisure, culture | £42 | £27 | £44 |
| Planning and development | £9 | £20 | £26 |
| Public health | £51 | £64 | £78 |
| Running the council | £49 | £47 | £59 |
| Other | £0 | £16 | £19 |
| Total, schools apart | £1,172 | £1,121 | £1,234 |
Net budgeted service spending, MHCLG Revenue Account budget 2026–27, per resident (ONS mid-2025 estimates). Schools are left out: academies are paid for directly by government, so council school budgets depend on how many schools have converted. Bedfordshire and England: all their councils together. Police, fire and transport authorities aren’t included.
Band D: MHCLG Band D council tax 2026–27 (each authority’s own figure, excluding parish precepts) and Council Tax statistics for town and parish councils 2026–27; since 1993–94, MHCLG’s area averages including parishes.
Having a say in how Bedford is run
It takes about five minutes online; the deadline is 12 working days before a poll.
gov.uk ↗Type a postcode to write to each of its councillors and its MP.
WriteToThem ↗GOV.UK sends the report to the council that looks after the road.
gov.uk ↗Council and committee meetings are open to the public, with agendas and minutes online.
bedford.gov.uk ↗Anyone can comment while an application is open for consultation.
bedford.gov.uk ↗The rules, nomination papers and guidance for council candidates.
Electoral Commission ↗Questions about how Bedford is run
Does Bedford have a town council?
Parts of it do: Brickhill parish council, Biddenham parish council, Elstow parish council and Renhold parish council.
Who is the MP for Bedford?
Bedford is split between 3 constituencies: Bedford (Mohammad Yasin, Labour), North Bedfordshire (Richard Fuller, Conservative) and Mid Bedfordshire (Blake Stephenson, Conservative). Parliament’s Find your MP service matches a postcode to its MP.
How many councillors does Bedford have?
27 ward councillors represent Bedford’s 14 wards.
When are the next elections in Bedford?
No election is scheduled yet in Democracy Club’s list for Bedford’s wards. The next UK general election must be held by August 2029.
How much is council tax in Bedford?
Band D council tax in Bedford is £2,438 for 2026–27. Your bill depends on your home’s band, from A (6/9 of Band D) to H (18/9).
Who controls Bedford Borough Council?
No party has a majority. As elected, Labour 14 · Conservative 14 · Liberal Democrat 13 · Green 3 · Independent 2 of 46 seats; a majority needs 24. The council’s website lists who leads it now.
Who won the 2023 council election in Bedford?
In Bedford’s wards on 4 May 2023, Liberal Democrat 10 · Labour 9 · Conservative 4 · Green 3 · Independent 1 of the 27 seats up. Labour had the largest share of votes, 31.7%.
Sources: ONS ward, county division, parish, constituency lookups (Census 2021 output areas; Open Government Licence v3.0) · GOV.UK local council finder · Democracy Club candidates (CC BY 4.0) and EveryElection · UK Parliament Members API (Open Parliament Licence v3.0) · MHCLG Band D council tax, parish precepts and Revenue Account budgets 2026–27 (OGL v3.0) · ONS mid-2025 population estimates. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.