Bedford Council - Wards and Councillors

Unitary authority · East of England · 46 seats in 28 wards · All seats elected every four years · Next election 6 May 2027

Bedford has a directly elected Conservative mayor. The Conservatives hold 14 of the 46 council seats. The council has 46 councillors in 28 wards. Seats by party: Conservative 14, Lib Dem 12, Labour 12, Other 4, Green 4. The next election is on 6 May 2027.

Control

Seats by party

Conservative mayor

46 seats - 24 for a majority

Labour 12Conservative 14Lib Dem 12Green 4Other 4

Seat changes since the 4 May 2023 election Other +2 Green +1 Lib Dem −1 Labour −2

Vote share at the 4 May 2023 election (46 seats, all wards)

ShareSeats won

Conservative28.0%14

Labour25.6%14

Lib Dem24.6%13

Other10.8%2

Green10.5%3

Reform0.6%0

Next election

6 May 2027

all 46 seats up, then every four years

Largest party

Conservative 14

10 short of the 24 needed for a majority

Closest result

Wootton & Kempston Rural

Lib Dem won the last seat by 10 votes over another Lib Dem candidate, 4 May 2023

Latest by-election

Wyboston

Conservative hold, 4 July 2024 (3 since 2021)

Constituencies

3 overlap

2024Now

Voted Leave in 2016

52%

GB 52%

Wards

Who holds each ward

LabourConservativeLib DemGreenIndependent

Coloured by the party holding most of the ward's seats today; where seats are split evenly, by the party with the higher share at the last election.

All 28 wards

Councillors and last results

Select a ward for its full results, candidates and last by-election.

Ward and councillors	Last election
Biddenham Jon Gambold	4 May 2023 Conservative 44.4% lead 1.9 pts
Brickhill Wendy Rider, Charles Royden	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 49.0% lead 22.8 pts
Bromham Dylan Simmons, Robert Rigby	4 May 2023 Conservative 43.4% lead 25.0 pts
Castle & Newnham Lucy Bywater, Paul Edmonds	4 May 2023 Green 53.2% lead 33.5 pts
Cauldwell Harish Thapar, Fouzia Zamir Atiq, Abu Sultan	4 May 2023 Labour 57.1% lead 35.7 pts
Clapham & Oakley Jonathan Abbott, Jane Walker	4 May 2023 Conservative 48.5% lead 12.9 pts
De Parys David Sawyer, Henry Vann	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 53.1% lead 34.3 pts
Goldington Christine McHugh, Tim Caswell	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 42.2% lead 11.4 pts
Great Barford Phillippa Martin-Moran-Bryant	4 May 2023 Conservative 69.9% lead 55.6 pts
Great Denham James Weir	4 May 2023 Conservative 57.1% lead 30.1 pts
Greyfriars Ben Foley	4 May 2023 Green 36.2% lead 6.7 pts
Harpur Zara Layne, Colleen Atkins	4 May 2023 Labour 57.2% lead 42.5 pts
Harrold Alison Foster	4 May 2023 Conservative 60.6% lead 46.0 pts
Kempston Central & East Mohammed Nawaz, Caroline White	4 May 2023 Labour 46.2% lead 15.1 pts
Kempston North Sue Oliver	4 May 2023 Labour 64.8% lead 42.1 pts
Kempston South Carl Meader	4 May 2023 Labour 82.8% lead 72.4 pts
Kempston West James Valentine	4 May 2023 Labour 68.6% lead 47.3 pts
Kingsbrook Dean Crofts, Ralley Rahman	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 38.6% lead 3.2 pts
Putnoe Max Royden, Michael Headley	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 58.5% lead 37.7 pts
Queens Park Mohammed Masud, Nesreen Akhtar, Mohammed Mahboob Din	4 May 2023 Labour 28.8% lead 4.6 pts
Renhold & Ravensden Nicola Gribble	4 May 2023 Independent 49.6% lead 14.7 pts
Riseley Martin Towler	4 May 2023 Conservative 62.1% lead 43.1 pts
Riverfield Hilde Hendrickx	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 55.4% lead 31.8 pts
Sharnbrook Doug McMurdo	4 May 2023 Independent 67.0% lead 49.1 pts
Shortstown Leigh Coombs, Sarah Gallagher	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 38.8% lead 2.8 pts
Wixams & Wilstead Graeme Coombes, Marc Frost, Andrea Spice	4 May 2023 Conservative 43.4% lead 12.9 pts
Wootton & Kempston Rural Sue Abood, John Wheeler	4 May 2023 Conservative 43.4% lead 1.3 pts
Wyboston Sharan Sira	4 May 2023 Conservative 76.0% lead 62.5 pts

Biddenham

Jon Gambold Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative44.4%

Green42.5%

Labour9.0%

Lib Dem4.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Jon Gambold Elected	Conservative	442	44.4%
Adrian Spurrell	Green	423	42.5%
Christopher Paul Howes	Labour	90	9.0%
Stelios Mores	Lib Dem	40	4.0%

Brickhill

Charles Royden Lib DemWendy Rider Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Lib Dem49.0%

Conservative26.2%

Labour15.4%

Green9.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Charles Royden Elected	Lib Dem	1,208
Wendy Rider Elected	Lib Dem	1,201
Gill Scott	Conservative	645
Sharon Jean Thompson	Conservative	609
Elizabeth Patricia Sophie Pugsley	Labour	380
Warwick Matthew Mackie	Labour	352
Stephen David Bywater	Green	232

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Bromham

Dylan Simmons ConservativeRobert Rigby Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative43.4%

Lib Dem18.4%

Labour17.2%

Green13.1%

Reform7.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Robert Rigby Elected	Conservative	1,061
Dylan Mark Simmons Elected	Conservative	1,055
Richard Delian Jones	Lib Dem	449
Gordon William Charlton	Labour	419
Ashley Frith	Labour	383
Kathryn Louise Hill	Green	320
Stephen Rutherford	Lib Dem	230
Kathy Wallis	Reform	194

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Castle & Newnham

Lucy Bywater GreenPaul Edmonds Green

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Green53.2%

Labour19.7%

Lib Dem17.8%

Conservative9.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Lucy Bywater Elected	Green	1,689
Paul Richard Edmonds Elected	Green	1,157
Sam Blacklaws	Labour	626
Hilde Augusta Emilia Hendrickx	Lib Dem	566
Tom Pattinson	Lib Dem	348
Simon Matthew Briggs	Conservative	295
Josh Walker	Conservative	284

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Cauldwell

Abu Sultan LabourFouzia Zamir Atiq LabourHarish Thapar Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Labour57.1%

Conservative21.4%

Lib Dem12.0%

Green9.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Fouzia Zamir Atiq Elected	Labour	1,331
Abu Sultan Elected	Labour	1,137
Harish Thapar Elected	Labour	1,127
Suresh Kumar Sunda	Conservative	498
Spenser Robert George Groves	Conservative	433
Ionut Milea	Conservative	388
Charlotte Elisabeth Margrethe Bagnall	Lib Dem	279
Eve Frances McGrath	Lib Dem	240
Susan Linda Throssell	Green	224
Tristan Antony Steyn	Lib Dem	173

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Clapham & Oakley

Jane Walker ConservativeJonathan Abbott Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative48.5%

Lib Dem35.6%

Labour8.8%

Green7.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Jane Walker Elected	Conservative	1,101
Jon Abbott Elected	Lib Dem	808
Phillipa Elizabeth Rose Simms	Conservative	795
John Manning	Lib Dem	539
June McDonald	Labour	200
Thoufique Ali	Labour	175
Lynne Rosemary Gray	Green	163

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

De Parys

David Sawyer Lib DemHenry Vann Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Lib Dem53.1%

Conservative18.8%

Labour16.4%

Green11.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Henry Vann Elected	Lib Dem	1,044
David Sawyer Elected	Lib Dem	968
Jason John Gordon	Conservative	369
Freddie Linsley	Conservative	347
Shaun Bowman	Labour	322
Mohammad Khayrul Islam	Labour	268
Harrison Philip James Marley	Green	230

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Goldington

Christine McHugh Lib DemTim Caswell Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Lib Dem42.2%

Labour30.8%

Conservative13.7%

Green7.2%

Reform6.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Tim Caswell Elected	Lib Dem	792
Christine McHugh Elected	Lib Dem	729
Shane Kelly	Labour	578
Cathrine Ward	Labour	505
Bernard Roger Jones	Conservative	257
Philippa Fleming	Green	136
Adrian Haynes	Reform	116

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Great Barford

Phillippa Martin-Moran-Bryant Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative69.9%

Green14.3%

Lib Dem9.2%

Labour6.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Phillippa Martin-Moran-Bryant Elected	Conservative	781	69.9%
Tobias Waltham	Green	160	14.3%
Malcolm Raymond Smith	Lib Dem	103	9.2%
Harvey Stimson	Labour	73	6.5%

Great Denham

James Weir Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative57.1%

Lib Dem27.0%

Labour12.1%

Green3.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Jim Weir Elected	Conservative	623	57.1%
Joanna Szaub-Newton	Lib Dem	295	27.0%
Mohammad Teahleel	Labour	132	12.1%
Tim Crowhurst	Green	42	3.8%

Greyfriars

Ben Foley Green

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Green36.2%

Labour29.5%

Independent19.0%

Conservative8.9%

Lib Dem5.7%

Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition0.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Ben Foley Elected	Green	274	36.2%
Sudesh Rani	Labour	223	29.5%
Syedur Rahman	Independent	144	19.0%
Karen Boyes	Conservative	67	8.9%
Nigel Jason Spencer	Lib Dem	43	5.7%
Paul Mannion	Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition	6	0.8%

Harpur

Colleen Atkins LabourZara Layne Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Labour57.2%

Conservative14.7%

Independent12.5%

Green8.0%

Lib Dem7.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Colleen Atkins Elected	Labour	1,178
Zara Layne Elected	Labour	977
Steve Spring	Conservative	302
Elizabeth Oluwafunke Akinwande	Conservative	276
David John Allen	Independent	258
Jonathan Westwood	Green	165
Barry Ian Freeman	Green	160
Martin Joseph Kavanagh	Lib Dem	158
Patricia Anne Wood	Lib Dem	128

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Harrold

Alison Foster Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative60.6%

Lib Dem14.6%

Labour12.6%

Green12.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Alison Foster Elected	Conservative	789	60.6%
James David Stuart Thomson	Lib Dem	190	14.6%
David Dennis Bevan	Labour	164	12.6%
Niamh Elizabeth Lynch	Green	160	12.3%

Kempston Central & East

Caroline White GreenMohammed Nawaz Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Labour46.2%

Lib Dem31.1%

Conservative14.0%

Green8.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Mohammed Nawaz Elected	Labour	907
Caroline Lisa White Elected	Labour	875
Jas Parmar	Lib Dem	612
Louise Crofts	Lib Dem	429
Joseph Adewale Johnson	Conservative	276
Simran Nahar	Conservative	224
Mark A Brown	Green	170

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Kempston North

Sue Oliver Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Labour64.8%

Conservative22.7%

Green7.6%

Lib Dem4.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Sue Oliver Elected	Labour	665	64.8%
Elizabeth Hedison	Conservative	233	22.7%
Laura Mary Fitzgerald	Green	78	7.6%
Bipinchandra Shah	Lib Dem	50	4.9%

Kempston South

Carl Meader Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Labour82.8%

Conservative10.4%

Lib Dem4.0%

Green2.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Carl Rex Meader Elected	Labour	902	82.8%
Barry Ryan	Conservative	113	10.4%
Janet Elizabeth Trengrove	Lib Dem	44	4.0%
Sanjay Patel	Green	31	2.8%

Kempston West

James Valentine Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Labour68.6%

Conservative21.3%

Lib Dem6.7%

Green2.9%

Communist Party of Britain0.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
James Emmanuel Valentine Elected	Labour	615	68.6%
Elizabeth Dawn Wootton	Conservative	191	21.3%
Paramjeet Kaur	Lib Dem	60	6.7%
James Andrew Long	Green	26	2.9%
Markus Keaney	Communist Party of Britain	5	0.6%

Kingsbrook

Dean Crofts Lib DemRalley Rahman Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Lib Dem38.6%

Labour35.4%

Conservative17.8%

Green8.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Dean Crofts Elected	Lib Dem	879
Ralley Rahman Elected	Labour	805
Mashuk Miah Ullah	Labour	776
Henna Khanum	Lib Dem	701
Caroline Sara Fensome	Conservative	405
Sharan Sira	Conservative	309
Nick Meek	Green	187

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Putnoe

Max Royden Lib DemMichael Headley Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Lib Dem58.5%

Conservative20.8%

Labour12.0%

Green8.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Michael Headley Elected	Lib Dem	1,638
Max Royden Elected	Lib Dem	1,380
Katherine Theresa Groves	Conservative	581
Martin John MacPherson-Lawley	Conservative	495
Wendie Harvey	Labour	336
Geoffrey James Pearce	Labour	275
Jen Feneley	Green	245

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Queens Park

Mohammed Mahboob Din IndependentMohammed Masud LabourNesreen Akhtar Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Labour28.8%

Independent24.2%

Independent18.7%

Independent14.4%

Independent4.5%

Lib Dem3.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Nesreen Akhtar Elected	Labour	1,604
Mohammed Masud Elected	Labour	1,484
Mohammed Mahboob Din Elected	Labour	1,433
Mohammad Rafi	Independent	1,349
Zaffar Iqbal	Independent	1,042
Gulam Monowar	Independent	803
Ishtiaq Ahmed	Independent	248
Sydney Guthrie Campbell	Lib Dem	193
Jennifer Jane Wootton	Conservative	182
Peter Edward Davis	Conservative	163
Kelvin Robert James Plomer	Green	146
Verity Elizabeth Wootton	Conservative	146
James Stuart Baggaley	Lib Dem	133
Rashid Rogers	Lib Dem	73

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Renhold & Ravensden

Nicola Gribble Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Independent49.6%

Conservative34.9%

Labour8.6%

Lib Dem6.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Nicola Louise Gribble Elected	Independent	564	49.6%
Fiona Joanna Cardinale	Conservative	397	34.9%
Melanie Louise Purves	Labour	98	8.6%
Conrad Holden Longmore	Lib Dem	78	6.9%

Riseley

Martin Towler Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative62.1%

Labour19.0%

Green10.2%

Lib Dem8.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Martin Towler Elected	Conservative	865	62.1%
Min Rodriguez	Labour	265	19.0%
Joanne Louise Hill	Green	142	10.2%
Lorna Rose Marchant	Lib Dem	121	8.7%

Riverfield

Hilde Hendrickx Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Lib Dem55.4%

Conservative23.6%

Labour15.1%

Green5.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Billy Richard Thompson Elected	Lib Dem	524	55.4%
John Norman Robertson	Conservative	223	23.6%
Neil Stuart Mann	Labour	143	15.1%
Daniel Stachowiak	Green	56	5.9%

Last by-election, 2 May 2024

Lib Dem57.3%

Conservative24.7%

Labour12.9%

Green5.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Hilde Augusta Emilia Hendrickx Elected	Lib Dem	579	57.3%
Natalie Khalila Christian-John	Conservative	249	24.7%
Warwick Matthew Mackie	Labour	130	12.9%
Emma Jane Smart	Green	52	5.1%

Sharnbrook

Doug McMurdo Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Independent67.0%

Conservative17.9%

Labour8.7%

Lib Dem6.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Doug McMurdo Elected	Independent	946	67.0%
Douglas Hansen-Luke	Conservative	252	17.9%
Thomas Owain McEwan	Labour	123	8.7%
Paul Bernard Stekelis	Lib Dem	90	6.4%

Shortstown

Leigh Coombs Lib DemSarah Gallagher Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Lib Dem38.8%

Conservative36.0%

Labour15.1%

Green10.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Leigh James Coombs Elected	Lib Dem	652
Sarah Gallagher Elected	Conservative	605
Stephen Bowering	Lib Dem	529
Sam Holland	Conservative	419
Ali Akbor	Labour	253
Mansoor Nasir	Labour	204
Richard James Baker	Green	170

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Wixams & Wilstead

Andrea Spice ConservativeGraeme Coombes ConservativeMarc Frost Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Conservative43.4%

Lib Dem30.5%

Labour17.1%

Independent8.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Graeme Coombes Elected	Conservative	1,307
Marc Jonathan Frost Elected	Conservative	1,129
Andrea Spice Elected	Conservative	969
Linda Jack	Lib Dem	918
John Symonds	Lib Dem	868
Sachdev Goldi	Lib Dem	829
Steve Conway	Labour	516
Terri Conway	Labour	511
Amir Khan	Labour	448
Lee James Melville	Independent	269

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Wootton & Kempston Rural

John Wheeler ConservativeSue Abood Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative43.4%

Lib Dem42.1%

Labour14.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes
John Wheeler Elected	Conservative	885
Susan Abood Elected	Lib Dem	858
Peter Stephens	Lib Dem	848
Tristan Tyerman	Conservative	652
John Gerard Dawson	Labour	296
Hamayun Shaid	Labour	268

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Wyboston

Sharan Sira Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative76.0%

Lib Dem13.5%

Labour10.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Tom Wootton Elected	Conservative	878	76.0%
Thomas Luke Townsend	Lib Dem	156	13.5%
Ian Robert James Nicholls	Labour	121	10.5%

Last by-election, 4 July 2024

Conservative58.1%

Lib Dem27.3%

Green14.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Sharan Sira Elected	Conservative	1,096	58.1%
Susan Frances Henchley	Lib Dem	515	27.3%
Richard James Baker	Green	277	14.7%

Councillors

Changed party since the election

2 councillors now sit for a different party from the one they were elected for.

Ward	Councillor	Elected as	Now
Kempston Central & East	Caroline White	Labour 2023	Green
Queens Park	Mohammed Mahboob Din	Labour 2023	Independent

By-elections

Every council by-election since 2021

3 by-elections since July 2021, 0 of them gains.

Date	Ward	Result	Winner's share
4 July 2024	Wyboston	Conservative hold	58.1%
2 May 2024	Riverfield	Lib Dem hold	57.3%
29 June 2023	Wyboston	Conservative hold	63.1%

Parliament

Parliamentary constituencies

Constituency	Share of council	2024 winner	Projected now
Bedford	62%	Labour	Labour 36%
North Bedfordshire	29%	Conservative	Conservative 34%
Mid Bedfordshire	9%	Conservative	Conservative 30%

Share of the council: the proportion of its census neighbourhoods (2021 LSOAs) in each seat. The projection is PollCheck's demographic model at current polling, not a forecast.

People

Who lives in Bedford

185,226 residents in 74,950 households

Voted Leave in 2016

52% same as GB

Degree or higher

35% 1 above GB

No qualifications

17% 1 below GB

Own their home

63% 2 above GB

Rent from a council or housing association

16% 1 below GB

Rent privately

19% 1 below GB

Aged 15 to 34

30% 1 below GB

Aged 65 and over

21% 1 below GB

GB figure. 2021 Census (Scotland: 2022): age as a share of residents aged 15 and over, qualifications of residents aged 16 and over, housing as a share of households. Leave: 2016 EU referendum, Electoral Commission results by counting area.

Similar

Councils most like this one

WorcesterLabour (Minority)CherwellLiberal Democrats / Green / Independent Coalition West NorthamptonshireReform UK (Majority)HertsmereLabour / Liberal Democrats Coalition SwindonConservative (Minority)

Closest on the measures above: the 2016 Leave vote, age, qualifications and housing. Maps show which party holds each ward.

Sources

Sources and method

Seat totals and control: PollCheck council control tracker. Councillors: Open Council Data (CC BY-SA 4.0). Election results: Democracy Club (CC BY 4.0), with some vote counts from DCLEAPIL, Leman (2025) (CC BY-SA 4.0), and corrections checked against councils' official declarations. Ward boundaries: Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v.3.0. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Census: Office for National Statistics and National Records of Scotland.

Councillor lists and DCLEAPIL-derived vote counts on this page are available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

In wards electing more than one councillor, a party's share counts only its leading candidate (the Rallings and Thrasher method). Independents count individually. The lead is the gap between the top two parties' shares.