2023 Bedford Borough Council election

2023 Bedford Borough Council election

← 2019 4 May 2023 (2023-05-04) 2027 →
All 46 seats to Bedford Borough Council 24 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	34.9%
First party Second party Third party   Leader Sue Oliver Graeme Coombes Dave Hodgson[a] Party Labour Conservative Liberal Democrats Last election 11 seats, 27.6% 11 seats, 31.3% 15 seats, 30.3% Seats won 14 13 13 Seat change 3 2 2 Popular vote 24,563 23,316 23,194 Percentage 29.4% 27.9% 27.7% Swing 1.8% 3.4% 2.6%   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   Leader N/A N/A N/A Party Green Independent Vacant Last election 2 seats, 6.4% 1 seat, 3.7% Seats won 3 2 1 Seat change 1 1 1 Popular vote 6,786 5,479 Percentage 8.1% 6.5% Swing 1.8% 2.8%
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.

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]

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