14 March 2025
Bedford Ian has been looking at recent goings on across Bedford Borough and has told us what he thinks of it all.
You all get satire, right?
This week is the tenth Bedford Ian column, so it’s a great time to say “thank you” to all that have given its satirical take on Bedford Borough such amazing support so far.
Of course, not everyone gets satire, but they’re usually the people it’s aimed at.
Let’s also say “thanks” to those who have had their feathers ruffled when we’ve highlighted something they’ve done that is worth highlighting. Their impassioned comments, shares and reactions on social media have helped with readership figures and we’re grateful.
But we need to make it really clear, Bedford Ian is satire.
Not editorial, satire.
Read: Who writes the news? A guide to bylines used by responsible newspapers and what they tell you
The use of humour, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticise people’s stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.
While it’s not perhaps at the level of our much-admired colleagues at Private Eye, we’re happy to clear that up.
It’s satire.
Constitution clarification
Members and supporters of the Bedford & Kempston Conservative group were in a furore last Saturday evening after they finally got around to reading my thoughts on proposals to change the constitution of Bedford Borough Council.
Read: Bedford Ian writes… (7 March)
The changes, if agreed, will mean the Mayor (whoever they may be) will have the final say on how the Borough is run and no one, not even their executive (whoever they may be), will be able to change their mind or override their decisions.
So, what’s the beef?
Apparently in my satirical (i.e. not to be taken too seriously) take on the proposed constitutional changes, instead of writing ‘the Mayor is about to give himself even more power’, I should have written ‘the Mayor is about to get even more power’.
You see the actual Mayor himself is not making these changes and he doesn’t actually have any say in stopping the changes, aside from speaking out against them.
So, while I presented a satirical take on this, that many seemed to be able to understand, I do accept it may have confused others and I happily set the record straight as quickly as I could once my editor brought it to my attention.
Of course, a lot of these details were already explained in an earlier editorial article written by the editorial team and linked to in my previous column (and below) which explains the situation further.
Read: Changes to Bedford Borough Council constitution will give mayor more power
But the current Executive continues to bemoan that they’re being forced into it because “the law trumps the constitution”. Give me a break.
In one breath our leadership claims to have the power to stop massive infrastructure developments, in another they’re powerless to stop outdated rubber-stamping bureaucracy.
As one Conservative councillor has rightly pointed out, Bedford Independent readers could write to their local MP to highlight concerns over the proposed changes.
So, I can presume then that each member of the Executive is writing to all three MPs covering Bedford Borough and the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to protest this law they have to follow, demanding it be changed.
I presume also that come the full council meeting where it is due to be discussed all councillors opposed to the change will speak up with passion and then abstain from voting to make sure there is a permanent record of their protest.
To say this change has to come without any form of pushback from any councillors of all parties and none is naive and insulting to the people who voted for them.
Councillors constantly talk about becoming councillors so they can do what they think is best for Bedford, to effect change, to make a difference, to give back to their community, and to do what they think is right for the people of Bedford.
So they need to stand up and be counted. If they don’t want this change, they need to say something and fight against it like they do when it’s an issue that might get them a few more votes than the other candidates.
Or if they do want/are happy with this change have some respect for the electorate and admit it instead of hiding behind bureaucracy and claiming their hands are tied.
Bedford Independent Biased
It’s always a sense of pride when every single political party tells you you’re biased because it shows that you’re not.
The Bedford Independent and its team have been blamed (in part) for councillors not being voted in, MP hopefuls losing, businesses closing, and (believe it or not) a conspiracy involving the mayor’s office, a local brewer and a housing developer – but that’s a story for another time.
Of course, none of this is true. We’re not that powerful and if we were we’d all be a lot richer.
But I’m sure our good readers will empathise with how frustrating it is that when you devote your time to highlighting how those we’re here to hold to account could do better, the only response they and their supporters can think of is, “You’re biased”.
Sigh.
What some people don’t seem to grasp is that just because you don’t agree with what’s written, it doesn’t mean it’s inaccurate. Just because the story is critical of a specific political party it doesn’t mean the writer or the publication is politically biased.
Of course, you can have your opinion but opinions are not facts and the Bedford Independent’s editorial deals in facts, not opinions.
Naturally, people sometimes make mistakes. Like cancelling the river festival or reopening a leisure pool before a full financial feasibility study has been carried out.
Or celebrating local roads being some of the best in the country when they’re full of potholes or dressing up your political leaflets to look like local newspapers.
- Read: Mayor clashes with opposition as Councillors agree to close Oasis Beach Pool
- Read: River Festival u-turn leaves unanswered questions despite Mayor’s promise “I am transparent”
- Read: “How bad must the other roads be?” report says Bedford has some of the best roads in the country
- Read: Lib Dems and Conservatives double down on “deceitful” use of ‘propaganda’ style tactics in Mid Beds by-election
But despite one Conservative councillor’s defamatory claim about the Bedford Independent on Facebook last week (now deleted), my editorial colleagues are quite happy to hold their hands up when they make mistakes.
Because that’s what responsible newspapers (and genuine people) do.
Annoyingly for the trolls of Bedford the Bedford Independent follows a strict and ethical standards code set by independent regulator Impress and is duty-bound to issue corrections when appropriate to increase trust in journalism and fight the spread of misinformation.
Read: Our ethics and editorial policy
Read: Corrections and complaints
And do you know something? Progress Publishing, which publishes the Bedford Independent and Bedford Clanger has (so far) never had a complaint against them upheld by Impress in the six years they’ve been going.
That’s because the editors of the area’s most popular newspaper are more than happy to work with the people of Bedford in whatever position they hold to make sure their reporting is factual. If it’s not they will correct it, and highlight that correction, with professional grace.
A professional grace that seems to be sadly lacking from some of the people elected to represent us.
Oh, and as for bias, I checked with the owners of Progress Publishing this week and they each voted for a different political party in the last election.
Can you be equally biased toward three different political parties? I’m sure someone on Facebook will tell us.
See you soon, Bedford Ian.
PS: If you see anything Bedford Ian might find amusing, let us know at news@BedfordIndependent.co.uk.
