As part of our commitment to providing balanced reporting, we have been provided with our local democracy reporter’s interview schedule for general election candidates across Bedford Borough.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) provides eligible publications with news about local authorities and other public service organisations. They are funded by the BBC but are employed by regional news organisations.
We are grateful to John Guinn and Euan Duncan, the Local Democracy Reporters (LDR) in Bedfordshire, for their continued work in helping keep Bedford Independent readers and others fully informed.
The following list details the interviews that have been completed, are yet to be published, have yet to take place, or where an interview request is still awaiting a response.
Every candidate has been given the opportunity to be interviewed and tell local voters their priorities if they were elected in their constituency.
Bedford
- Conservative: Pinder Chauhan – interviewed. Read: Conservative candidate promises ‘constituency before party’ – and that includes EWR
- Independent: Tarek Javed – interviewed. Read: “I’ll give half my salary to local services” says Independent candidate
- Labour: Mohammad Yasin – interviewed. Read: Labour candidate highlights local plans amongst party’s national manifesto
- Liberal Democrat: Henry Vann – interviewed. Read: “I will fight tooth and nail for Bedford and Kempston” says Lib Dem candidate
- Green: Ben Foley – Interviewed. Read: Gaza top priority for Bedford & Kempston voters claims Green candidate
- Reform UK: Matt Lansley – Interviewed. Read: Voters are “disgusted” by major parties says Bedford & Kempston Reform UK candidate
- Workers Party: Prince Sadiq Chaudhury – no response to request
Mid-Bedfordshire
- Conservative: Blake Stephenson – interviewed awaiting publication. Read: Mid Bedfordshire deserves a “strong local constituency MP” says Conservative candidate
- Independent: Gareth Mackey – interviewed. Read: Mid Bedfordshire Independent candidate says he has “unfinished business”
- Labour: Maahwish Mirza – interviewed. Read: I’ll be “committed, active and visible” says Labour’s Mid Bedfordshire candidate.
- Reform UK: Dave Holland – interviewed. Read: Reform Mid-Bedfordshire candidate says they’ll be “ahead of the Tories” with Farage standing
- SDP: Richard Brunning – interviewed. Read: SDP candidate for Mid Bedfordshire outlines his “ideas on how to make the area better”
- Liberal Democrat: Stuart Roberts – Interviewed. Read: “I may not live here but I understand the issues,” says Mid Beds Lib Dem candidate
- Green: Cade Sibley – date to be confirmed
North Bedfordshire
- Labour: Uday Nagaraju- interviewed. Read: North Bedfordshire Labour candidate says he’ll be available for all
- Liberal Democrat: Joanna Szaub-Newton – interviewed. Read: North Bedfordshire’s Lib Dem candidate says voters are craving change
- Reform UK: Pippa Clayton – Interviewed. Read: North Bedfordshire Reform UK candidate says Reform UK will “upset the French”
- Conservative: Richard Fuller – no response to request
- Green: Philippa Flemming – no response to request
For unrivalled General Election coverage across Bedford & Kempston, Mid Bedfordshire and North Bedfordshire, head to our General Election 2024 pages.
