Political Column, Author at Bedford Independent

Monthly column: Time for a change in Bedford Borough Council’s democracy

Bedford Borough Labour Group has set up a petition to give local people a say on how their Council is run. We believe the time has come for a referendum on the system of Governance and...

Monthly column: Bedfordshire’s vital agricultural land must be protected

The importance of food security and the protection of our rural communities must not be underestimated. That’s why I was so keen to speak in my neighbouring MP, Richard Fuller’s, debate in Parliament...

Monthly column: AI in policing – making a difference; being ethical

Technology, including AI, is increasingly used in every aspect of our daily lives, and businesses and public services are no exception. AI has an important contribution to make in preventing crime...

Monthly column: Government Pledges 10,000 new foster homes to support vulnerable children

The government has unveiled ambitious plans to transform foster care in England, pledging to create up to 10,000 new foster placements this parliament. The aim is to ensure thousands more...

Monthly column: I’m backing Bedford

As Leader of the Opposition on Bedford Borough Council, I refuse to talk our town down. The people of Bedford Borough are brilliant. Our Borough is full of people whose creativity, resilience...

Monthly column: Facing the facts and fixing the finances

I am often asked what it is like being a Mayor after spending my whole working life as a farmer. The reality is simple: on a farm, when a job needs doing, you get on with it. That is the approach...

Column: Labour’s plans to scrap some jury trials defies all logic

Trial by jury is a centuries‑old safeguard, dating to before the Norman Conquest and guaranteed by the Magna Carta, designed to ensure that an individual can be judged guilty only by their peers...

Monthly column: Rebuilding youth services – why the National Youth Strategy matters

Young people across England will benefit from over £500 million of government investment as the first National Youth Strategy in 15 years is published last month, setting out...

Monthly column: Listening, responding and improving

Last autumn, More In Common, one of the country’s leading professional opinion polling companies, undertook a comprehensive survey of public opinion in Bedfordshire relating to...

Monthly column: A step forward for working people in Bedford Borough

The passing of the Employment Rights Bill is welcome news for working people across Bedford Borough. At a time when many families are under pressure from rising living costs and insecure work...