9 November 2026

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All the latest Political and politics news from across Bedford Borough. Everything you need to keep you up to date with what’s happening in Bedford Borough on your mobile or desktop via the Bedford Independent.

The Bedford Independent was founded to provide the people of Bedford Borough with a modern news desk that would give them easy access to genuine and unbiased Bedford news. We are independent in ownership and opinion.

Our mission is to inform and inspire the people of Bedford. To do this we will work hard to bring them the news that matters to them from our town centre to the most rural of the Borough’s villages.

Our editorial team are NCTJ trained and follows a standards code set out by the independent press regulator IMPRESS Standards.

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...

Bedford Borough Council stops short of deleting X account despite child abuse and deepfake concerns

Bedford Borough Council says it will keep X for emergency use despite reports linking the platform to AI-generated sexualised images of children and growing international investigations...

Labour says abstaining on Bedford council budget was a “responsible choice”

Bedford Borough Labour Group has defended its decision to abstain after the council’s budget was voted down, saying the plans failed to secure long-term financial stability...

Borough Council executive forced back to drawing board after narrow vote rejects budget

Bedford Borough Council’s budget plans were defeated last night in an 18-16 vote, with 11 abstentions, forcing the administration back to the drawing board. Mayor Tom Wootton later warned...

Bedfordshire Police share of council tax to increase by 6.6%

Bedfordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) has secured specific Home Office approval to increase the police council tax precept above the standard limit for 2026/27...

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...

Council refuses planning consent for Kempston community hub

Plans for a controversial new community hub and up to 79 homes on land north of Cemetery Road in Kempston have been refused by Bedford Borough Council. The hybrid application...

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...

Mayor’s leaked letter offers stark warning if budget isn’t approved

Bedford’s mayor has warned councillors that failure to approve the council’s new budget could mean unelected government officials running the council, according to a leaked letter...

Third time lucky for mayor’s Special Area Charges decision

Bedford’s mayor has signed his third executive decision on Special Area Charges in less than a month. The latest decision, signed on Friday, 30 January, was made after a call-in hearing...