Columns

The Bedford Independent carries regular columns submitted by various political leaders and organisations that work within Bedford Borough.

For 2026, columns will be each month as follows:

Week one*

  • Monday: Bedford Borough Mayor’s office (Conservative)**
  • Tuesday: Bedford Borough Council opposition (shared between Labour and Liberal Democrats)**
  • Wednesday: Bedford Borough Council opposition (shared between Greens and Independents)**
  • Thursday: Bedford Borough charitable organisations arranged by Pritti Sagi, Creating Memories
  • Friday: Bedfordshire PCC (Labour)

Week two

  • Monday: Bedford & Kempston MP (Labour)
  • Tuesday: North Bedfordshire MP (Conservative) – offered but no response
  • Wednesday: Bedford Borough communities arranged by Queen’s Park Community Organisation
  • Thursday: Mid Bedfordshire MP (Conservative)
  • Friday: Beds GOVET (Environmental).

 

These columns are published unedited and do not reflect the views of Progress Publishing, its staff or its publications.

If you have an idea for a regular column, please email news@BedfordIndependent.co.uk.

*From the first full week of the month
**So that the number of columns reflects the size of each party on Bedford Borough Council, the number of columns per party is as follows: Conservative (current council leadership) x 12, Liberal Democrats x 6, Labour x 6, Green Party x 4, Independents x 1 (each).

Monthly column: Paying tribute on Armed Forces Day

It’s good to see the Armed Forces Day flag flying from Borough Hall in anticipation of Armed Forces Day on Saturday (25 June). I’m looking forward to the first in-person event in a few years...

Legal advice: What the update to the Trust Registration Service means to you

This month, Woodfines Solicitors look at the important update to the Trust Registration Service (TRS) and any action needed by Trustees to avoid a penalty Introduced as part of the...

Monthly column: Wow, what a (long) Platinum Jubilee weekend

Bedford Borough did Her Majesty the Queen proud with so many events celebrating the Platinum Jubilee. I hope everyone was able to attend, and enjoy, some of the many events that took...

Bedford man seeks support for Law Ombudsman claim against local solicitor

A Bedford man is asking others to contact him if they've had bad experiences with a solicitor who he made complaints against in 2019. In 2019, George Hodges' 85-year-old...

Monthly column: Unacceptable delays in refugees’ visa applications

Many of you have contacted me regarding Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, and how you can best support those who are vulnerable. I am incredibly proud and thankful of my constituents’ generosity

Legal advice: New mobile phone laws whilst driving

A significant step to improving road safety and cracking down on hand-held mobile phone use whilst driving was implemented on 25 March 2022. In short, the Police will no longer be required to prove that a...

Monthly column: Homes for Ukraine

The situation in Ukraine continues to be appalling and the people of that proud country are suffering untold hardship and around 4 million people, mainly women and children have had to flee...

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