Mayor Tom Wootton tagged articles

Monthly column: Bedford Borough’s future demands better leadership, not more political division

Bedford Borough Council is at a crossroads. Two major developments in recent weeks have brought some difficult questions into focus: the damning Best Value Inspection report...

Monthly column: Positive progress on GPs and what’s the deal with devolution

Ask residents what matters most in their community, and seeing a GP close to home is often high on the list. Which makes perfect sense; local surgeries, after all, provide essential care...

Bedford Ian writes…

30 October 2026: Horror hack, Slasher stare, and Dead man walking. Bedford Ian has been looking at recent goings-on across Bedford Borough and tells us what he thinks of it all…

Devolution deal in deadlock as Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes miss deadline

No agreement has been reached yet about a devolution deal for Bedfordshire, Luton, and Milton Keynes (BLMK), after a government deadline passed earlier this week... Divided opinions about the best arrangements for a strategic mayoral authority for the region have left uncertainty surrounding a potential £186m annual pledge from central government.

Bedford Ian writes…

23 October 2026: Bedford Ian for mayor, Deliberate deliberation, Bunyan balls-up, Jump scare, What a(i) disaster, and Fall back. Bedford Ian has been looking at recent goings-on...

Court papers reveal Bedford Borough mayor’s £2.7m interest in major rail scheme

The elected mayor of Bedford Borough, who campaigned against East West Rail's preferred route, had a major financial interest in the project that he did not declare during a...

Bedford Borough mayor’s assistant refutes government findings and denies undermining council finance officers

Bedford mayor's assistant Trevor Roff has hit back at a Whitehall inspection report, rejecting claims of overreach and refusing to be made a scapegoat while defending his scrutiny of spending...

Bedford mayor pushes for wider South Midlands authority to safeguard rural voices

Bedford Borough is defying a Whitehall ultimatum to join a four-council devolution deal with Luton and Milton Keynes, warning rural communities will be sidelined by large urban neighbours...

CPRE Bedfordshire demands independent review of town centre East West Rail route

East West Rail bosses insist taking trains through central Bedford is vital for regeneration and Universal UK, rejecting calls from campaigners who want a southern bypass to save £1 billion...

Mayor ignores questions after posting political ‘power grab’ misinformation on social media

Elected mayor of Bedford Borough Tom Wootton has refused to answer questions after posting political claims on social media regarding government commissioners...

Mayor Tom Wootton

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