Mayor of Bedford

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Mayor of Bedford
Dave-Hodgson.jpg
Incumbent
Dave Hodgson
since 16 October 2009
Style No courtesy title or style
Appointer Electorate of Bedford
Term length Four years
Inaugural holder Frank Branston
Website Mayor of Bedford

The Mayor of Bedford is a directly elected mayor responsible for the executive function of Bedford Borough Council in Bedfordshire. The incumbent is Dave Hodgson of the Liberal Democrats.

History

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Main article: List of mayors of Bedford (England)

The first known reference to a Mayor of Bedford in England was in 1264.

Prior to the Municipal Corporations Act, 1835, the Mayor of Bedford came into office on 29 September. The first Mayor of the reformed Corporation came into office on 1 January 1836, and subsequent Mayors on 9 November. After the Local Government Act, 1948, and the Local Government Act, 1972, the Mayors from 1949 onwards came into office in May. The civic Mayor was replaced by a directly elected Mayor in 2002.

Since April 2009 the Borough of Bedford is a unitary authority, with the executive having the powers and functions of both a non-metropolitan district and a non-metropolitan county.

Referendum

Bedford held a referendum on 21 February 2002 on whether to introduce a directly elected mayor after a petition was signed by at least 5% of the electorate. The move was approved with 11,316 voting in favour and 5,357 against on a turnout of 15.5%.[1]

Mayor of Bedford referendum
21 February 2002
Choice Votes  %
Referendum passed Elected Mayor 11,316 66.78
Cabinet System 5,537 33.22
Valid votes 16,843 99.60
Invalid or blank votes 34 0.40
Total votes 16887 100.00
Registered voters and turnout 108,817 15.54
Source: Bedford Borough Council[2]

Elections

The first mayoral election on 17 October 2002 saw independent Frank Branston elected as mayor.[3]

2002

Bedford Mayoral Election 17 October 2002 [4][5]
Party Candidate 1st Round  % 2nd Round Total  First Round Votes  Transfer Votes 
Better Bedford Party Frank Branston 9,557 34.5% 2,521 12,078
​ ​
Liberal Democrat Christine McHugh 4,711 17.0% 2,253 6,964
​ ​
Conservative Charles Rose 4,661 16.8%
​ ​
Labour Apu Bagchi 4,114 14.8%
​ ​
Independent Ian Clifton 1,893 6.8%
​ ​
Independent Arthur Foster 1,826 6.6%
​ ​
Green Mark Powell 735 2.7%
​ ​
Independent Gurminder Dosanjh 218 0.8%
​ ​
Better Bedford Party win

2007

In 2007 Frank Branston was re-elected as mayor.

Bedford Mayoral Election 3 May 2007 [6]
Party Candidate 1st Round  % 2nd Round Total  First Round Votes  Transfer Votes 
Better Bedford Party Frank Branston 15,966 36.7% 3,732 19,698
​ ​
Conservative Charles Rose 10,710 24.6% 2,603 13,313
​ ​
Liberal Democrat Christine McHugh 10,533 24.2%
​ ​
Labour Randolph Charles 4,758 10.9%
​ ​
Green Justina McLennan 1,538 3.5%
​ ​
Better Bedford Party hold

2009 By-Election

A by-election took place on 15 October 2009 after the death of the previous incumbent, Frank Branston in August 2009.[7] The by-election was won by the Liberal Democrat, Dave Hodgson.[7]

Bedford Mayoral By-Election 15 October 2009 [8]
Party Candidate 1st Round  % 2nd Round Total  First Round Votes  Transfer Votes 
Liberal Democrat Dave Hodgson 9,428 26.8% 4,127 13,555
​ ​
Conservative Parvez Akhtar 9,105 25.9% 2,438 11,543
​ ​
Independent Apu Bagchi 7,631 21.7%
​ ​
Independent Tony Hare 4,316 12.3%
​ ​
Labour James Valentine 3,482 9.9%
​ ​
Green Eve Robinson-Morley 1,183 3.4%
​ ​
Liberal Democrat gain from Better Bedford Party

2011

Dave Hodgson was elected to a full term as Mayor on 5 May 2011 after being elected to finish the term of Frank Branston in 2009.

Bedford Mayoral Election 5 May 2011 [9]
Party Candidate 1st Round  % 2nd Round Total  First Round Votes  Transfer Votes 
Liberal Democrat Dave Hodgson 19,966 37.7% 4,325 24,291
​ ​
Conservative John Guthrie 17,501 33.0% 1,824 19,325
​ ​
Labour Michelle Harris 11,197 21.1%
​ ​
Independent Tony Hare 3,133 5.9%
​ ​
Green Greg Paszynski 1,211 2.3%
​ ​
Liberal Democrat hold

2015

The most recent mayoral election took place on 7 May 2015, the same day as elections of Bedford Borough Councillors, and the UK General Election. Hodgson was re-elected.

Bedford Mayoral Election 7 May 2015 [10]
Party Candidate 1st Round  % 2nd Round Total  First Round Votes  Transfer Votes 
Liberal Democrat Dave Hodgson 25,282 31.4% 10,020 35,302
​ ​
Conservative Jas Parmar 19,417 24.1% 7,096 26,513
​ ​
Labour Tim Douglas 15,931 19.8%
​ ​
Independent Steve Lowe 12,883 16.0%
​ ​
UKIP Adrian Haynes 7,060 8.8%
​ ​
Liberal Democrat hold

References

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