The final result of the first Bedford Mayoral Election saw Frank Branston elected for the Better Bedford Party. Lib Dem Christine McHugh came second with 36% of the total vote after the 2nd preferences were counted.
The Bedford Mayoral Election count for the first directly elected Mayor of Bedford has been suspended with the second round to be counted on Friday Morning. At the end of a long nights count, Christine McHugh and Frank Branston topped the poll and proceeded to the second round.
The Lib Dem campaign for Mayor of Bedford continues to gather pace and a close result is expected tomorrow - but only if people turn out to support Christine. Over the past 7 days more and more people have pledged to back Christine McHugh, supporting her campaign for Zero Waste, Zero Tolerance of Graffiti and a Zero Tax increase for local residents.
Liberal Democrats on Bedford Borough Council have raised questions over the councils role as a land owner after land to the North of Bedford has been earmarked to become sites for new housing developments. This has resulted in a letter being sent to the Chief Executive of Bedford Borough Council calling upon him to highlight areas of land, crucial to the development, owned by the council. Any use of this land for housing purposes will mean the council is responsible for a loss of amenity in the area.
The Liberal Democrats have received a strong boost in the week before the Bedford Mayoral Election. An ICM opinion poll published in Sunday’s News of the World showed Liberal Democrat support equal with the Conservatives at 24%.
Lib Dem plans to free up council reserves for immediate use on front line services have been halted following a decision by members of the Borough Council Executive Committee.
