Background

Our Background

Better Bedford was formed in 2002 by people who were fed up with the dictatorial yet incompetent political leadership of the national parties represented on Bedford Borough Council. Many residents believed that "politicking" in a council upon which no one party had an overall majority (a "hung" council) had been the biggest single cause of the decline in the prosperity and amenities of the town and surrounding areas. For 20 years efforts seemed to have been devoted primarily to preventing co-operation amongst parties and individuals, to the detriment of all who lived or worked in the Borough.

For many years Frank Branston, founder and former editor of the weekly newspaper Bedfordshire on Sunday, had been very concerned about the widespread feeling of apathy and despair. Phil Lotan and others invited Frank to stand as a candidate for the newly created post of directly-elected Mayor. He achieved a large majority in October 2002, after a campaign that drew together those who had no previous experience in local politics.

Better Bedford campaigned in local elections from 2003 as a conventional party, putting up as many as 17 candidates at a time, but succeeded in the election of only a maximum of 4 borough councillors. In 2007 Frank Branston was re-elected as mayor for a second term, but the number of Better Bedford Councillors was reduced to 2 despite early successes bringing much needed improvements to the Borough. Recognising that it had not succeeded in 'breaking the mould' of party politics in Bedford Borough the Mayor and the 2 councillors were released from the Better Bedford 'label' and became independents. In June 2009 a third independent councillor, supported by Better Bedford, was elected, but soon afterwards Frank was suddenly taken ill and died on 14 August 2009.  The 3 independent councillors continue to support Better Bedford actively. Better Bedford now acts as a discussion forum and pressure group, fighting to improve our Borough, yet non-party political. It does not intend to put up candidates in its own name

Members of Better Bedford Independent Party maintain their allegiances to major national parties, or to none, in General Elections; at local elections; however, they support those candidates that put the interests of Bedford and its people first. Better Bedford therefore comprises the widest cross-section of citizens that has an interest in bringing about improvements to the Borough.

Better Bedford remains registered with the Electoral Commission to enable it to resume campaigning as an independent political party, should future political conditions demand.