1996 Bedford Borough Council election
{{Short description|1996 UK local government election}}
The 1996 Bedford Borough Council election took place on 2 May 1996 to elect members of Bedford Borough Council in England.{{cite web|url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Bedford-1973-2007.pdf |title=Results 1973 to 2012|work=Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher |publisher=The Elections Centre, Plymouth University |access-date=14 February 2023}} This was on the same day as other local elections.
Summary
=Election result=
{{Election summary partial council net begin|title = 1996 Bedford Borough Council election}}
{{Election summary partial council net party|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|seats = 7
|net = {{increase}} 2
|seats % = 38.9
|other seats = 15
|total seats = 22
|total seats % = 41.5
|votes = 12,789
|votes % = 41.0
|plus/minus = –3.0
}}
{{Election summary partial council net party|
|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|seats = 6
|net = {{increase}} 4
|seats % = 33.3
|other seats = 10
|total seats = 16
|total seats % = 30.2
|votes = 8,195
|votes % = 26.3
|plus/minus = –0.9
}}
{{Election summary partial council net party|
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|seats = 3
|net = {{decrease}} 6
|seats % = 16.7
|other seats = 7
|total seats = 10
|total seats % = 18.9
|votes = 8,876
|votes % = 28.5
|plus/minus = +2.8
}}
{{Election summary partial council net party|
|party = Independent politician
|seats = 2
|net = {{steady}}
|seats % = 11.1
|other seats = 3
|total seats = 5
|total seats % = 9.4
|votes = 1,338
|votes % = 4.3
|plus/minus = +1.7
}}
{{Election box end}}
Ward results
=Brickhill=
{{Election box begin | title=Brickhill}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate = Cheryl Green
|votes = 1,309
|percentage = 57.9
|change = +9.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = Paul Sinclair
|votes = 542
|percentage =24.0
|change = –23.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = Ivor Amery
|votes = 410
|percentage =18.1
|change = +13.6
}}
{{Election box majority
|votes = 767
|percentage = 33.9
|change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
|votes = 2,261
|percentage = 39.9
|change =
}}
{{Election box registered electors
|reg. electors = 5,698
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
|winner = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|loser =
|swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
=Bromham=
{{Election box begin | title=Bromham}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = Graham Bates*
|votes = 1,126
|percentage = 64.3
|change = -12.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = R. Gunther
|votes = 348
|percentage =19.9
|change = +12.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate = Christopher Hall
|votes = 278
|percentage =15.9
|change = –0.2
}}
{{Election box majority
|votes = 778
|percentage = 44.4
|change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
|votes = 1,752
|percentage = 38.1
|change =
}}
{{Election box registered electors
|reg. electors = 4,594
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
|winner = Conservative Party (UK)
|loser =
|swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
=Carlton=
{{Election box begin | title=Carlton}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Independent politician
|candidate = Victor Brandon*
|votes = 704
|percentage = 80.5
|change = –2.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = Anthea Cooke
|votes = 171
|percentage =19.5
|change = +10.7
}}
{{Election box majority
|votes = 533
|percentage = 60.9
|change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
|votes = 875
|percentage = 51.7
|change =
}}
{{Election box registered electors
|reg. electors = 1,709
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
|winner = Independent politician
|loser =
|swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
=Castle=
{{Election box begin | title=Castle}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = Catherine Moorhouse
|votes = 1,071
|percentage = 55.0
|change = +18.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = Robert Rigby*
|votes = 704
|percentage =36.2
|change = -2.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate = Susan Vogel
|votes = 171
|percentage =8.8
|change = –15.9
}}
{{Election box majority
|votes = 367
|percentage = 18.9
|change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
|votes = 1,946
|percentage = 42.4
|change =
}}
{{Election box registered electors
|reg. electors = 4,479
}}
{{Election box gain with party link
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|loser = Conservative Party (UK)
|swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
=Cauldwell=
{{Election box begin | title=Cauldwell}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = Robert Elford*
|votes = 1,310
|percentage = 75.9
|change = +5.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = C. Burroughs
|votes = 250
|percentage =14.5
|change = -5.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate = Philip Standley
|votes = 166
|percentage =9.6
|change = –0.3
}}
{{Election box majority
|votes = 1,060
|percentage = 61.4
|change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
|votes = 1,726
|percentage = 28.4
|change =
}}
{{Election box registered electors
|reg. electors = 6,080
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|loser =
|swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
=Clapham=
{{Election box begin | title=Clapham}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Independent politician
|candidate = R. Chybalski*
|votes = 429
|percentage = 43.3
|change = -0.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = Frederick Sparrow
|votes = 290
|percentage = 29.3
|change = -4.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = A. Creer
|votes = 271
|percentage = 27.4
|change = +8.3
}}
{{Election box majority
|votes = 139
|percentage = 14.0
|change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
|votes = 990
|percentage = 39.5
|change =
}}
{{Election box registered electors
|reg. electors = 2,468
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
|winner = Independent politician
|loser =
|swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
=De Parys=
{{Election box begin | title=De Parys}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate = Mike Smithson
|votes = 1,200
|percentage = 51.8
|change = +9.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = David Pinkney
|votes = 704
|percentage = 30.4
|change = -18.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = Paban Sharma
|votes = 411
|percentage = 17.8
|change = +9.0
}}
{{Election box majority
|votes = 496
|percentage = 21.4
|change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
|votes = 2,315
|percentage = 43.3
|change =
}}
{{Election box registered electors
|reg. electors = 5,388
}}
{{Election box gain with party link
|winner = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|loser = Conservative Party (UK)
|swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
=Eastcotts=
{{Election box begin | title=Eastcotts}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate = Charles Parsons
|votes = 537
|percentage = 46.3
|change = +8.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = Lynne Faulkner
|votes = 396
|percentage = 34.1
|change = –19.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = Caron Rosovske
|votes = 227
|percentage = 19.6
|change = +10.8
}}
{{Election box majority
|votes = 141
|percentage = 12.2
|change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
|votes = 1,160
|percentage = 51.0
|change =
}}
{{Election box registered electors
|reg. electors = 2,284
}}
{{Election box gain with party link
|winner = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|loser = Conservative Party (UK)
|swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
=Goldington=
{{Election box begin | title=Goldington}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate = Christine McHugh
|votes = 984
|percentage = 48.2
|change = –9.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = John Dawson
|votes = 822
|percentage = 40.2
|change = +15.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = Lewis Williams
|votes = 237
|percentage = 11.6
|change = -6.0
}}
{{Election box majority
|votes = 162
|percentage = 7.9
|change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
|votes = 2,043
|percentage = 39.1
|change =
}}
{{Election box registered electors
|reg. electors = 5,320
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
|winner = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|loser =
|swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
=Harpur=
{{Election box begin | title=Harpur}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = Julie Sturgess
|votes = 1,128
|percentage = 64.8
|change = +10.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = Janet Pilgrim
|votes = 452
|percentage = 26.0
|change = -12.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate = L. Thomas
|votes = 161
|percentage = 9.2
|change = +2.0
}}
{{Election box majority
|votes = 676
|percentage = 38.8
|change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
|votes = 1,741
|percentage = 29.7
|change =
}}
{{Election box registered electors
|reg. electors = 5,895
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|loser =
|swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
=Kempston East=
{{Election box begin | title=Kempston East}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = Sesa Lehal*
|votes = 1,333
|percentage = 57.6
|change = +18.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = Sion Eynon
|votes = 706
|percentage =30.5
|change = –23.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate = C. Kelly
|votes = 277
|percentage =12.0
|change = +5.5
}}
{{Election box majority
|votes = 627
|percentage = 27.1
|change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
|votes = 2,316
|percentage = 32.5
|change =
}}
{{Election box registered electors
|reg. electors = 7,203
}}
{{Election box gain with party link
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|loser = Conservative Party (UK)
|swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
Labour had previously gained the Conservative seat in a by-election.
=Kempston West=
{{Election box begin | title=Kempston West}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = William Hunt
|votes = 1,251
|percentage = 63.9
|change = +25.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = Jagdish Singh
|votes = 513
|percentage =26.2
|change = –28.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate = Stephen Lawson
|votes = 193
|percentage =9.9
|change = +4.4
}}
{{Election box majority
|votes = 638
|percentage = 37.7
|change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
|votes = 2,057
|percentage = 31.3
|change =
}}
{{Election box registered electors
|reg. electors = 6,329
}}
{{Election box gain with party link
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|loser = Conservative Party (UK)
|swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
=Kingsbrook=
{{Election box begin | title=Kingsbrook}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = Ian Luder*
|votes = 1,053
|percentage = 69.6
|change = +12.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate = Terence Dunning
|votes = 247
|percentage = 16.3
|change = +3.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = Barbara Wonford
|votes = 214
|percentage = 14.1
|change = -16.7
}}
{{Election box majority
|votes = 806
|percentage = 53.3
|change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
|votes = 1,514
|percentage = 30.9
|change =
}}
{{Election box registered electors
|reg. electors = 4,919
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|loser =
|swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
=Newnham=
{{Election box begin | title=Newnham}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = John Mingay*
|votes = 828
|percentage = 43.5
|change = -2.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = Richard Crane
|votes = 629
|percentage =33.0
|change = +14.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate = Anthony Cardus
|votes = 447
|percentage =23.5
|change = –12.1
}}
{{Election box majority
|votes = 199
|percentage = 10.5
|change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
|votes = 1,904
|percentage = 39.9
|change =
}}
{{Election box registered electors
|reg. electors = 4,780
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
|winner = Conservative Party (UK)
|loser =
|swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
=Putnoe=
{{Election box begin | title=Putnoe}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate = William Muir
|votes = 1,191
|percentage = 57.6
|change = +17.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = Christopher Wesley
|votes = 579
|percentage = 28.0
|change = -25.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = Siamak Vakilpour
|votes = 299
|percentage = 14.5
|change = +8.7
}}
{{Election box majority
|votes = 612
|percentage = 29.6
|change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
|votes = 2,069
|percentage = 38.8
|change =
}}
{{Election box registered electors
|reg. electors = 5,343
}}
{{Election box gain with party link
|winner = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|loser = Conservative Party (UK)
|swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
=Queens Park=
{{Election box begin | title=Queens Park}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = Tony Albone
|votes = 1,435
|percentage = 70.6
|change = +12.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = Domenico De Benedictis
|votes = 421
|percentage = 20.7
|change = -9.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate = J. Crofts
|votes = 178
|percentage = 8.8
|change = –2.9
}}
{{Election box majority
|votes = 1,014
|percentage = 49.9
|change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
|votes = 2,034
|percentage = 33.8
|change =
}}
{{Election box registered electors
|reg. electors = 6,068
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
|winner = Labour Party (UK)
|loser =
|swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
=Roxton=
{{Election box begin | title=Roxton}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = A. May
|votes = 489
|percentage = 63.8
|change = –18.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = Terence Carroll
|votes = 158
|percentage = 20.6
|change = +11.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate = Paul Westerman
|votes = 119
|percentage = 15.5
|change = +6.9
}}
{{Election box majority
|votes = 331
|percentage = 43.2
|change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
|votes = 766
|percentage = 41.4
|change =
}}
{{Election box registered electors
|reg. electors = 1,861
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
|winner = Conservative Party (UK)
|loser =
|swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
=Wootton=
{{Election box begin | title=Wootton}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|candidate = Judith Cunningham
|votes = 737
|percentage = 40.3
|change = +32.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = Andrew Asquith
|votes = 462
|percentage = 25.2
|change = +4.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = John Tait*
|votes = 426
|percentage = 23.3
|change = –47.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Independent politician
|candidate = Paul Quirk
|votes = 205
|percentage = 11.2
|change = N/A
}}
{{Election box majority
|votes = 275
|percentage = 15.0
|change =
}}
{{Election box turnout
|votes = 1,830
|percentage = 47.1
|change =
}}
{{Election box registered electors
|reg. electors = 3,883
}}
{{Election box gain with party link
|winner = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|loser = Conservative Party (UK)
|swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Bedfordshire elections}}
{{1996 United Kingdom local elections}}