Elections and Political Control
The first election to Mid Bedfordshire District Council took place on 7 June 1973, with the 49 councillors elected forming a shadow authority until 1 April 1974. Following ward boundary changes, the number of councillors was increased to 53 in 1976. Elections for the whole council were then held in 1979 and every four years thereafter. In 2003 the wards were again redrawn, with the size of the council remaining at 53. The final election took place in 2007, with councillors staying in office until the abolition of the council in 2009.
The first council elected had a large majority of independent councillors. Gains by the Conservatives in 1976 meant that the council was under no control, although independents remained the largest group. In 1979 Conservatives gained a majority, which they held for sixteen years. In 1995 there was a large swing against the unpopular government of John Major, and the Labour Party gained 17 seats to achieve parity with the Conservatives. The council also included Liberal Democrats and Independents. In 1999 the Conservatives regained control, which they held until the council's abolition.
| Year | Conservative | Labour | Liberal/ Liberal Democrat |
Independent | Green Party | Control | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 17 | 13 | 8 | 7 | 0 | Independent | |
| 1976 † | 19 | 3 | 1 | 26 | 0 | No overall control | |
| 1979 | 36 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 0 | Conservative gain from NOC | |
| 1983 | 26 | 7 | 0 | 20 | 0 | Conservative hold | |
| 1987 | 42 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 0 | Conservative hold | |
| 1991 | 40 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 0 | Conservative hold | |
| 1995 | 21 | 21 | 5 | 6 | 0 | Conservative hold | |
| 1999 | 34 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 0 | Conservative hold | |
| 2003 † | 38 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 0 | Conservative hold | |
| 2007 | 38 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 1 | Conservative hold | |
† New ward boundaries
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