# 1973 Bedford District Council election

The 1973 Bedford District Council election took place on 10 May 1973 to elect members of Bedford District Council in England. This was the same day as other local elections.

## Overall Results

1973 North Bedfordshire Borough Council election :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Labour | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39.3 | 34.9 | 11,468 | 0 |
| Conservative | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35.7 | 33.5 | 11,017 | 0 |
| Independent | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19.6 | 19.6 | 6,430 | 0 |
| Liberal | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.6 | 10.0 | 3,289 | 0 |
| Ind. Conservative | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 262 | 0 |
| Residents | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.7 | 252 | 0 |
| Independent Labour | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.3 | 93 | 0 |
| Communist | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.2 | 74 | 0 |
A total of 32,885 valid votes were cast. The turnout was 37.8%
After the election the composition of the council was:
| 22 | 2 | 11 | 1 | 20 |
| Labour | Liberal | Independent | Ind Con | Conservative |

## Ward Results
### Cauldwell

No. 1 (Cauldwell) - 4 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | W. Astle | 1,301 | 74.7 | |
| | Labour | J. Ansell-Sutton | 1,254 | 72.0 | |
| | Labour | R. Elford | 1,208 | 69.4 | |
| | Labour | V. Storrow | 1,167 | 67.0 | |
| | Conservative | A. Coles | 440 | 25.3 | |
| | Conservative | V. Fattorusso | 279 | 16.0 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 861 | 49.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,741 | 31.2 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### De Parys

No. 2 (De Parys) - 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | A. Randall | 1,673 | 47.3 | |
| | Conservative | R. Gwynne-Jones | 1,671 | 47.2 | |
| | Conservative | D. Lennox-Lamb | 1,650 | 46.6 | |
| | Conservative | R. Whittingham | 1,649 | 46.6 | |
| | Conservative | E. Smith | 1,546 | 43.7 | |
| | Conservative | G. Senior | 1,482 | 41.9 | |
| | Liberal | A. Crouch | 1,139 | 32.2 | |
| | Liberal | J. Burley | 1,103 | 31.2 | |
| | Liberal | J. Barnes | 1,100 | 31.1 | |
| | Liberal | J. Fennell | 974 | 27.5 | |
| | Liberal | C. Steptoe | 881 | 24.9 | |
| | Liberal | R. Cunnick | 854 | 24.1 | |
| | Labour | K. Davies | 726 | 20.5 | |
| | Labour | R. Richardson | 715 | 20.2 | |
| | Labour | G. Blowers | 715 | 20.2 | |
| | Labour | M. Kirk | 684 | 19.3 | |
| | Labour | B. Ashton | 681 | 19.2 | |
| | Labour | B. Jackson | 663 | 18.7 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 534 | 15.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,538 | 37.9 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Goldington

No. 3 (Goldington) - 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | J. Slatter | 1,475 | 37.0 | |
| | Labour | R. Wildman | 1,435 | 36.0 | |
| | Labour | G. Robbins | 1,427 | 35.8 | |
| | Labour | S. Ayre | 1,350 | 33.8 | |
| | Liberal | A. Lennon | 1,346 | 33.7 | |
| | Labour | V. Tilley | 1,311 | 32.9 | |
| | Labour | K. Passant | 1,303 | 32.7 | |
| | Labour | F. Garrick | 1,302 | 32.6 | |
| | Liberal | J. Lennon | 1,270 | 31.8 | |
| | Liberal | P. Smith | 1,250 | 31.3 | |
| | Liberal | J. Yunnie | 1,215 | 30.5 | |
| | Conservative | H. Bushell | 1,080 | 27.1 | |
| | Conservative | C. Frost | 1,025 | 25.7 | |
| | Conservative | E. Bushell | 1,007 | 25.2 | |
| | Conservative | J. Hitchcock | 986 | 24.7 | |
| | Conservative | M. Palmer | 944 | 23.7 | |
| | Conservative | A. Johns | 943 | 23.6 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 40 | 1.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,990 | 40.9 | |
| | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Harpur

No. 4 (Harpur) - 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | B. Dillingham | 1,672 | 44.3 | |
| | Independent | M. Still | 1,524 | 40.4 | |
| | Independent | G. Orr | 1,264 | 33.5 | |
| | Labour | M. Cotter | 840 | 22.3 | |
| | Labour | T. Brown | 823 | 21.8 | |
| | Labour | K. Derrick | 808 | 21.4 | |
| | Labour | B. Jones | 789 | 20.9 | |
| | Labour | F. Tysoe | 712 | 18.9 | |
| | Conservative | D. Little | 542 | 14.4 | |
| | Conservative | J. Ogunremi | 540 | 14.3 | |
| | Conservative | E. Knights | 539 | 14.3 | |
| | Liberal | R. Foster | 515 | 13.6 | |
| | Liberal | B. Nutley | 502 | 13.3 | |
| | Liberal | B. Foster | 483 | 12.8 | |
| | Liberal | J. Jones | 406 | 10.8 | |
| | Liberal | D. Pratt | 378 | 10.0 | |
| | Residents | P. Horn | 206 | 5.5 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 832 | 22.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,775 | 50.7 | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Kingsbrook

No. 5 (Kingsbrook) - 4 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | K. Scott | 1,340 | 79.8 | |
| | Labour | G. Colling | 1,266 | 75.4 | |
| | Labour | T. Mansell | 1,242 | 74.0 | |
| | Labour | D. Upton | 1,192 | 71.0 | |
| | Conservative | S. Sanders | 265 | 15.8 | |
| | Conservative | R. Attree | 244 | 14.5 | |
| | Communist | P. Waite | 74 | 4.4 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,075 | 64.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,679 | 29.7 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Newnham

No. 6 (Newnham) - 4 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | E. Valentine | 1,352 | 62.1 | |
| | Conservative | J. Cook | 1,323 | 60.8 | |
| | Conservative | D. Bygrave | 1,244 | 57.2 | |
| | Conservative | T. Donnelly | 1,240 | 57.0 | |
| | Labour | S. Symes | 824 | 37.9 | |
| | Labour | F. Burdett | 783 | 36.0 | |
| | Labour | R. Crane | 765 | 35.2 | |
| | Labour | C. Turner | 724 | 33.3 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 528 | 24.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,176 | 32.2 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Queens Park

No. 7 (Queens Park) - 3 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | R. Sharman | 1,453 | 51.1 | |
| | Labour | J. George | 1,388 | 48.9 | |
| | Conservative | J. Ireland | 1,154 | 40.6 | |
| | Labour | P. Holman | 1,131 | 39.8 | |
| | Conservative | N. Wright | 1,059 | 37.3 | |
| | Labour | S. Pass | 1,040 | 36.6 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 65 | 2.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,841 | 60.8 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Bromham

No. 8 (Bromham) - 2 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | V. Cartwright | 842 | 84.5 | |
| | Conservative | G. Bates | 804 | 80.7 | |
| | Labour | S. Hunt | 154 | 15.5 | |
| | Labour | A. Wood | 144 | 14.5 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 688 | 69.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 996 | 31.3 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Oakley

No. 10 (Oakley) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | G. Beazley | 438 | 60.7 | |
| | Liberal | L. Skevington | 160 | 22.2 | |
| | Labour | S. Jones | 123 | 17.1 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 278 | 38.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 721 | 40.2 | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Carlton & Harrold

No. 11 (Carlton & Harrold) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | V. Brandon | 562 | 61.3 | |
| | Independent | H. Tusting | 227 | 24.8 | |
| | Labour | M. Woods | 109 | 11.9 | |
| | Independent | P. Smith | 19 | 2.1 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 335 | 36.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 917 | 50.6 | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Felmersham & Sharnbrook

No. 12 (Felmersham & Sharnbrook) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | H. Martin | 383 | 58.5 | |
| | Independent | R. Payne | 272 | 41.5 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 111 | 16.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 655 | 36.5 | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Knotting & Souldrop

No. 13 (Knotting & Souldrop) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Ind. Conservative | D. Cooper | 262 | 45.2 | |
| | Independent | R. Wilson | 217 | 37.4 | |
| | Labour | S. Zaramba | 101 | 17.4 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 45 | 7.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 580 | 44.5 | |
| | Ind. Conservative win (new seat) | Ind. Conservative win (new seat) | Ind. Conservative win (new seat) | Ind. Conservative win (new seat) | Ind. Conservative win (new seat) |

### Swineshead

No. 14 (Swineshead) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | S. Cocksedge | 0 | 0.0 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 0 | 0.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 0 | 0.0 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Riseley

No. 15 (Riseley) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | J. Swepston | 296 | 50.1 | |
| | Conservative | E. Gibbs | 295 | 49.9 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1 | 0.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 591 | 36.1 | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Roxton

No. 17 (Roxton) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | P. Merton-Jones | 0 | 0.0 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 0 | 0.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 0 | 0.0 | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Kempston Rural

No. 21 (Kempston Rural) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | G. Frossell | 520 | 60.0 | |
| | Labour | R. Woods | 347 | 40.0 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 173 | 20.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 867 | 49.1 | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Wootton

No. 22 (Wootton) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | P. Chennells | 597 | 61.7 | |
| | Labour | R. Barrow | 370 | 38.3 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 227 | 23.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 967 | 44.4 | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Turvey

No. 23 (Turvey) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | G. Newman | 443 | 64.1 | |
| | Independent | E. Kent | 248 | 35.9 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 195 | 28.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 691 | 49.9 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Kempston

No. 24 (Kempston) - 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | M. Baldwin | 1,532 | 54.1 | |
| | Labour | A. Burton | 1,529 | 54.0 | |
| | Labour | K. Burley | 1,511 | 53.4 | |
| | Labour | R. West | 1,454 | 51.4 | |
| | Labour | R. Lescott | 1,441 | 50.9 | |
| | Conservative | P. Hooley | 1,299 | 45.9 | |
| | Conservative | C. Wilson | 1,275 | 45.0 | |
| | Conservative | P. Grange | 1,272 | 44.9 | |
| | Conservative | W. Martin | 1,247 | 44.0 | |
| | Conservative | T. Ryan | 1,208 | 42.7 | |
| | Conservative | A. Rayment | 1,168 | 41.3 | |
| | Labour | A. Blair | 677 | 23.9 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 233 | 8.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,831 | 30.5 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Clapham

Clapham - 2 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | G. Mason | 504 | 37.6 | |
| | Labour | J. Parr | 444 | 33.2 | |
| | Independent | E. Stratford | 435 | 32.5 | |
| | Conservative | L. Bradford | 400 | 29.9 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 69 | 5.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,339 | 45.7 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Eastcotts

Eastcotts :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | F. Hall | 246 | 37.2 | |
| | Labour | R. Page | 232 | 35.0 | |
| | Ind. Labour Party | K. Sillett | 93 | 14.0 | |
| | Residents | R. Harpur | 46 | 6.9 | |
| | Independent | A. Kilminster | 45 | 6.8 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14 | 2.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 662 | 44.2 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Great Barford

Great Barford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | V. Webb | 252 | 50.9 | |
| | Conservative | V. Farrar | 243 | 49.1 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9 | 1.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 495 | 29.4 | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Renhold

Renhold :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | N. Polhill | 0 | 0.0 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 0 | 0.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 0 | 0.0 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Wilshamstead

Wilshamstead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | V. Wisson | 444 | 53.3 | |
| | Labour | F. Tompkins | 142 | 17.0 | |
| | Independent | C. Taylor | 134 | 16.1 | |
| | Independent | C. Simmonds | 113 | 13.6 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 302 | 36.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 833 | 46.9 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |