Bedford councillors accuse mayor of acting alone over devolution plan

In a letter to Local Government Minister Jim McMahon, the Labour and Liberal Democrat group leaders, the Green Party group convenor and an independent councillor said mayor Tom Wootton's support for the proposal had not been discussed with borough councillors.

They instead backed a devolution arrangement involving Bedford borough, Central Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK).

The letter, (dated Monday, October 26, 2026), followed a separate letter from the Conservative mayor to the minister on October 21, in which he argued that the wider South Midlands arrangement would provide a stronger regional authority.

"It was a unilateral statement by the mayor. He does not speak for all Bedford borough councillors or a majority," they wrote.

The letter was signed by Labour group leader councillor Abu Sultan, Liberal Democrat group leader councillor Henry Vann, Green group convenor councillor Ben Foley and independent councillor Doug McMurdo.

They said the BLMK arrangement offered the most appropriate framework for securing greater local decision-making powers, investment and economic opportunities.

However, in his earlier letter, mayor Wootton presented the six-authority proposal, which would also include North and West Northamptonshire, as Bedford Borough Council's preferred option.

He argued that the government's population benchmark of 1.5 million for a mayoral strategic authority favoured the wider arrangement.

According to the mayor, the four-authority BLMK area would have fewer than one million residents, compared with 1.7 million across the proposed six-authority South Midlands region.

He also pointed to economic connections extending beyond Bedfordshire, including the proposed Universal theme park, East West Rail and links between Cranfield's research sector, Silverstone and Milton Keynes.

"The boundaries drawn now will shape this region for a generation and it is clear to me that a six-authority South Midlands is the best option to take forward," he wrote.

North Bedfordshire Conservative MP Richard Fuller has publicly backed the mayor's position.

In a statement published on his website on October 22, Mr Fuller argued that the BLMK arrangement would be “sub-scale” and could leave rural communities in Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire overshadowed by Milton Keynes and Luton.

He said including Northamptonshire would create a more substantial mayoral authority able to compete with neighbouring regions.

Luton Borough Council said the government considered BLMK the strongest basis for progressing devolution within the current timetable.

According to the council, ministers asked the four authorities to confirm by Monday (October 26) whether they wished to proceed with the BLMK proposal.

In their joint letter, the Bedford councillors said decisions about the borough's future should be transparent, evidence-based and made in residents' best interests.

The Green councillors said the decision about the region's devolution arrangements was “too fundamental and long-term” to be determined by the mayor alone.

Councillor McMurdo argued that Bedford had stronger connections to the east than with Northamptonshire, pointing to health services and water resources.

The signatories said devolution could provide greater local influence over transport, infrastructure, skills, health and economic development.

"We therefore support the BLMK Devolution footprint as advocated by the Secretary of State," they concluded.

Bedford Borough Council has been asked to confirm its official position on devolution and whether it responded to the government's October 26 deadline. Mayor Tom Wootton has also been approached for comment.