Mid Bedfordshire by-election candidates debate

Summary

A by-election is being held in the Mid Bedfordshire parliamentary constituency on Thursday, 19 October
The poll follows the resignation of the former MP and Conservative cabinet minister Nadine Dorries
Thirteen candidates are standing, representing major and minor parties, with two independents
BBC Three Counties Radio has hosted a live debate with seven candidates
The debate covered housing, how local do candidates need to be, and crime
The page also looks at the recent history of by-elections and analysis of the debate

Live Reporting

Edited by Andrew Woodger

The six other candidatespublished at 12:19 British Summer Time 13 October 2023
On today's debate we have heard from candidates from six parties and one independent.
That leaves six who are standing but have not been live on air.
If you want to hear what each one stands for, you can listen to the links below where they outline their candidacy in about a minute.
You can also read the BBC's fuller guide to all 13 candidates.
'Some raised voices'published at 12:17 British Summer Time 13 October 2023
Amy Holmes
Political reporter, BBC Three Counties Radio
The first half hour was all fairly well mannered!
In fact we've had to encourage candidates to be a bit more lively.
Some raised voices when the issue of the importance of living in Mid Beds as the MP for Mid Beds was discussed though.
'I'll be there for a start'published at 12:15 British Summer Time 13 October 2023
Alex Pope
BBC News, Bedfordshire
Dave Holland, from Reform UK, says he will be different to Ms Dorries by holding a minimum of 12 constituency surgeries a year, and more if required in different locations.
He says he will "respond to every phone call and email within two working days so that people know that I've heard them and I'm actioning their issues".
He believes Ms Dorries has just been too absent and made it clear that he was born in Ampthill and lives in Shillington - both in the Mid Bedfordshire constituency.
"I'll be there for a start," he stressed.
'Vote for a brighter future'published at 12:09 British Summer Time 13 October 2023
Louise Parry
BBC News Online - East
Why stand?
Dave Holland, Reform UK, encourages people to vote for "brighter future".
"It doesn’t seem to matter when you go to the polls - you can vote for the left wing or right wing, both are attached to same bird – that seems to be on a preordained flight path.
"But this is a free election - the Mid Beds election is a free choice. It is an opportunity to vote positively instead of the party you want the least."
'No plans to go into the jungle'published at 12:05 British Summer Time 13 October 2023
Jonathan Vernon-Smith has said that Nadine Dorries has been seen by many as a controversial character, and asked candidates how they would be different to the outgoing Tory MP.
Festus Akinbusoye, Conservative, says he has lived in the constituency for 15 years and has raised his children here.
He has "no plans to go into any jungle", alluding to Ms Dorries's appearance in ITV's I'm A Celebrity show, when she was temporarily suspended from her parliamentary party.
"I'll be local, do my job and fight for local people in apposing these ridiculous top down housing targets which the Lib Dems and Labour Party want to impose on our community, and again build on the green belt, which Kier Starmer announced just afew days ago," said Mr Akinbuyose.
He was then stopped by our host for going off topic, as housing is a subject that will be touched on later in the debate.
'I’ve had a long political apprenticeship'published at 12:00 British Summer Time 13 October 2023
Louise Parry
BBC News Online - East
Why stand?
"This is a massive election," says independent candidate Gareth Mackey.
"It represents the chance for real change in Mid Bedfordshire.
"I’ve had a long political apprenticeship; I’ve served for 12 years in Flitwick Town Council; I’ve been mayor three times, I’ve been on Central Beds Council for four years.
"I believe I have the right stuff to represent people and give them exactly what they need."
'An election like no other'published at 11:57 British Summer Time 13 October 2023
Responding to the question "Why do you want the job?" Alistair Strathern, Labour, says this is an election "like no other".
"It is really personal - I grew up here, I went to school in Bedfordshire I’ve got family friends right across the area," he says.
He says that as a teacher, local councillor, worker at the Bank of England, he has "looked to put people at the heart of everything I do".
Why do you want the job?published at 11:55 British Summer Time 13 October 2023
Jonathan Vernon-Smith
BBC Three Counties Radio
The first question I've asked all the seven candidates is - why do you want the job?
They have exactly one minute to answer and a bell will sound when they have to stop.
First up is Alistair Strathern representing Labour.
A reminder that you can get involved...published at 11:37 British Summer Time 13 October 2023
The debate, broadcasting live on BBC Three Counties Radio and available via BBC Sounds, is also welcoming your comments.
Email us here, and please provide your name and where you live, and we can forward it to the on-air team.
Also let us know if you would like your comments published on this page.
And the live debate begins...published at 11:33 British Summer Time 13 October 2023
We're under way on BBC Three Counties Radio, with each of the seven candidates being given a minute to outline why they want the job.
The panel gears up for debatepublished at 11:26 British Summer Time 13 October 2023
Louise Parry
BBC News Online - East
Image caption,
(Left to right: Alistair Strathern, Cade Sibley, Alan Victor, Emma Holland, Festus Akinbusoye, Gareth Mackey, Dave Holland)
Seven of the 13 candidates hoping to become Mid Bedfordshire's next MP are lined up for the debate.
Our BBC Three Counties Radio host Jonathan Vernon-Smith starts proceedings at 11:30.
You can read more about the other six others hoping to take a seat in House of Commons at the BBC's guide to the candidates page.
The election saga series on BBC Soundspublished at 11:07 British Summer Time 13 October 2023
Amy Holmes
Political reporter, BBC Three Counties
Image caption,
The former constituency office of Nadine Dorries in Shefford
Since June, I've been out and about in the Mid Bedfordshire constituency covering what's become a saga.
We've had parody songs, Nadine Dorries impersonators, the voters, and the candidates.
They've all helped me delicately craft a weekly series for BBC Sounds, that even my dad is now listening to, and he lives in Scotland and rarely listens, reads or watches my coverage of politics!
The rest of the candidates arrive at the BBC Three Counties Radio studiospublished at 11:06 British Summer Time 13 October 2023
Emma Holland-Lindsay (above) is here for the Liberal Democrats and grew up in the county, and represents Leighton Buzzard on Central Bedfordshire Council - having recently won her seat from the Conservatives.
She is head of public affairs for the National Federation of Women's Institutes. She has also previously worked for national disability charities.
Gareth Mackey has been an independent Central Beds councillor for Flitwick since 2019.
He is on the executive team on the unitary authority, which is run by independents.
Cade Sibley, Green Party, lives in Toddington and works in adult social care looking after disabled people.
He told the BBC he was standing because of the climate change issue and he had "felt hopeless watching the news waiting for someone to change things".
Alan Victor, True and Fair Party, has lived in Bedfordshire for 32 years.
A retired car company executive, he said he was "fed up with the current state of UK politics". He stood in the Central Bedfordshire Council elections in 2023 as an independent, coming 59 votes short of being elected.
Nothing beats meeting the candidatespublished at 11:01 British Summer Time 13 October 2023
Andrew Sinclair
BBC Look East political correspondent
In any election it’s always the last weekend that’s the most important.
Those who’ve received postal votes will start filling them in while the rest of the electorate, who might not have shown that much of an interest in the campaign so far, will start thinking about whether they want to vote next week - and for whom.
There will have been plenty of leaflets and lots of carefully targeted social media marketing, but the parties tell me that, even nowadays, nothing beats meeting the candidate face to face or, failing that, hearing their voice.
Because while the parties would like an election to be all about policies, they know that how a candidate comes across, how he or she argues their case, and how passionate they are about the community they wish to serve will play a big part in helping many voters make up their minds.
And that’s why debates like today’s are so important - they are a chance for you the voter to listen to some of the candidates, to hear what they think in some detail about the issues that matter to them and to listen to them respond to tough questioning about those beliefs.
And it’ll be a chance to ask yourself "would this person be a good representative for me and my community in Parliament?”.
By-election coverage on the BBCpublished at 10:55 British Summer Time 13 October 2023
A selection on the BBC's stories about the forthcoming by-election:
Visit the BBC's Mid Beds by-election topic page for more stories.
The candidates are arrivingpublished at 10:54 British Summer Time 13 October 2023
The stage has been set at BBC Three Counties Radio for our by-election debate that will last an hour and a half.
The seven candidates we have invited have started to arrive.
Alistair Strathern, for Labour, is a former teacher who now works for the Bank of England, as well as being a cabinet member on Waltham Forest Council in east London.
He grew up in Bedfordshire and his friends and family live here.
Dave Holland is standing for Reform UK and grew up in the constituency in Ampthill.
Originally founded in 2018 as the Brexit Party, Reform says it will "stand up for our core democratic values, our civil liberties, our right to free speech".
Festus Akinbusoye was elected Bedfordshire's police and crime commissioner in May 2021 and is standing for Parliament for the Conservatives.
His campaign office says "he has a strong connection to the constituency, having been a resident for nearly 15 years, and has demonstrated his dedication through his role as the elected police and crime commissioner".
The final leg of a long run-uppublished at 10:41 British Summer Time 13 October 2023
Amy Holmes
Political reporter, BBC Three Counties Radio
Image source, PA Media
Welcome to the final leg of the Mid Bedfordshire by-election, which, if you count the phoney-war bit at the start, has now been running for more than four months.
A lot of our candidates have been doorstepping and pressing the flesh since at least 9 June when the previous MP Nadine Dorries (pictured) famously, or perhaps infamously, said she intended to stand down with "immediate effect".
Normally the triggering of a by-election means a five-to-six week campaign, but for our lucky wannabes they’ll have literally had to go the extra mile (and much more) to win this one.
Ms Dorries formally resigned at the end of August.
Which has meant quadruple the fun for me too, as I’ve been to parts of Mid Beds that political reporters don’t always reach.
In case you’re wondering, yes, I do regret not trying the famous Bedfordshire Chocolate Toothpaste when I had the chance in Ampthill.
But now the story that became a saga is nearing its conclusion, with our candidates possibly flagging but knowing that one more week of smiles and positivity could make all the difference.
There are 13 candidates in this by-election, but we’ve invited those who have more evidence of electoral support in Mid Beds to this debate.
The full list of candidates can be found on the Beds, Herts and Bucks pages of the BBC website.
Get involved in the debatepublished at 10:38 British Summer Time 13 October 2023
The debate, broadcasting live on BBC Three Counties Radio and available via BBC Sounds, is also welcoming your comments.
Email us here, and please provide your name and where you live, and we can forward it to the on-air team.
Also let us know if you would like your comments published on this page.
In the chair for today's debatepublished at 10:33 British Summer Time 13 October 2023
Jonathan Vernon-Smith
BBC Three Counties Radio
From 11:30 to 13:00, I will be chairing the Mid Bedfordshire By-Election Candidate Debate live on BBC Three Counties Radio, from our Dunstable studio.
For 90 minutes I will be finding out what the seven candidates, who we have asked to come on air, what they have got to offer.
Some of the topics we aim to cover are: housing, infrastructure, health and policing.
With so many candidates to hear from we can guaranteed a varied and busy discussion.
My show started at 10:00, and you can listen live here on BBC Sounds.
The electoral history of Mid Bedfordshirepublished at 10:25 British Summer Time 13 October 2023
Andrew Woodger
BBC News
Image source, Kate Bradbrook/BBC
Image caption,
Flitwick is one of Mid Beds' small towns with a population of about 15,000
Mid Bedfordshire is a heartland "true blue" constituency in the south of England.
The largely rural seat sits between the urban centres of Bedford and Luton, which have three Labour MPs between them.
Its largest towns are Ampthill, Flitwick, Shefford and Woburn.
In the 2019 general election when the Conservatives had a landslide under Boris Johnson, the result in Mid Beds, on a turnout of 74%, was:
- Nadine Dorries (Conservative) - 38,692 votes
- Rhiannon Davies (Labour) - 14,028
- Rachel McGann (Liberal Democrat) - 8,171
- Gareth Ellis (Green) - 2,478
- Alan Victor (independent) - 812
- Ann Kelly - (Monster Raving Loony) - 536
Ms Dorries won 60% of votes in 2019, compared to 61% in 2017, 56% in 2015 and 53% in 2010 - fought under three different Conservative party leaders.
It had a different boundary prior to 2010, but the seat has essentially always been won by the Conservatives since its creation in 1918.