Businesses and commercial premises: More applications to build commercial and housing developments will be fast-tracked, with developers allowed to bypass local councils if town hall planning departments are believed to be performing poorly.

BBC: Q&A: Housing and planning shake-up

For Mr Hodgson it was jobs, Mr Guthrie said education, Ms Harris said she would protect jobs and front line services, Mr Hare would scrap the plans to sell off the old town hall while Mr Paszynski said he would halt the western bypass.

BBC: Bedford's mayoral election