IN Watford's tightest General Election in living memory Labour's Claire Ward, one of the original Blair babes, squeezed home for her third term as MP.
She finished 1,148 votes ahead of Liberal Democrat Sal Brinton who was her nearest rival. Tory Ali Miraj came in third less than 800 votes behind when the result was declared in the early hours of Friday morning.
There were few surprises in South West Hertfordshire where Tory David Gauke successfully defended the seat vacated by retiring MP Richard Page after a partial recount nor in Hertsmere where James Clappison enjoyed another good night for the Conservatives delivering an 11,000 majority.
The balance of power swung to the Conservatives in Hemel Hempstead and St Albans however where their candidates Mike Penning and Anne Main were returned to Westminster after huge swings away from Labour.
The Tories held on to their Ruislip Northwood seat with a majority approaching 9,000.
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