On behalf of Hertfordshire Liberal Democrats I would like to not only thank all those residents who took the trouble to vote in the local and Police and Crime Commissioner elections but especially those who backed Liberal Democrat candidates, not only for Hertfordshire County Council but in the delayed district and borough elections.

On Herts County Council the Liberal Democrats made a net gain of five seats to strengthen our opposition to 23 seats against the ruling Conservatives who lost five seats, including their group leader, to us. Labour lost two seats, being reduced to seven. Despite a “Boris effect” the Liberal Democrat vote was also up by two per cent on the last county elections.

In the Police and Crime Commissioner Elections we came a clear second and forced the race to a second preference count achieving almost 45 per cent of vote, some 135,696 votes. No mean achievement.

In the borough and district elections we gained one seat in Three Rivers and we missed winning two Labour seats by just 10 and 54 votes in North Watford.

Despite a vigorous campaign by both Labour and Conservatives calling for a ‘Time for change’ on the Liberal Democrats running Watford and Three Rivers councils, no seats were lost. So after 27 years of the Liberal Democrats running Three Rivers and 19 years running Watford to top the poll, win most votes and most seats must mean we are doing something right that residents like!

Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst

Liberal Democrats Group Leader,

Hertfordshire County Council