Stephen Giles-Medhurst, the Lib Dem leader of Three Rivers District Council and candidate for Abbots Langley in the upcoming Hertfordshire County Council elections, has apologised after being accused of a “barefaced lie” in a letter to residents.
The letter from Cllr Giles-Medhurst, distributed to residents in the area ahead of May’s local elections, claimed Labour and the Greens “can’t win” and instead suggested the parties were backing him “to ensure the Conservatives lose”.
It led to a furious reaction from Labour and the Greens. Both parties are standing their own candidates in the division contested by Cllr Giles-Medhurst.
A spokesperson for the Three Rivers Green party said the claim is “completely untrue” and continued: “It is disappointing to see misinformation being spread about our position.
“The Green Party campaigns with honesty and integrity, and we believe voters deserve accurate information when making their decision.”
Responding, Cllr Giles-Medhurst told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I apologise. It’s not right and shouldn’t have happened.
“It is clear that some Labour and Green supporters … are certainly personally supporting me in what is a local election.
“But it shouldn’t have gone out in that format. I totally accept that.”
In the Abbots Langley division, Cllr Sara Bedford (Ind) will be seeking to retain the seat that she previously won as a Liberal Democrat candidate.
Cllr Giles-Medhurst is also a current county councillor representing Central Watford and Oxhey.
The other candidates are Gavin Casey (Reform UK), Pierce Culliton (Labour), Vicky Edwards (Conservatives) and Jane Powell (Green).
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