This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-48142887
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Election results: Conservatives lose control in St Albans | Election results: Conservatives lose control in St Albans |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The Conservatives have lost control of St Albans District Council as the local party leader lost his seat. | The Conservatives have lost control of St Albans District Council as the local party leader lost his seat. |
| The Liberal Democrats are now the largest party after taking six seats from the Tories, including that of council leader Alec Campbell. | The Liberal Democrats are now the largest party after taking six seats from the Tories, including that of council leader Alec Campbell. |
| Mr Campbell said he was disappointed with the result which was "far worse" than he thought it would be. | Mr Campbell said he was disappointed with the result which was "far worse" than he thought it would be. |
| "We [St Albans] were a pretty strong remain area and the opposition capitalised on that," he said. | "We [St Albans] were a pretty strong remain area and the opposition capitalised on that," he said. |
| "There has been a lot of dissatisfaction among Conservative voters over the Withdrawal Agreement or Brexit in general and we are having to live with it. | "There has been a lot of dissatisfaction among Conservative voters over the Withdrawal Agreement or Brexit in general and we are having to live with it. |
| "The results show overall there has been a switch from Conservative towards Liberal Democrats. | "The results show overall there has been a switch from Conservative towards Liberal Democrats. |
| "We have to accept mistakes have been made and we are not where we want to be." | "We have to accept mistakes have been made and we are not where we want to be." |
| In St Albans, the Conservatives also conceded one seat to Labour and one to an independent. | In St Albans, the Conservatives also conceded one seat to Labour and one to an independent. |
| The Tories, who had controlled the council since 2015, now have 23 seats, Labour has six and the Lib Dems have 25, with three independents and one Green councillor. | The Tories, who had controlled the council since 2015, now have 23 seats, Labour has six and the Lib Dems have 25, with three independents and one Green councillor. |
| It leaves the Lib Dems five seats short of a majority. | It leaves the Lib Dems five seats short of a majority. |
| 'Significant change' | 'Significant change' |
| St Albans Liberal Democrat councillor Chris White said it "remains to be seen" who will have control in the new council and discussions will take place. | St Albans Liberal Democrat councillor Chris White said it "remains to be seen" who will have control in the new council and discussions will take place. |
| "We could be talking coalition, we could be talking going it alone, but whatever happens there's going to be some significant change in St Albans," he said. | "We could be talking coalition, we could be talking going it alone, but whatever happens there's going to be some significant change in St Albans," he said. |
| He said a combination of things had led to the party's success in the city including the "Brexit backlash" in a strong remain area, the strength of Parliamentary candidate Daisy Cooper, and a manifesto for improving the environment and improving community facilities. | He said a combination of things had led to the party's success in the city including the "Brexit backlash" in a strong remain area, the strength of Parliamentary candidate Daisy Cooper, and a manifesto for improving the environment and improving community facilities. |
| The Conservatives also lost North Hertfordshire District Council, with no party taking overall control. | The Conservatives also lost North Hertfordshire District Council, with no party taking overall control. |
| The Liberal Democrats gained five seats, while labour gain two, all from the Tories, who are still the largest party with 22 seats. | The Liberal Democrats gained five seats, while labour gain two, all from the Tories, who are still the largest party with 22 seats. |
| On Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, the Tories are now two seats short of an overall majority, with 23 seats out of 48. | |
| The Lib Dems took seats from both the Conservatives and Labour, meaning there is no overall control. | |
| The Conservatives retained control at East Hertfordshire District Council. | The Conservatives retained control at East Hertfordshire District Council. |
| Hertsmere Borough Council and Dacorum Borough Council were also held by the Tories, while Labour kept control of Stevenage. | Hertsmere Borough Council and Dacorum Borough Council were also held by the Tories, while Labour kept control of Stevenage. |
| There was no change to the make-up of Broxbourne Borough Council, where 11 seats were being defended. The Tories held the 10 they were defending and Labour held its one. | There was no change to the make-up of Broxbourne Borough Council, where 11 seats were being defended. The Tories held the 10 they were defending and Labour held its one. |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| By BBC Three Counties Radio political reporter, Andy Holmes | By BBC Three Counties Radio political reporter, Andy Holmes |
| Today is not a great day to be waking up as a Conservative in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. | Today is not a great day to be waking up as a Conservative in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. |
| Although they have held on to Broxbourne, Hertsmere, Dacorum and East Herts councils, they have lost overall control of both Welwyn Hatfield and St Albans, where Tory Leader Alec Campbell lost his seat. | Although they have held on to Broxbourne, Hertsmere, Dacorum and East Herts councils, they have lost overall control of both Welwyn Hatfield and St Albans, where Tory Leader Alec Campbell lost his seat. |
| The Lib Dems have been the biggest benefactors from all of this, gaining more than 20 seats, whilst Labour have held Luton and Stevenage. | The Lib Dems have been the biggest benefactors from all of this, gaining more than 20 seats, whilst Labour have held Luton and Stevenage. |
| Friday's counts include all of Central Beds, Bedford's mayoral election and a third of Milton Keynes Council, where the Tories are defending 12 seats. | Friday's counts include all of Central Beds, Bedford's mayoral election and a third of Milton Keynes Council, where the Tories are defending 12 seats. |
| And that means the day could yet get worse for the Conservatives. | And that means the day could yet get worse for the Conservatives. |
| Either search using your postcode or council name or click around the map to show local results. | Either search using your postcode or council name or click around the map to show local results. |