Claim: Before the 2004 Harrogate Borough Council election, which was held under all postal voting for the first time in Harrogate, the Conservatives, which had gained a majority after 2 Liberal Democrats defected to the Conservatives in autumn 2003, ran the council with more seats than the other two parties.
Evidence: The election was held under all postal voting, for the first time in Harrogate. The Conservatives had gained a majority after 2 Liberal Democrats defected to the Conservatives in autumn 2003. Before the election the Conservatives ran the council with 28 seats, while the Liberal Democrats had 21 seats and there were 4 independents.