# 2010 St Albans City and District Council election

The 2010 St Albans City and District Council election took place on 6 May 2010 to elect members of St Albans District Council in Hertfordshire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Liberal Democrats stayed in overall control of the council.
After the election, the composition of the council was:
* Liberal Democrats 29
* Conservative 24
* Labour 3
* Independent 1
* Vacant 1

## Campaign

Before the election the Liberal Democrats ran the council with exactly half of the seats, relying on the independents and the mayor's casting vote to have control. The election took place at the same time as the 2010 general election with a seat being contested in all 20 wards of the council. The Liberal Democrats, Conservatives, Labour and Green parties stood for all of the seats, while there were 2 candidates from the United Kingdom Independence Party and 1 from the British National Party (BNP), making this the first time the BNP had stood for the council.
Key wards were seen as being Batchwood, London Colney and Sopwell, with the Labour group leader Roma Mills defending Batchwood. The Liberal Democrats defended their record in control of the council, pointing to no increase in council tax for the previous 2 years and work on preserving the green belt, recycling and congestion. However the Conservatives felt the election provided an opportunity for them to deprive the Liberal Democrats of a majority on the back of increased turnout due to the general election.

## Election result

The Liberal Democrats retained control of the council with 29 seats after gaining 2 seats, but losing another 2. They took Batchwood from Labour by 1 vote, defeating the Labour group leader Roma Mills, and also Marshalswick South from the Conservatives. However they lost both Harpenden East and Wheathampstead to the Conservatives to remain on the same number of seats. Meanwhile, the Conservatives made a further 2 gains taking London Colney from Labour and Redbourn from an independent, Susan Carr, who did not contest the election. This put the Conservatives on 24 seats, while Labour held 3 and there was 1 independent.
One seat remained vacant in Ashley ward after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Mike Ellis.
St Albans local election result 2010 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Conservative | 10 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 50.0 | 42.0 | 32,952 | -1.2% |
| Liberal Democrats | 10 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 50.0 | 38.2 | 29,981 | +3.9% |
| Labour | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 | 14.1 | 11,093 | +1.5% |
| Green | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.7 | 3,706 | -2.0% |
| UKIP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 398 | +0.5% |
| BNP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.3 | 255 | +0.3% |
| Independent | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 | 0.03 | 20 | -3.2% |

## Ward results

Ashley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Anthony Rowlands | 2,006 | 49.2 | −0.8 |
| | Conservative | Guy Young | 1,117 | 27.4 | +1.8 |
| | Labour | John Paton | 712 | 17.5 | +4.1 |
| | Green | Graham Ward | 244 | 6.0 | −5.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 889 | 21.8 | −2.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,079 | 73.4 | +35.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Batchwood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Amanda Archer | 1,269 | 32.5 | −6.9 |
| | Labour | Roma Mills | 1,268 | 32.5 | +0.5 |
| | Conservative | Tim Smith | 1,188 | 30.4 | +9.7 |
| | Green | Naomi Love | 179 | 4.6 | −3.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1 | 0.0 | −7.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,904 | 71.8 | +30.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Swing | | |
Clarence :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Joyce Lusby | 1,807 | 47.9 | +0.3 |
| | Conservative | Dursun Altun | 1,115 | 29.5 | −1.1 |
| | Labour | Helen Ives-Rose | 556 | 14.7 | +4.4 |
| | Green | Pete Eggleston | 297 | 7.9 | −3.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 692 | 18.3 | +1.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,775 | 76.4 | +33.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Colney Heath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jamie Day | 1,555 | 50.0 | −17.3 |
| | Conservative | Lynn Myland | 1,139 | 36.7 | +12.4 |
| | Labour | Michael Mulholland | 298 | 9.6 | +5.0 |
| | Green | Robert Barton | 115 | 3.7 | 0.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 416 | 13.4 | −29.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,107 | 73.6 | +33.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Cunningham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Rob Prowse | 1,596 | 45.7 | −3.3 |
| | Conservative | James Vessey | 1,061 | 30.4 | −2.9 |
| | Labour | John Metcalf | 667 | 19.1 | +8.6 |
| | Green | Greg Riener | 167 | 4.8 | −2.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 535 | 15.3 | −0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,491 | 71.0 | +29.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Harpenden East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Dean Russell | 1,949 | 47.6 | −4.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alison Steer | 1,740 | 42.5 | +3.8 |
| | Labour | Richard Lane | 282 | 6.9 | +0.4 |
| | Green | Tim Blackwell | 123 | 3.0 | −0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 209 | 5.1 | −7.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,094 | 75.1 | +28.7 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
Harpenden North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Geoffrey Turner | 2,200 | 55.0 | −9.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gordon Burrow | 1,205 | 30.1 | +9.0 |
| | Labour | Rosemary Ross | 430 | 10.7 | +3.1 |
| | Green | Annett Tate | 168 | 4.2 | −2.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 995 | 24.9 | −18.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,003 | 76.3 | +40.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Harpenden South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Teresa Heritage | 2,747 | 65.3 | −9.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Spinks | 927 | 22.0 | +8.2 |
| | Labour | Linda Spiri | 346 | 8.2 | +2.0 |
| | Green | Tony Grover | 189 | 4.5 | −0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,820 | 43.2 | −18.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,209 | 78.3 | +29.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Harpenden West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Julian Daly | 2,670 | 59.0 | −9.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jeff Phillips | 1,242 | 27.5 | +8.5 |
| | Labour | Ben Dearman | 442 | 9.8 | +2.5 |
| | Green | Lydia El-Khouri | 169 | 3.7 | −2.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,428 | 31.6 | −17.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,523 | 77.1 | +37.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
London Colney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Irene Willcocks | 1,774 | 38.2 | −9.3 |
| | Labour | Dreda Gordon | 1,526 | 32.8 | −9.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Vibs Nazeri | 991 | 21.3 | +15.6 |
| | BNP | Danny Seabrook | 255 | 5.5 | +5.5 |
| | Green | Tamara Fogarty | 102 | 2.2 | −2.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 248 | 5.3 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,648 | 67.7 | +31.1 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |
Marshalswick North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tom Clegg | 1,827 | 47.8 | −3.6 |
| | Conservative | John Foster | 1,479 | 38.7 | +0.5 |
| | Labour | Ruairi McCourt | 372 | 9.7 | +4.1 |
| | Green | Rosalind Paul | 142 | 3.7 | −1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 348 | 9.1 | −4.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,820 | 76.7 | +29.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Marshalswick South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Rod Perks | 1,706 | 40.4 | −7.3 |
| | Conservative | Salih Gaygusuz | 1,676 | 39.7 | +5.7 |
| | Labour | Anthony Nicholson | 596 | 14.1 | +3.9 |
| | Green | Jill Mills | 247 | 5.8 | −2.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 30 | 0.7 | −13.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,225 | 78.8 | +30.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
Park Street :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Aislinn Lee | 1,876 | 46.4 | −4.4 |
| | Conservative | Stella Nash | 1,472 | 36.4 | −2.5 |
| | Labour | Dominic Benson | 372 | 9.2 | +2.3 |
| | UKIP | Roger Gray | 218 | 5.4 | +5.4 |
| | Green | Lucy Egglestone | 85 | 2.1 | −1.2 |
| | Independent | Mark Ewington | 20 | 0.5 | +0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 404 | 10.0 | −1.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,043 | 73.7 | +32.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Redbourn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Roger Gray | 1,789 | 49.2 | +16.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Colin O'Donovan | 1,453 | 39.9 | +39.9 |
| | Labour | Jane Cloke | 249 | 6.8 | +2.9 |
| | Green | Thomas Hardy | 148 | 4.1 | +0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 336 | 9.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,639 | 75.5 | +30.7 |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |
Sandridge :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Beric Read | 1,560 | 52.3 | −5.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Helen Bishop | 956 | 32.0 | +9.7 |
| | Labour | Richard Harris | 332 | 11.1 | +0.1 |
| | Green | Ian Troughton | 137 | 4.6 | −4.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 604 | 20.2 | −15.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,985 | 76.7 | +37.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Sopwell :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Poor | 1,487 | 40.4 | +5.9 |
| | Labour | Janet Smith | 1,058 | 28.7 | −5.6 |
| | Conservative | Bruce Snell | 917 | 24.9 | +2.5 |
| | Green | Kate Metcalf | 219 | 5.9 | −3.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 429 | 11.7 | +11.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,681 | 69.0 | +28.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
St Peters :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michael Green | 1,752 | 42.0 | +5.5 |
| | Conservative | Emma Harding | 1,227 | 29.4 | −1.8 |
| | Labour | John Baker | 646 | 15.5 | +0.3 |
| | Green | Simon Grover | 550 | 13.2 | −3.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 525 | 12.6 | +7.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,175 | 71.9 | +33.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
St Stephen :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Sue Featherstone | 2,244 | 55.5 | −16.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jon Humphrey | 1,284 | 31.8 | +15.1 |
| | Labour | Janet Blackwell | 394 | 9.8 | +2.7 |
| | Green | Lesley Baker | 119 | 2.9 | −1.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 960 | 23.8 | −21.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,041 | 77.6 | +34.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Verulam :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Nathanael Young | 1,794 | 42.1 | +1.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Catherine Barron | 1,704 | 40.0 | −7.5 |
| | Labour | Netta Gibbs | 383 | 9.0 | +4.3 |
| | Green | Margaret Grover | 199 | 4.7 | −2.2 |
| | UKIP | Philip Roe | 180 | 4.2 | +4.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 90 | 2.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,260 | 82.1 | +29.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Wheathampstead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Annie Brewster | 1,834 | 49.5 | −1.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Judy Shardlow | 1,598 | 43.2 | +0.7 |
| | Labour | David Lawlor | 164 | 4.4 | +0.9 |
| | Green | Kristian Tizzard | 107 | 2.9 | −0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 236 | 6.4 | −2.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,703 | 78.1 | +25.6 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |

## By-elections between 2010 and 2011

A by-election was held in Ashley ward on 3 June 2010 after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Mike Ellis. The seat was held for the Liberal Democrats by Andy Grant with a majority of 420 votes over Labour.
Ashley by-election 3 June 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andy Grant | 774 | 49.5 | +0.3 |
| | Labour | John Paton | 354 | 22.6 | +5.1 |
| | Conservative | Christopher Baker | 342 | 21.9 | −5.5 |
| | Green | Graham Ward | 93 | 6.0 | 0.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 420 | 26.9 | +5.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,563 | 27.9 | −45.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |