# 2002 St Albans City and District Council election

The 2002 St Albans City and District Council election took place on 2 May 2002 to elect members of St Albans District Council in Hertfordshire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the council stayed under no overall control.
After the election, the composition of the council was:
* Conservative 21
* Liberal Democrats 20
* Labour 15
* Independent 1
* Vacant 1

## Background

Before the election the Liberal Democrats were the largest party on the council with 23 councillors, compared to 19 for the Conservatives, 15 for Labour and there was 1 independent. 7 councillors stood down at the election, Liberal Democrats John Henchley, John Peters and Brian Roberts, Conservatives Richard Blossom, Patrick Johnston and Julian Turner, and Labour's David Enright.
The Liberal Democrats targeted Labour held seats in Ashley and St Peter's, while Labour aimed to pick up a seat in Cunningham. As well as the 3 main political parties, voters could also vote for the No Candidate Deserves My Vote! party in some wards, which was standing in order to give voters the chance to register their abstention at the polls.

## Voting trial

A trial took place in Sopwell and Verulam wards under which voters could vote either by internet, phone, post or at the polling station using a touch screen system. The internet voting trial was funded by the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions as part of an attempt to get more people involved in elections. As a result of the trial one of the wards set the fastest declaration time at only 4 minutes after the close of polling. However turnout was actually down from 24.1% to 23.3% in Sopwell ward and down from 41.9% to 38.9% in Verulam ward compared to the last election in 2000.

## Election result

The Conservatives gained 3 seats from the Liberal Democrats in Colney Heath, Harpenden North and Sandridge to become the largest party on the council with 21 councillors. The Liberal Democrats dropped to 20 seats, but did gain an increased share of the votes, while Labour stayed on 15 seats. There also remained 1 independent councillor and one seat was vacant after the death of Verulam Conservative councillor Michael Pugh on 22 April 2002. Overall turnout at the election was 38.22%, up from 33.56% at the 2000 election.
St Albans local election result 2002 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Conservative | 8 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 38.1 | 35.8 | 13,722 | -4.4% |
| Liberal Democrats | 7 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 33.3 | 38.8 | 14,896 | +6.1% |
| Labour | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28.6 | 25.1 | 9,632 | +1.2% |
| No Candidate Deserves My Vote! | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.3 | 117 | +0.3% |

## Ward results

Ashley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Malachy Pakenham | 768 | 41.3 | −7.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alan Marshall | 678 | 36.5 | +9.4 |
| | Conservative | Alec Campbell | 382 | 20.5 | −4.1 |
| | No Candidate Deserves My Vote! | Rosemary Flanagan | 31 | 1.7 | +1.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 90 | 4.8 | −16.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,859 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Batchwood (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Roma Mills | 993 | 59.9 | −0.6 |
| | Labour | Martin Leach | 871 | 52.6 | −7.5 |
| | Conservative | Margaret Brownlie | 343 | 20.7 | −6.0 |
| | Conservative | Pamela Farley | 339 | 20.5 | −6.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Richard Biddle | 323 | 19.5 | +6.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Debbie Williams | 267 | 16.1 | +3.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,657 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Clarence :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Joyce Lusby | 1,095 | 59.2 | +11.9 |
| | Labour | Taufiq Lodhi | 423 | 22.9 | −5.7 |
| | Conservative | Louisa-Jane Rosalki | 331 | 17.9 | −6.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 672 | 36.3 | +17.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,849 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Colney Heath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Clarke | 621 | 44.0 | +18.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christopher Brazier | 514 | 36.4 | −11.1 |
| | Labour | David Mclean | 276 | 19.6 | −6.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 107 | 7.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,411 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
Cunningham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Robert Prowse | 842 | 43.3 | +0.3 |
| | Labour | Andrew Gilson | 699 | 36.0 | −0.7 |
| | Conservative | Diana Hall | 402 | 20.7 | +0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 143 | 7.3 | +0.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,943 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Harpenden East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alison Steer | 1,013 | 46.7 | +1.1 |
| | Conservative | Victor Holley | 830 | 38.3 | −1.4 |
| | Labour | David Crew | 324 | 15.0 | +2.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 183 | 8.4 | +2.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,167 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Harpenden North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Grenfell-Hill | 935 | 47.9 | −7.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Coad | 812 | 41.6 | +6.9 |
| | Labour | Rosemary Ross | 206 | 10.5 | +0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 123 | 6.3 | −14.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,953 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
Harpenden South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Teresa Heritage | 1,254 | 63.4 | −2.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christopher Canfield | 461 | 23.3 | +3.7 |
| | Labour | David Lawlor | 263 | 13.3 | −1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 793 | 40.1 | −5.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,978 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Harpenden West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Wicks | 1,211 | 60.1 | −7.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nigel Jenkinson | 505 | 25.1 | +6.3 |
| | Labour | Benjamin Dearman | 299 | 14.8 | +0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 706 | 35.0 | −13.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,015 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
London Colney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Etheldreda Gordon | 1,075 | 61.9 | +2.9 |
| | Conservative | Geoffrey Brooking | 409 | 23.5 | −2.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Carol Prowse | 253 | 14.6 | −0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 666 | 38.4 | +5.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,737 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Marshalswick North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Thomas Clegg | 942 | 47.5 | +0.4 |
| | Conservative | John Foster | 724 | 36.5 | −1.4 |
| | Labour | John Baughan | 319 | 16.1 | +1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 218 | 11.0 | +1.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,985 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Marshalswick South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michael Ketley | 1,353 | 57.8 | +16.5 |
| | Conservative | Roderick Douglas | 667 | 28.5 | −13.8 |
| | Labour | Janet Smith | 321 | 13.7 | −2.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 686 | 29.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,341 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Park Street :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Aislinn Lee | 1,276 | 65.5 | +27.7 |
| | Conservative | James Vessey | 418 | 21.5 | −22.0 |
| | Labour | Janet Blackwell | 253 | 13.0 | −5.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 858 | 44.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,947 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Redbourn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Patricia Schofield | 997 | 52.3 | +9.4 |
| | Conservative | Paul Finigan | 753 | 39.5 | +9.5 |
| | Labour | Clive Newport | 158 | 8.3 | −2.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 244 | 12.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,908 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Sandridge :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Beric Read | 548 | 41.3 | +5.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | William Morris | 531 | 40.0 | +2.1 |
| | Labour | Christine Dawson | 226 | 17.0 | −0.5 |
| | No Candidate Deserves My Vote! | Cliff Miller | 21 | 1.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 17 | 1.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,326 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
Sopwell :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Dawn Pratley | 664 | 58.3 | −2.1 |
| | Conservative | Marilyn Madden | 242 | 21.3 | −5.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Moira Seton | 196 | 17.2 | +4.4 |
| | No Candidate Deserves My Vote! | Michael Horan | 36 | 3.2 | +3.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 422 | 37.0 | +3.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,138 | 23.3 | −0.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
St Peters :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Winifred Dunleavy | 783 | 43.7 | +0.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ilyas Khan | 684 | 38.1 | +0.8 |
| | Conservative | Virginia Walker | 326 | 18.2 | −1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 99 | 5.6 | −0.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,793 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
St Stephen :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Susan Carr | 1,086 | 55.3 | −0.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jadwiga Baillie | 584 | 29.7 | +0.2 |
| | Labour | Patricia Allen | 295 | 15.0 | +0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 502 | 25.6 | −1.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,965 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Verulam :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Pauline Buffham | 934 | 48.7 | +1.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Martin Frearson | 711 | 37.1 | −5.1 |
| | Labour | Linda Spiri | 243 | 12.7 | +2.1 |
| | No Candidate Deserves My Vote! | Peter Goodall | 29 | 1.5 | +1.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 223 | 11.6 | +6.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,917 | 38.9 | −3.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Wheathampstead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Keith Stammers | 967 | 48.4 | −2.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Edelston | 859 | 43.0 | +3.3 |
| | Labour | Mary Cheale | 173 | 8.7 | −0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 108 | 5.4 | −6.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,999 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

## By-elections between 2002 and 2003

A by-election was held in Verulam ward on 27 June 2002 after the death of Conservative councillor Michael Pugh. The seat was gained for the Liberal Democrats by Martin Frearson with a majority of 24 votes over the Conservatives, after Frearson had come second to the Conservatives in the seat at the council election in May.
Turnout increased by 2% from the May council election and the number of spoiled ballots dropped to 2 from 30 at the May election when the trial of electronic voting had taken place in the ward.
Verulam by-election 27 June 2002 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Martin Frearson | 960 | 46.6 | +9.5 |
| | Conservative | Marilyn Madden | 936 | 45.5 | −3.2 |
| | Labour | Linda Spiri | 145 | 7.0 | −5.7 |
| | No Candidate Deserves My Vote | Peter Goodall | 17 | 0.8 | −0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 24 | 1.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,058 | 40.9 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |