# 1986 St Albans City and District Council election

The 1986 St Albans City and District Council election took place on 8 May 1986 to elect members of St Albans City and District Council in England. This was on the same day as other local elections.
At the election, the SDP-Liberal Alliance displaced the Conservatives as the largest party for the first time since the council's creation in 1973.

## Summary

1986 St Albans City and District Council election :
| Party | Party | This election | This election | This election | Full council | Full council | Full council | This election | This election | This election |
| Party | Party | Seats | Net | Seats % | Other | Total | Total % | Votes | Votes % | +/− |
| | Alliance | 11 | 2 | 55.0 | 14 | 25 | 43.9 | 19,743 | 39.4 | –1.9 |
| | Conservative | 6 | 2 | 30.0 | 17 | 23 | 40.4 | 18,776 | 37.5 | –3.7 |
| | Labour | 3 | 1 | 15.0 | 5 | 8 | 14.0 | 9,620 | 19.2 | +3.7 |
| | Independent | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 1 | 1 | 1.8 | 1,067 | 2.1 | +0.4 |
| | Independent Labour | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 553 | 1.1 | N/A |
| | Green | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 300 | 0.6 | +0.4 |

## Ward results
### Ashley

Ashley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Alliance | T. Allison | 1,157 | 48.5 | –9.8 |
| | Conservative | S. Capper | 722 | 30.3 | +2.8 |
| | Labour | C. Leet | 507 | 21.2 | +7.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 435 | 18.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,386 | 49.0 | –7.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,869 | | |
| | Alliance hold | Alliance hold | Swing | 6.3 | |

### Batchwood

Batchwood (2 seats due to by-election) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | D. McManus | 955 | 38.1 |
| | Alliance | R. Biddle | 939 | 37.5 |
| | Labour | R. Mills | 930 | 37.1 |
| | Alliance | J. Haggerty | 873 | 34.8 |
| | Conservative | G. Barnes | 613 | 24.5 |
| | Conservative | A. Smith | 545 | 21.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,507 | 49.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,116 | |
| | Labour gain from Alliance | Labour gain from Alliance | Labour gain from Alliance | Labour gain from Alliance |
| | Alliance hold | Alliance hold | Alliance hold | Alliance hold |

### Clarence

Clarence :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Alliance | S. Burton | 1,237 | 47.9 | +8.0 |
| | Conservative | J. Telfer | 925 | 35.8 | –10.4 |
| | Labour | S. Seelig | 421 | 16.3 | +2.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 312 | 12.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,583 | 59.0 | +0.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,378 | | |
| | Alliance hold | Alliance hold | Swing | 9.2 | |

### Colney Heath

Colney Heath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Alliance | B. Howard* | 868 | 59.8 | –2.3 |
| | Conservative | R. Wakeley | 369 | 25.4 | –5.3 |
| | Labour | D. Landman | 215 | 14.8 | +7.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 499 | 34.4 | +3.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,452 | 52.0 | +0.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,792 | | |
| | Alliance hold | Alliance hold | Swing | 1.5 | |

### Cunningham

Cunningham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Alliance | C. Gunner* | 1,052 | 46.9 | –12.2 |
| | Conservative | C. Ellis | 739 | 33.0 | +5.6 |
| | Labour | T. Jones | 451 | 20.1 | +6.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 313 | 14.0 | –17.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,242 | 47.0 | –5.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,770 | | |
| | Alliance hold | Alliance hold | Swing | 8.9 | |

### Harpenden East

Harpenden East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Alliance | P. Burrows | 1,283 | 44.1 | –1.4 |
| | Conservative | B. Bartman* | 1,214 | 41.7 | –3.7 |
| | Labour | D. Crew | 286 | 9.8 | +0.7 |
| | Green | J. Bishop | 128 | 4.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 69 | 2.4 | +2.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,911 | 57.0 | +4.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,107 | | |
| | Alliance gain from Conservative | Alliance gain from Conservative | Swing | 1.2 | |

### Harpenden North

Harpenden North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | K. Haywood* | 1,380 | 47.0 | –5.0 |
| | Alliance | D. Wright | 1,066 | 36.3 | +4.0 |
| | Labour | B. Saffery | 317 | 10.8 | –0.4 |
| | Green | H. Swailes | 172 | 5.9 | +1.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 314 | 10.7 | –9.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,935 | 51.0 | +8.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,755 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 4.5 | |

### Harpenden South

Harpenden South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | K. McCaw* | 1,434 | 56.7 | –10.0 |
| | Alliance | L. Johnstone | 874 | 34.6 | +11.6 |
| | Labour | J. Bailey | 220 | 8.7 | +1.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 560 | 22.2 | –21.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,528 | 49.0 | +6.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,159 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 10.8 | |

### Harpenden West

Harpenden West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. Roberts | 1,461 | 54.8 | –3.9 |
| | Alliance | D. Groom | 982 | 36.8 | +3.1 |
| | Labour | L. Fryd | 225 | 8.4 | +0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 479 | 18.0 | –7.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,668 | 51.0 | +2.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,231 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 3.5 | |

### London Colney

London Colney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | R. Ranstead | 1,016 | 41.9 | –18.3 |
| | Conservative | T. Rodell | 694 | 28.6 | –11.2 |
| | Independent Labour | F. Perham* | 553 | 22.8 | N/A |
| | Independent | I. Holt | 161 | 6.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 322 | 13.3 | –7.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,424 | 43.0 | +8.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,637 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 3.6 | |

### Marshallwick North

Marshallwick North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Alliance | G. Churchard* | 1,337 | 49.5 | +0.2 |
| | Conservative | L. Caims | 1,095 | 40.6 | –1.1 |
| | Labour | C. Pearce | 268 | 9.9 | +0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 242 | 9.0 | +1.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,762 | 53.0 | –1.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,094 | | |
| | Alliance hold | Alliance hold | Swing | 0.7 | |

### Marshallwick South

Marshallwick South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Alliance | A. Rowlands | 1,285 | 44.4 | +2.7 |
| | Conservative | A. Hill | 1,281 | 44.2 | –4.9 |
| | Labour | L. Adams | 330 | 11.4 | +2.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4 | 0.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,896 | 56.0 | +3.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,171 | | |
| | Alliance gain from Conservative | Alliance gain from Conservative | Swing | 3.8 | |

### Park Street

Park Street :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Alliance | W. Lawrence | 935 | 51.9 | –3.1 |
| | Conservative | S. Biggs | 581 | 32.3 | –3.0 |
| | Labour | J. Gipps | 285 | 15.8 | +6.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 354 | 19.7 | ±0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,801 | 42.0 | –9.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,288 | | |
| | Alliance hold | Alliance hold | Swing | 0.0 | |

### Redbourn

Redbourn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | D. Robinson* | 1,065 | 46.9 | +5.5 |
| | Alliance | P. Schofield | 759 | 33.4 | N/A |
| | Labour | G. Harris | 447 | 19.7 | +4.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 306 | 13.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,271 | 51.0 | +3.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,453 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Sopwell

Sopwell :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | K. Pollard* | 1,245 | 48.1 | +3.0 |
| | Alliance | M. Saunders | 784 | 30.3 | +2.8 |
| | Conservative | J. Rabuszko | 562 | 21.7 | –5.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 461 | 17.8 | +0.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,591 | 51.0 | +5.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,080 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 0.1 | |

### St. Peters

St. Peters :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Alliance | P. Thompson* | 1,037 | 46.4 | –1.1 |
| | Labour | G. Powell | 652 | 29.2 | +2.9 |
| | Conservative | F. Newton | 547 | 24.5 | –1.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 385 | 17.2 | –4.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,236 | 50.0 | –2.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,472 | | |
| | Alliance hold | Alliance hold | Swing | 2.0 | |

### St. Stephens

St. Stephens :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | M. Heap* | 1,093 | 35.1 | –8.1 |
| | Independent | A. Neasel | 869 | 27.9 | N/A |
| | Alliance | F. Smith | 812 | 26.1 | –20.6 |
| | Labour | K. Morcom | 341 | 10.9 | +0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 224 | 7.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,115 | 54.0 | –0.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,769 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Verulam

Verulam :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | R. Moss | 1,404 | 49.1 | –0.8 |
| | Alliance | C. White | 1,107 | 38.7 | –2.1 |
| | Labour | M. Bromberg | 309 | 10.8 | +1.5 |
| | Independent | A. Clifford | 37 | 1.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 297 | 10.4 | +1.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,857 | 55.0 | –2.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,195 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Alliance | Conservative gain from Alliance | Swing | 0.7 | |

### Wheathampstead

Wheathampstead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Alliance | S. Whittaker | 1,356 | 52.0 | +0.8 |
| | Conservative | R. Norsworthy | 1,052 | 40.3 | +0.7 |
| | Labour | J. McPheat | 200 | 7.7 | –1.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 304 | 11.7 | +0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,608 | 54.0 | +5.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,830 | | |
| | Alliance gain from Conservative | Alliance gain from Conservative | Swing | 0.0 | |