# 2014 St Albans City and District Council election

The 2014 St Albans City and District Council election took place on 22 May 2014 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 29
* Liberal Democrats 17
* Labour 10
* Green 1
* Independent 1

## Background

Before the election the Conservatives had half of the seats on the council with 29 councillors, while the Liberal Democrats had 19 seats, Labour had 8 and both the Greens and an independent had 1 seat. 20 seats were contested in 2014 with each of the Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Labour parties putting up a full 20 candidates. The Green party stood 16 candidates, while the UK Independence Party had a big increase in candidates after only standing in 2 wards at the 2012 election.

## Election result

The Conservatives remained the largest party on the council with 29 seats, but failed to win a majority on the council. Labour gained 2 seats to have 10 councillors, taking London Colney from the Conservatives and a narrow 32 vote gain in Sopwell from the Liberal Democrats after a recount. The Liberal Democrats dropped to 17 seats and blamed their loss of a seat in St Peters ward to the Conservatives on votes for the Green party, who came a close third in the ward. The UK Independence Party failed to win any seats but came second in Sandridge, and third in St Stephen ward where 2 seats were contested. Overall turnout at the election was 42.77%.
St Albans local election result 2014 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Conservative | 12 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 54.5 | 38.5 | 19,044 | +0.6% |
| Liberal Democrats | 7 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 31.8 | 23.2 | 11,477 | -1.8% |
| Labour | 3 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 13.6 | 19.2 | 9,503 | -2.8% |
| UKIP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9.5 | 4,705 | +8.8% |
| Green | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6.9 | 3,424 | -1.7% |
| Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.5 | 1,241 | -3.1% |
| TUSC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 14 | 0.0% |

## Ward results

Ashley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Anthony Rowlands | 1,131 | 42.5 | +9.8 |
| | Labour | Anne Lyons | 738 | 27.7 | −8.1 |
| | Conservative | Chris Dey | 373 | 14.0 | −6.1 |
| | UKIP | Michael Mason | 244 | 9.2 | +9.2 |
| | Green | Mike George | 177 | 6.6 | −4.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 393 | 14.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,663 | 46.0 | +8 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Batchwood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Roma Mills | 1,130 | 49.2 | +0.7 |
| | Conservative | Tim Smith | 512 | 22.3 | +0.9 |
| | UKIP | Colin Donald | 272 | 11.8 | +11.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jon Humphrey | 219 | 9.5 | −11.3 |
| | Green | Lee Evans | 163 | 7.1 | −2.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 618 | 26.9 | −0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,296 | 41.5 | +8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Clarence :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gerard McHale | 764 | 32.5 | −10.0 |
| | Conservative | Joe Hames | 579 | 24.6 | +0.7 |
| | Labour | Helen Ives-Rose | 483 | 20.5 | +2.0 |
| | Green | Jack Easton | 367 | 15.6 | +0.5 |
| | UKIP | Beverley Rands | 145 | 6.2 | +6.2 |
| | TUSC | Keith Hussey | 14 | 0.6 | +0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 185 | 7.9 | −10.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,352 | 44.8 | +5 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Colney Heath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jamie Day | 751 | 41.3 | −18.5 |
| | Conservative | Jonathan Marks | 353 | 19.4 | −4.1 |
| | UKIP | Christopher Thorpe | 339 | 18.6 | +18.6 |
| | Labour | John Paton | 273 | 15.0 | +3.2 |
| | Green | Steve Clough | 104 | 5.7 | +0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 398 | 21.9 | −14.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,820 | 41.6 | −6.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Cunningham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Rob Prowse | 701 | 32.5 | −7.0 |
| | Labour | Vivienne Windle | 484 | 22.5 | +1.8 |
| | Conservative | Jim Vessey | 427 | 19.8 | −1.4 |
| | UKIP | Alan Malin | 400 | 18.6 | +10.5 |
| | Green | Gregory Riener | 143 | 6.6 | +0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 217 | 10.1 | −8.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,155 | 43.7 | +6 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Harpenden East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Mary Maynard | 966 | 44.0 | −9.2 |
| | Independent | Pip Martyn | 677 | 30.9 | +30.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mike Waddilove | 278 | 12.7 | −11.6 |
| | Labour | Rosemary Ross | 273 | 12.4 | −2.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 289 | 13.2 | −15.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,194 | 39.8 | +8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Harpenden North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Geoffrey Turner | 902 | 45.9 | −1.0 |
| | Independent | John Chambers | 302 | 15.4 | −9.8 |
| | Labour | Linda Spiri | 276 | 14.0 | +0.9 |
| | Independent | Paul Howe | 262 | 13.3 | +13.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Pauline Waddilove | 224 | 11.4 | +1.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 600 | 30.5 | +8.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,966 | 37.3 | +5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Harpenden South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Teresa Heritage | 1,565 | 72.9 | +1.8 |
| | Labour | Michael Gray-Higgins | 306 | 14.3 | +2.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Maria Moyses | 275 | 12.8 | +1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,259 | 58.7 | −0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,146 | 39.9 | +6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Harpenden West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Julian Daly | 1,599 | 67.6 | +0.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jeffrey Phillips | 402 | 17.0 | +3.1 |
| | Labour | David Lawlor | 364 | 15.4 | +2.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,197 | 50.6 | −2.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,365 | 41.5 | +7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
London Colney :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Katherine Gardner | 1,066 | 39.9 | −7.2 |
| | Conservative | Simon Calder | 853 | 31.9 | −5.0 |
| | UKIP | David Kilpatrick | 502 | 18.8 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Margaret Price | 126 | 4.7 | +0.1 |
| | Green | William Simmons | 124 | 4.6 | −3.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 213 | 8.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,671 | 37.7 | +3 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
Marshalswick North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tom Clegg | 803 | 36.4 | −8.1 |
| | Conservative | Lyn Bolton | 627 | 28.4 | −7.3 |
| | UKIP | Michael Hollins | 380 | 17.2 | +17.2 |
| | Labour | Jane Cloke | 233 | 10.6 | −1.4 |
| | Green | Claire Gilbert | 162 | 7.3 | −0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 176 | 8.0 | −0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,205 | 44.1 | +4 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Marshalswick South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Seema Kennedy | 972 | 38.6 | −1.2 |
| | Labour | Anthony Nicolson | 573 | 22.7 | +3.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mark Pedroz | 486 | 19.3 | −8.6 |
| | Green | Katherine Reeve | 258 | 10.2 | +2.1 |
| | UKIP | David Dickson | 232 | 9.2 | +3.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 399 | 15.8 | +3.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,521 | 47.0 | +3 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
Park Street :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Aislinn Lee | 976 | 40.1 | −5.6 |
| | Conservative | Stella Nash | 649 | 26.7 | −10.3 |
| | UKIP | Roger Gray | 493 | 20.3 | +20.3 |
| | Labour | Martin McGrath | 228 | 9.4 | −3.1 |
| | Green | Rosalind Paul | 85 | 3.5 | −1.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 327 | 13.5 | +4.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,431 | 42.3 | +6 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Redbourn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Victoria Mead | 1,194 | 62.4 | +30.8 |
| | Labour | Nick Pullinger | 363 | 19.0 | +10.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michael Morton | 189 | 9.9 | +9.9 |
| | Green | Lydia El-Khouri | 168 | 8.8 | +8.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 831 | 43.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,914 | 39.5 | −1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Sandridge :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Beric Read | 770 | 46.1 | −9.7 |
| | UKIP | John Stocker | 304 | 18.2 | +18.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sheila Clegg | 248 | 14.9 | −5.5 |
| | Labour | Richard Harris | 198 | 11.9 | −3.9 |
| | Green | Paul Quinn | 149 | 8.9 | +0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 466 | 27.9 | −7.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,669 | 44.1 | −7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Sopwell :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Iain Grant | 840 | 34.6 | −12.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Poor | 808 | 33.3 | +6.6 |
| | Conservative | Nick Chivers | 309 | 12.7 | −4.6 |
| | UKIP | Greg Peachey | 306 | 12.6 | +12.6 |
| | Green | Kate Metcalf | 166 | 6.8 | −3.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 32 | 1.3 | −20.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,429 | 45.5 | +11 |
| | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
St Peters :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Alun Davies | 667 | 25.6 | +3.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michael Green | 624 | 24.0 | +4.1 |
| | Green | Jill Mills | 616 | 23.6 | −11.1 |
| | Labour | Rebecca Rideal | 539 | 20.7 | −2.7 |
| | UKIP | Daragh Cahalane | 159 | 6.1 | +6.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 43 | 1.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,605 | 42.3 | +6 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
St Stephen (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Sue Featherstone | 1,340 | 54.1 | −3.6 |
| | Conservative | Dave Winstone | 923 | 37.2 | −20.5 |
| | UKIP | Peter Whitehead | 618 | 24.9 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Parry | 513 | 20.7 | −2.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alison Ross | 492 | 19.9 | −3.0 |
| | Labour | Janet Blackwell | 229 | 9.2 | −3.5 |
| | Green | Lesley Baker | 197 | 7.9 | +1.1 |
| | Labour | James Hopkins | 162 | 6.5 | −6.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,478 | 46.2 | +11 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Verulam :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Edgar Hill | 1,018 | 37.8 | −12.4 |
| | Conservative | Steve McKeown | 916 | 34.0 | +1.8 |
| | UKIP | Paul Tilyard | 311 | 11.6 | +11.6 |
| | Labour | Heather Troy | 234 | 8.7 | −0.1 |
| | Green | Margaret Grover | 213 | 7.9 | −0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 102 | 3.8 | −14.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,692 | 49.4 | +2 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
Wheathampstead (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Annie Brewster | 1,445 | 67.3 | +13.6 |
| | Conservative | Sandra Wood | 1,103 | 51.4 | −2.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Harriet Sherlock | 449 | 20.9 | −10.6 |
| | Green | Ian Troughton | 332 | 15.5 | +9.6 |
| | Labour | David Cheale | 307 | 14.3 | +5.4 |
| | Labour | Gavin Ross | 204 | 9.5 | +0.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,148 | 44.4 | +2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

## By-elections between 2014 and 2015

A by-election was held in Marshalswick South on 29 January 2015 for 2 seats on the council after the resignation of Conservative councillors Heidi Allen and Seema Kennedy. The 2 seats were held for Conservatives by Steve McKeown and Richard Curthoys with 667 and 647 votes respectively.
Marshalswick South by-election 29 January 2015 (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Steve McKeown | 667 | 33.5 | −5.1 |
| | Conservative | Richard Curthoys | 647 | 32.5 | −6.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mark Pedroz | 495 | 24.9 | +5.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Elizabeth Needham | 488 | 24.5 | +5.2 |
| | Green | Jill Mills | 450 | 22.6 | +12.4 |
| | Labour | Richard Harris | 406 | 20.4 | −2.3 |
| | Labour | Vivienne Windle | 312 | 15.7 | −7.0 |
| | Green | Tim Robinson | 166 | 8.3 | −1.9 |
| | UKIP | David Dickson | 148 | 7.4 | −1.8 |
| | UKIP | Michael Hollins | 147 | 7.4 | −1.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,989 | 37.5 | −9.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |