Lib Dems celebrate big wins locally

Harpenden & Berkhamsted Liberal Democrats delivered two overwhelming victories against Conservative opposition in by-elections held this week. 

In the Harpenden Rural county council seat, Dr Allison Wren overturned a Conservative majority of 1,580 to gain the seat for the Lib Dems with 58 percent of the vote.

Meanwhile, in the St Albans district council seat of Sandridge and Wheathampstead, which partly overlaps Harpenden Rural, Simon Johns held the seat for the Lib Dems with 56 percent.

The results provide a huge boost to parliamentary candidate Victoria Collins and the Liberal Democrats working to win the new constituency of Harpenden & Berkhamsted at the General Election, expected in the next few months.

Victoria Collins said: “These results are a ringing endorsement of the brilliant campaign that Allison and Simon have run, as well as the strong Liberal Democrat record of action in communities right across our part of Hertfordshire.

“It is clearer than ever before that the next election here will be a two-horse race between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives. Labour aren’t even close.

“Right across Harpenden & Berkhamsted, people are telling us enough is enough, they are fed up of being taken for granted by the Conservatives, and it’s time for change.”

The full results were:

Harpenden Rural (Herts County Council)

Con 766

Green 119

Lab 168

LD 1474 (58%) - Lib Dem GAIN

Sandridge and Wheathampstead (St Albans District Council)

Con 480

Green 78

LD 793 (56%) - Lib Dem HOLD

Lab 68