Conservatives lose control of Hertfordshire County Council

The Conservatives have lost control of Hertfordshire County Council for the first time since 1999 as the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK made significant in-roads into the local vote.

The Liberal Democrats picked up 31 seats, leaving them as the largest party, including a thumping win for Jewish councillor Laurence Brass in Bushey North, who was  re-elected as the Hertfordshire County Councillor with an hugely increased majority and more votes than all the other four candidates combined.

The Conservatives picked up 22 seats – included councillor Caroline Clapper secured an impressive victory in the Watling ward, which includes the, Elstree and Radlett areas, while Reform picked up 14 wards.

Brass, a former Board of Deputies treasurer, said on X:” I am pleased to announce that I have been re-elected as the Hertfordshire County Councillor for Bushey North with a hugely increased majority and more votes than all the other four candidates combined. Lib Dems are now the largest party on Herts CC.”

No party gained the 40 seats needed for an overall majority. The move to reorganise the county into a single unitary body – scrapping district and borough councils – will therefore be managed without any one party controlling the upper-tier council.

Analysis of the vote share across the county showed the Lib Dems and Tories tied on 26%, Reform getting 24%, while Labour got 14%.

On Hertfordshire County Council prior to last week’s elections, the Conservatives had 42 seats and the Liberal Democrats 22.

But with Reform UK entering the scene no party was near to getting 40 seats required for a majority this time.

Clapper,  Deputy Leader at Hertsmere Borough Council,  secured 67% of the votes cast in Watling, with the Reform UK candidate coming second, but a long way behind with 16% of the vote.