2004 St Albans City and District Council election

2004 UK local government election

Map of the results of the 2004 St Albans City and District Council election. Liberal Democrats in yellow, Conservatives in blue, Labour in red and independent in light grey. Wards in dark grey were not contested in 2004.

The 2004 St Albans City and District Council election took place on 10 June 2004 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.[1]

After the election, the composition of the council was:

* Liberal Democrats 29
* Conservative 17
* Labour 11
* Independent 1[2]

## Background

[edit]

After the last election in 2003 the Liberal Democrats were the largest party on the council with 23 seats, compared to 21 for the Conservatives, 13 for Labour and there was 1 independent.[3] In April 2004 the Liberal Democrats gained a seat from the Conservatives at a by-election in Verulam,[4][5] which meant they needed to gain 6 seats at the 2004 council election to take a majority on the council.[6] St Albans was reported by national newspapers to be a council that the Liberal Democrats were hoping to win a majority on.[7][8]

18 seats were contested at the election with only Colney Heath and Sandridge wards not having elections.[6] Candidates from the 3 main parties stood in all 18 wards apart from in Redbourn, where the Liberal Democrats did not put up a candidate to oppose the independent councillor, Tony Swendell, who was standing for re-election.[6] Two other parties put up some candidates, 3 from the new St Albans Party and 2 from the Green Party.[6]

4 Conservative councillors stood down at the election, Mike Bretherton, Mike Jameson, Martin Treasure and Hazel Ward, as well as 1 from Labour, Andrew Rose and 1 Liberal Democrat, John White.[6]

## Election result

[edit]

The results saw the Liberal Democrat make 5 gains but come up one seat short of gaining an overall majority.[9][10] They gained seats in Ashley and St Peters wards from Labour, and in Marshalswick South, Park Street and Wheathampstead from the Conservatives,[11][12] to have exactly half of the 58 seats on the council.[13] This reduced the Conservatives to 17 seats and Labour to 11 seats, while independent Anthony Swendell was re-elected in Redbourn.[12]

Following the election the Liberal Democrats took control of the council with all of the seats on the council cabinet after winning a vote 29 to 24, with 1 abstention, despite opposition from both Labour and the Conservatives.[14]

St Albans local election result 2004[13][15] Party  | Seats  | Gains  | Losses  | Net gain/loss  | Seats %  | Votes %  | Votes  | +/−

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

| Liberal Democrats | 9  | 5  | 0  | +5  | 50.0  | 38.2  | 15,235  | -5.6%
| Conservative | 5  | 0  | 3  | -3  | 27.8  | 39.6  | 15,796  | +4.2%
| Labour | 3  | 0  | 2  | -2  | 16.7  | 17.1  | 6,826  | -3.5%
| Independent | 1  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 5.6  | 3.3  | 1,310  | +3.3%
| St Albans Party  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 1.1  | 436  | +1.1%
| Green | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0.8  | 310  | +0.8%

## Ward results

[edit]

Ashley[13][15] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal Democrats | Michael Ellis  | 912  | 41.2  | −2.2
| Labour | Edward Hill  | 713  | 32.2  | −2.8
| Conservative | Alec Campbell  | 457  | 20.6  | −1.0
| St Albans Party  | Peter Cobden  | 133  | 6.0  | +6.0
Majority  | 199  | 9.0  | +0.6
Turnout | 2,215  | 44.4  | 0.0
| Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Swing |  |
Batchwood[13][15] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Eleanor Harris  | 732  | 37.1  | −10.0
| Liberal Democrats | Allan Witherick  | 698  | 35.3  | +9.0
| Conservative | Eileen Brown  | 545  | 27.6  | +1.0
Majority  | 34  | 1.8  | −18.7
Turnout | 1,975  | 40.1  | +2.5
| Labour hold | Swing |  |
Clarence[13][15] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal Democrats | Brian Sinfield  | 985  | 47.0  | −18.3
| Conservative | Lee Foster  | 514  | 24.5  | +7.5
| Labour | David Lee  | 416  | 19.9  | +2.2
| Green | Simon Grover | 180  | 8.6  | +8.6
Majority  | 471  | 22.5  | −25.1
Turnout | 2,095  | 47.1  | +1.3
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing |  |
Cunningham[13][15] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal Democrats | Geoffrey Harrison  | 1,180  | 57.2  | −4.1
| Conservative | James Vessey  | 542  | 26.3  | +7.5
| Labour | Rebecca Gumbrell-Mccormick  | 340  | 16.5  | −3.4
Majority  | 638  | 30.9  | −10.5
Turnout | 2,062  | 45.5  | −0.7
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing |  |
Harpenden East[13][15] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal Democrats | Brian Peyton  | 1,224  | 50.4  | +0.2
| Conservative | Nora Kavanaugh  | 960  | 39.5  | +2.2
| Labour | David Crew  | 245  | 10.1  | −2.4
Majority  | 264  | 10.9  | −2.0
Turnout | 2,429  | 47.7  | +2.2
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing |  |
Harpenden North[13][15] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | John Chambers  | 1,228  | 56.9  | +5.8
| Liberal Democrats | Christopher Canfield  | 707  | 32.8  | −5.6
| Labour | Rosemary Ross  | 223  | 10.3  | −0.2
Majority  | 521  | 24.1  | +11.4
Turnout | 2,158  | 43.4  | +1.8
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |
Harpenden South[13][15] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Elizabeth Stevenson  | 1,480  | 66.2  | +4.5
| Liberal Democrats | Nigel Jenkinson  | 536  | 24.0  | −4.4
| Labour | David Lawlor  | 220  | 9.8  | −0.1
Majority  | 944  | 42.2  | +8.9
Turnout | 2,236  | 44.3  | +1.1
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |
Harpenden West[13][15] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | John Newman  | 1,448  | 57.7  | +1.4
| Liberal Democrats | Jeffrey Phillips  | 698  | 27.8  | −4.3
| Labour | Elizabeth Rayner  | 232  | 9.3  | −2.3
| Green | Marc Scheimann  | 130  | 5.2  | +5.2
Majority  | 750  | 29.9  | +5.7
Turnout | 2,508  | 46.5  | +2.9
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |
London Colney[13][15] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Sean Flynn  | 881  | 43.7  | −14.0
| Conservative | Brian Lee  | 721  | 35.8  | +10.2
| Liberal Democrats | Carol Prowse  | 414  | 20.5  | +3.8
Majority  | 160  | 7.9  | −24.2
Turnout | 2,016  | 35.6  | +2.4
| Labour hold | Swing |  |
Marshalswick North[13][15] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal Democrats | Jennifer Stroud  | 1,169  | 51.8  | +3.3
| Conservative | John Foster  | 880  | 39.0  | +1.2
| Labour | John Baughan  | 207  | 9.2  | −4.4
Majority  | 289  | 12.8  | +2.1
Turnout | 2,256  | 47.5  | −3.9
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing |  |
Marshalswick South[13][15] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal Democrats | Melvyn Teare  | 1,193  | 47.1  | −6.2
| Conservative | Richard Bretherton  | 1,025  | 40.5  | +7.0
| Labour | Sonia Smith  | 313  | 12.4  | −0.8
Majority  | 168  | 6.6  | −13.2
Turnout | 2,531  | 51.4  | −1.3
| Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing |  |
Park Street[13][15] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal Democrats | David Yates  | 1,079  | 50.4  | −7.3
| Conservative | Katharine Cramer  | 795  | 37.1  | +8.8
| Labour | Janet Blackwell  | 266  | 12.4  | −1.7
Majority  | 284  | 13.3  | −16.1
Turnout | 2,140  | 42.1  | +3.3
| Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing |  |
Redbourn[13][15] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Independent | Anthony Swendell  | 1,310  | 63.5  | +63.5
| Conservative | Susan Walford  | 578  | 28.0  | −13.4
| Labour | Linda Spiri  | 175  | 8.5  | +0.4
Majority  | 732  | 35.5  |
Turnout | 2,063  | 45.7  | 0.0
| Independent hold | Swing |  |
Sopwell[13][15] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Janet Smith  | 708  | 40.0  | −9.4
| Liberal Democrats | Linda Bateman  | 532  | 30.0  | +4.8
| Conservative | Roderick Douglas  | 532  | 30.0  | +7.4
Majority  | 176  | 10.0  |
Turnout | 1,772  | 36.2  | +3.8
| Labour hold | Swing |  |
St Peters[13][15] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal Democrats | Martin Morris  | 987  | 47.3  | +1.2
| Labour | Helen Ives-Rose  | 613  | 29.4  | −6.2
| Conservative | Maureen Havard  | 385  | 18.5  | +0.2
| St Albans Party  | Vera Tinson  | 100  | 4.8  | +4.8
Majority  | 374  | 17.9  | +7.4
Turnout | 2,085  | 41.9  | −0.2
| Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Swing |  |
St Stephen[13][15] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | David Canham  | 1,431  | 60.6  | +2.5
| Liberal Democrats | David Parry  | 733  | 31.0  | +1.5
| Labour | Jane Cloke  | 197  | 8.3  | −4.1
Majority  | 698  | 29.6  | +1.0
Turnout | 2,361  | 47.7  | +4.0
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |
Verulam[13][15] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Clare Ellis  | 1,213  | 45.7  | +8.4
| Liberal Democrats | Peter Burton  | 1,051  | 39.6  | −13.0
| St Albans Party  | Janet Girsman  | 203  | 7.6  | +7.6
| Labour | Larry Heyman  | 188  | 7.1  | −0.7
Majority  | 162  | 6.1  | −9.2
Turnout | 2,655  | 53.8  | −2.5
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |
Wheathampstead[13][15] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal Democrats | Paul Edelston  | 1,137  | 48.3  | −11.5
| Conservative | Gillian Clark  | 1,062  | 45.1  | +12.3
| Labour | Mary Cheale  | 157  | 6.7  | −0.7
Majority  | 75  | 3.2  | −23.8
Turnout | 2,356  | 51.7  | +2.8
| Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing |  |

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "St Albans council". BBC News Online. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
2. ^ "Elections 2004: Results at a glance". The Guardian. 12 June 2004. p. 10.
3. ^ "Local elections". BBC News Online. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
4. ^ "By-election date set after councillor quits". Hertfordshire County Publications. NewsBank. 26 February 2004.
5. ^ "Verulam Ward By Election Result 5th April 2004". St Albans City and District Council. Archived from the original on 11 May 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
6. ^ a b c d e Lewis, Alex (20 May 2004). "Parties get set to do battle". Hertfordshire County Publications. NewsBank.
7. ^ Sherman, Jill (7 June 2004). "Labour set for severe losses on all sides". The Times. NewsBank. p. 2.
8. ^ Johnston, Philip (9 June 2004). "Clue to result of general election lies with how we vote for councils". The Daily Telegraph. NewsBank. p. 2.
9. ^ Lydall, Ross (11 June 2004). "Tories claim to have turned tide after South-East wins". Evening Standard. p. 8.
10. ^ "Watford Lib Dems are strengthened". BBC News Online. 11 June 2004. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
11. ^ "Blair: War cast shadow over election". This is Local London. 11 June 2004. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
12. ^ a b Bateman, Aaron (11 June 2004). "Liberal Democrats win fifth seat". Hertfordshire County Publications. NewsBank.
13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "Local Elections: St Albans". BBC Online. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
14. ^ "Council control seized by Lib Dems". St Albans & Harpenden Review. 29 June 2004. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "District Council Election Results 10th June 2004". St Albans District and City Council. Retrieved 10 November 2009.

* v
* t
* e

Council elections in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire County Council|

* 1889
* 1892
* 1895
* 1898
* 1901
* 1904
* 1907
* 1910
* 1913
* 1919
* 1922
* 1925
* 1928
* 1931
* 1934
* 1937
* 1946
* 1949
* 1952
* 1955
* 1958
* 1961
* 1964
* 1967
* 1970
* 1973
* 1977
* 1981
* 1985
* 1989
* 1993
* 1997
* 2001
* 2005
* 2009
* 2013
* 2017
* 2021
* 2025

Broxbourne Borough Council|

* 1973
* 1976
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2018
* 2019
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

Dacorum Borough Council|

* 1973
* 1976
* 1979
* 1983
* 1987
* 1991
* 1995
* 1999
* 2003
* 2007
* 2011
* 2015
* 2019
* 2023

East Hertfordshire District Council|

* 1973
* 1976
* 1979
* 1983
* 1987
* 1991
* 1995
* 1999
* 2003
* 2007
* 2011
* 2015
* 2019
* 2023

Hertsmere Borough Council|

* 1973
* 1976
* 1979
* 1980
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2014
* 2015
* 2019
* 2023

North Hertfordshire District Council|

* 1973
* 1976
* 1979
* 1980
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2018
* 2019
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

St Albans City and District Council|

* 1973
* 1976
* 1979
* 1980
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2018
* 2019
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

Stevenage Borough Council|

* 1973
* 1976
* 1979
* 1980
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2018
* 2019
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

Three Rivers District Council|

* 1973
* 1976
* 1979
* 1980
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2018
* 2019
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

Watford Borough Council|

* 1973
* 1976
* 1979
* 1980
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2018
* 2019
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council|

* 1973
* 1976
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2018
* 2019
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

* See also: Wards
* Boundary changes
* Middlesex County Council elections

* v
* t
* e

(2003 <-)  2004 United Kingdom local elections (-> 2005)

Metropolitan boroughs|

* Barnsley
* Birmingham
* Bolton
* Bradford
* Bury
* Calderdale
* Coventry
* Doncaster
* Dudley
* Gateshead
* Kirklees
* Knowsley
* Leeds
* Liverpool
* Manchester
* Newcastle upon Tyne
* North Tyneside
* Oldham
* Rochdale
* Rotherham
* Salford
* Sandwell
* Sefton
* Sheffield
* Solihull
* South Tyneside
* St Helens
* Stockport
* Sunderland
* Tameside
* Trafford
* Wakefield
* Walsall
* Wigan
* Wirral
* Wolverhampton

Unitary authorities|

* Blackburn with Darwen
* Derby
* Halton
* Hartlepool
* Kingston upon Hull
* Milton Keynes
* North East Lincolnshire
* Peterborough
* Plymouth
* Portsmouth
* Reading
* Slough
* Southampton
* Southend-on-Sea
* Stoke-on-Trent
* Swindon
* Thurrock
* Warrington
* Wokingham

District councils (England)|

* Adur
* Amber Valley
* Barrow-in-Furness
* Basildon
* Basingstoke and Deane
* Bassetlaw
* Bedford
* Brentwood
* Broadland
* Broxbourne
* Burnley
* Cambridge
* Cannock Chase
* Carlisle
* Castle Point
* Cheltenham
* Cherwell
* Chester
* Chorley
* Colchester
* Congleton
* Craven
* Crawley
* Crewe and Nantwich
* Daventry
* Eastbourne
* Eastleigh
* Ellesmere Port and Neston
* Elmbridge
* Epping Forest
* Exeter
* Fareham
* Gloucester
* Gosport
* Great Yarmouth
* Harlow
* Harrogate
* Hart
* Hastings
* Havant
* Hertsmere
* Huntingdonshire
* Hyndburn
* Ipswich
* Lincoln
* Macclesfield
* Maidstone
* Mole Valley
* Newcastle-under-Lyme
* North Hertfordshire
* Norwich
* Nuneaton and Bedworth
* Oxford
* Pendle
* Penwith
* Preston
* Purbeck
* Redditch
* Reigate and Banstead
* Rochford
* Rossendale
* Rugby
* Runnymede
* Rushmoor
* Shrewsbury and Atcham
* South Bedfordshire
* South Cambridgeshire
* South Lakeland
* St Albans
* Stevenage
* Stratford-on-Avon
* Stroud
* Swale
* Tamworth
* Tandridge
* Three Rivers
* Tunbridge Wells
* Watford
* Waveney
* Welwyn Hatfield
* West Lancashire
* West Lindsey
* West Oxfordshire
* Weymouth and Portland
* Winchester
* Woking
* Worcester
* Worthing
* Wyre Forest

Welsh councils|

* Blaenau Gwent
* Bridgend
* Caerphilly
* Cardiff
* Carmarthenshire
* Ceredigion
* Conwy
* Denbighshire
* Flintshire
* Gwynedd
* Isle of Anglesey
* Merthyr Tydfil
* Monmouthshire
* Neath Port Talbot
* Newport
* Pembrokeshire
* Powys
* Rhondda Cynon Taff
* Swansea
* Torfaen
* Vale of Glamorgan
* Wrexham

Mayoral elections|

* London

Regional assembly elections|

* London Assembly

Referendum|

* North East England devolution

* See also: European Parliament election

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template