2021 UK local government election
Elections toHertfordshire County Council took place on 6 May 2021 alongsideother local elections in the United Kingdom . All 78 seats to the council were elected.[ 2]
TheConservative Party won 46 of the 78 seats, winning a majority and thus retaining control of the council,[ 3] [ 4] despite making a net loss of five seats, with leader David Williams losing his seat of Harpenden North East.[ 5] [ 6] Deputy Leader of the Council Teresa Heritage became acting leader in the aftermath of the election, and Cllr Richard Roberts was ratified as Leader of the Council on 25 May 2021.[ 7] [ 8]
In the2017 election , theConservative Party held overall control of the council, winning 51 of the 78 seats. TheLiberal Democrats were the second largest party with 18 seats. TheLabour Party won 9 seats.[ 9]
Several by-elections took place between the 2017 and 2021 elections:
Roma Mills, councillor for St Albans North, resigned from the Labour Party in April 2020 afterKeir Starmer waselected Leader of the Labour Party , citing her disagreement with his changes in policies.[ 16] Andrew Stevenson, councillor for Hertford All Saints, resigned from the Conservative Party in December 2020 due to his opposition to the two-tier local government structure in Hertfordshire and having failed to be reselected by the Hertford and Stortford Conservatives.[ 17] [ 18]
As a result, the Conservatives had 49 councillors and 2 councillors sat asindependents , giving the Conservatives a majority of 20 before the 2021 election.
In the2019 general election , the Liberal Democrats wonSt Albans for the first time since the party's formation, defeating the incumbent Conservative Member of Parliament.[ 19]
The Conservatives pledged to achievecarbon neutrality by 2050, and that by 2030,Hertfordshire County Council would be carbon-neutral and waste would no longer be sent to landfill.[ 20]
The Liberal Democrats pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 by introducingsolar powered lighting on walking and cycling routes, and a £2.5 million fund forcharging stations forelectric vehicles .[ 21]
Local government structure [ edit ] In 2020, Leader of the Council David Williams advocated merging Hertfordshire County Council and the ten district councils into a singleunitary authority . Hertfordshire County Council suggested that the proposal could save £140 million per year.[ 22]
Labour committed to opposing any plans for a Hertfordshire unitary authority.[ 23]
Labour supported an increase in the number of late night buses, and would reinstate bus subsidies. The party also supported the reopening of apassing loop on theAbbey Line to increase the railway's capacity, and would push forOyster card functionality for railway stations close to London. Leader of the Labour group Judi Billing stated that she believed that a 20 mph speed limit should be the default on roads in Hertfordshire.[ 23]
TheGreen Party and the Liberal Democrats also supported the introduction of a default 20 mph speed limit on residential roads.[ 24] [ 21]
The elections were held during theCOVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom . Hertfordshire County Council advised that the ballot boxes should not be opened for 24 hours after the polls closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. TheBorough of Broxbourne began counting the votes on 7 May, while the other nine districts of Hertfordshire began counting on 8 May. Some districts also opted to not count the votes for the district council elections until 9 May to reduce the number of people required to be present, and makesocial distancing easier.[ 25]
2021 Hertfordshire County Council election Party Candidates Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/− Conservative 78 46 7 12 559.0 43.3 142,051 –2.6 Liberal Democrats 77 23 7 2 529.5 26.5 86,969 +1.4 Labour 78 7 3 5 29.0 21.2 69,612 +0.7 Green 59 1 1 0 11.3 7.5 24,508 +3.5 Independent 5 1 1 0 11.3 0.8 2,683 +0.4 TUSC 11 0 0 0 0.0 0.2 633 ±0.0 Reform 7 0 0 0 0.0 0.2 548 N/A UKIP 2 0 0 0 0.0 0.1 203 –3.7 Abolish the Town Council Party 1 0 0 0 0.0 0.1 179 N/A CPA 3 0 0 0 0.0 0.1 178 N/A Alliance for Democracy and Freedom (UK) 1 0 0 0 0.0 <0.1 133 N/A Heritage 1 0 0 0 0.0 <0.1 60 N/A
The Conservatives won 46 of the 78 seats, remaining in control of the council and giving them a majority of 14, despite making a net loss of five seats. The Liberal Democrats remained the second-largest party, winning 23 seats, the highest number of seats since the party's formation. The Greens won a seat for the first time since the2009 election .[ 26]
Results by division [ edit ] TheBorough of Broxbourne shown within Hertfordshire The election was held alongsidean election to Broxbourne Borough Council .
Division results
TheBorough of Dacorum shown within Hertfordshire Division results
East Hertfordshire District shown within HertfordshireDivision results
TheBorough of Hertsmere shown within Hertfordshire Division results
North Hertfordshire [ edit ] North Hertfordshire District shown within HertfordshireThe election was held alongsidean election to North Hertfordshire District Council .
Division results
St Albans City and District shown within HertfordshireThe election was held alongsidean election to St Albans City and District Council .
Division results
The St Albans North division had been gained by Labour in a 2018 by-election.[ 13]
TheBorough of Stevenage shown within Hertfordshire The election was held alongsidean election to Stevenage Borough Council .
Division results
Three Rivers District shown within HertfordshireThe election was held alongsidean election to Three Rivers District Council .
Division results
The Three Rivers Rural division had previously been gained by the Liberal Democrats in a 2018 by-election.[ 15]
TheBorough of Watford shown within Herfordshire The election was held alongsidean election to Watford Borough Council .
Division results
TheBorough of Welwyn Hatfield shown within Hertfordshire The election was held alongsidean election to Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council .
Division results
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