For the first time this century, the Conservatives have lost their majority at Hertsmere Borough Council.

No single party at the south-west Hertfordshire authority managed to take more than 50 per cent of the seats.

This means Hertsmere has fallen into a situation called “No Overall Control”, which means two parties could form a coalition in a bid to rule.

The result follows the local elections on Thursday, May 4 – the first time Hertsmere has held all-out elections since 2019, when Theresa May was prime minister.
Conservative councillors have enjoyed a majority at Borehamwood Civic Offices since 1999.

They won a total 29 seats at the last election.

But after the most recent poll, the blues now have 16 seats, four shy of the 20-seat majority they needed to secure another term at the helm.

The Labour Party is just two seats behind, with 14 seats, after making gains in some parts of Borehamwood and Potters Bar.

The Liberal Democrats had three seats in Bushey North, which they held.
Yellow gains in Bushey Park and Bushey St James means the party now has nine seats.

Councillor Jeremy Newmark is the Labour Group leader and one of three Hertsmere

Borough Council members representing Borehamwood Cowley Hill.

He said: “Election night has been fantastic for the Labour Party, and for the residents of Hertsmere.

“They voted for a council that reflects the political plurality of the borough and we will now be working incredibly hard to fulfil our promises.”

Cllr Newmark has previously promised to tackle a lack of GP appointments in the borough and end a “planning limbo” because the authority does not have an adopted local plan.

Liberal Democrat councillor and one of three authority members for Bushey North, Cllr

Paul Richards, said: “We would like to thank all those in Bushey who have placed their confidence in us.

“We’ve given residents a clear and positive choice – good ideas, based in our liberal values of equality and democracy.

“Our aim has been simple: the more Lib Dem councillors we could get elected, the more we can do to improve people’s lives, protect our local environment, and make this borough a better and fairer place to live.”

A Conservative Party spokesperson has been contacted for comment.