Watford’s outgoing MP said he is “very proud” of his work in the role and makes no excuses for the result.

After Labour’s Matt Turmaine was voted Watford’s new MP yesterday (July 4), the Watford Observer caught up with Conservative candidate Dean Russell, who had held the seat since 2019 as candidates and party members filled out of the election count.

Mr Russell said: “I feel very proud that over four and a half years I have delivered every single thing I said that I would deliver during the last election and that was reflected on the doorstep.

“So, there was a national head swing that sadly I couldn’t overcome but I’m not going to complain and I’m not going to blame either.

“The reality is this was my election to win or lose.

“I’m not going to try and blame others for having not won it but what I would like to say is a huge thank you to every single person in Watford.

“Not just who voted for me at this election, but those who voted for me last time to enable me to make a difference for the town, from the new hospital funding, through to the police station, through to my tips bill, through the reduction of rough sleeping, to my mental health work.

“These things would never have been possible if I hadn’t been the MP so its just a huge amount of gratitude for that time and I would have loved to have done it for longer.

“The fact that I won’t…I can’t complain.”