Council profile
St Albans
District council · East of England · 56 seats in 20 wards · A third of seats elected in three years out of four · Next election 6 May 2027
Liberal Democrats have a majority on St Albans Council. The council has 56 councillors in 20 wards. Seats by party: Lib Dem 43, Conservative 5, Other 3, Green 3, Labour 2. The next election is on 6 May 2027.
A government plan to replace the councils in this area with four unitary councils was paused for review on 7 September 2026. Elections due in May 2027 will go ahead on existing council boundaries. Source
Control
Seats by party
Vote share at the 7 May 2026 election (22 seats, all wards)
ShareSeats won
Lib Dem45.5%19
Conservative18.0%2
Reform15.3%0
Green13.5%0
Labour5.1%0
Other2.7%1
Next election
6 May 2027
18 of 56 seats up, elected by thirds
Largest party
Lib Dem 43
majority of 30; 29 needed
Voted Leave in 2016
37%
GB 52%
Wards
Who holds each ward
LabourConservativeLib DemGreenIndependent
Under 5 pts5 to 1010 to 20Over 20No contest data
Winning margin at the last election, in points.
Coloured by the party holding most of the ward's seats today; where seats are split evenly, by the party with the higher share at the last election.
All 20 wards
Councillors and last results
Select a ward for its full results, candidates and last by-election.
| Ward and councillors | Last election |
|---|---|
| Batchwood Jenni Murray, Chris Lewis, Lynn Cunningham | 7 May 2026 Lib Dem 41.9% lead 18.8 pts |
| Bernards Heath Chris Brattle, Helen Campbell, Jez Levy | 7 May 2026 Lib Dem 54.1% lead 34.9 pts |
| Clarence Joanna Meaden, Matt Fisher, Josie Madoc | 7 May 2026 Lib Dem 47.2% lead 8.7 pts |
| Colney Heath Chris Brazier | 7 May 2026 Lib Dem 42.5% lead 19.3 pts |
| Cunningham Keith Cotton, Robert Donald, Roly Everall | 7 May 2026 Lib Dem 54.1% lead 39.1 pts |
| Harpenden East Dason Canning, Pip Liver, Paul De Kort | 7 May 2026 Lib Dem 44.9% lead 17.5 pts |
| Harpenden North & Rural Sue Griffiths, Ayesha Rohale, Kevin Timmons | 7 May 2026 Lib Dem 40.7% lead 10.3 pts |
| Harpenden South Matt Cowley, Teresa Heritage, David Heritage | 7 May 2026 Conservative 42.7% lead 10.3 pts |
| Harpenden West John Galvin, Fiona Gaskell, Aaron Jacob | 7 May 2026 Conservative 40.4% lead 0.6 pts |
| Hill End Jamie Day, Anthony Rowlands, Graeme Shaw | 7 May 2026 Lib Dem 62.5% lead 49.2 pts |
| London Colney Emma Turnbull, Tony Lillico, Mike Hobday | 7 May 2026 Lib Dem 34.9% lead 9.6 pts |
| Marshalswick East & Jersey Farm Raj Visram, Lorraine Kirby, Raihaanah Ahmed | 7 May 2026 Lib Dem 49.2% lead 27.6 pts |
| Marshalswick West Simon Mostyn, Michael Jones | 7 May 2026 Lib Dem 57.5% lead 43.0 pts |
| Park Street Nuala Webb, Rav Dighe, Terrie Smith | 7 May 2026 Lib Dem 42.2% lead 15.2 pts |
| Redbourn Brian Gunson, David Mitchell | 7 May 2026 Independent 39.7% lead 19.2 pts |
| Sandridge & Wheathampstead Simon Johns, Ann Chance-Read, Owain McKenzie | 7 May 2026 Lib Dem 43.0% lead 20.6 pts |
| Sopwell Harriet Sherlock, Sarwar Shamsher, Jesús Pastor | 7 May 2026 Lib Dem 53.1% lead 37.2 pts |
| St Peters Juliet Voisey, Simon Grover, Sean Hughes | 7 May 2026 Lib Dem 49.4% lead 17.6 pts |
| St Stephen Giles Fry, Mohammed Rafi, Ajanta Hilton | 7 May 2026 Lib Dem 42.8% lead 15.8 pts |
| Verulam Dawn Gamble, Edgar Hill, Julian Degg | 7 May 2026 Lib Dem 57.3% lead 42.1 pts |
Batchwood
Chris Lewis Lib DemJenni Murray Lib DemLynn Cunningham Lib Dem
Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Lewis Elected | Lib Dem | 1,091 | 41.9% |
| Damian Gaskin | Independent | 603 | 23.1% |
| Tatiana Metcalf-Riener | Green | 344 | 13.2% |
| Kathleen Robinson | Reform | 234 | 9.0% |
| Stella Nash | Conservative | 181 | 6.9% |
| Chris Cloke | Labour | 152 | 5.8% |
Bernards Heath
Chris Brattle Lib DemHelen Campbell Lib DemJez Levy Lib Dem
Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helen Rosemary Campbell Elected | Lib Dem | 1,447 | 54.1% |
| Claire Gilbert | Green | 514 | 19.2% |
| Ambrose Killen | Conservative | 332 | 12.4% |
| William Heugh Smith | Reform | 254 | 9.5% |
| Jane Cloke | Labour | 127 | 4.7% |
Clarence
Joanna Meaden Lib DemJosie Madoc Lib DemMatt Fisher Green
Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Josie Madoc Elected | Lib Dem | 1,557 | 47.2% |
| Livvy Gibbs | Green | 1,269 | 38.5% |
| Stephen Bird | Reform | 224 | 6.8% |
| June Reid | Conservative | 125 | 3.8% |
| Martin McGrath | Labour | 123 | 3.7% |
Colney Heath
Chris Brazier Independent
Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Brazier Elected | Lib Dem | 413 | 42.5% |
| Frances Leonard | Conservative | 225 | 23.2% |
| Mark Geoffrey Woolhouse | Reform | 223 | 23.0% |
| Rebecca Watters | Green | 80 | 8.2% |
| Iain Grant | Labour | 30 | 3.1% |
Cunningham
Keith Cotton Lib DemRobert Donald Lib DemRoly Everall Lib Dem
Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Francis Donald Elected | Lib Dem | 1,262 | 54.1% |
| James Ian Humphrey | Reform | 351 | 15.0% |
| Isabelle Habib | Green | 328 | 14.1% |
| Rachael Drewitt | Conservative | 251 | 10.8% |
| John Paton | Labour | 142 | 6.1% |
Harpenden East
Dason Canning IndependentPaul De Kort Lib DemPip Liver Lib Dem
Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pip Liver Elected | Lib Dem | 1,107 | 44.9% |
| Geoffrey Newman | Conservative | 675 | 27.4% |
| Thomas Oliver Cooney | Reform | 327 | 13.3% |
| Lesley Baker | Green | 248 | 10.1% |
| Neil Mulcock | Labour | 110 | 4.5% |
Harpenden North & Rural
Ayesha Rohale Lib DemKevin Timmons Lib DemSue Griffiths Conservative
Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Timmons Elected | Lib Dem | 1,088 | 40.7% |
| Sam Spiri | Conservative | 812 | 30.4% |
| Philip Martin Wells | Reform | 428 | 16.0% |
| Joel Crichton | Green | 250 | 9.3% |
| Ben Dearman | Labour | 96 | 3.6% |
Last by-election, 17 October 2024
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sue Griffiths Elected | Conservative | 661 | 49.3% |
| James Francis Robertson | Lib Dem | 546 | 40.7% |
| Mario May | Green | 82 | 6.1% |
| Ross Harper | Labour | 51 | 3.8% |
Harpenden South
David Heritage ConservativeMatt Cowley ConservativeTeresa Heritage Conservative
Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Heritage Elected | Conservative | 1,185 | 42.7% |
| Nikolaus Rath | Lib Dem | 898 | 32.4% |
| Matthew David Swan | Reform | 388 | 14.0% |
| Tanja Brueckmann-Rath | Green | 195 | 7.0% |
| Guy Thomas | Labour | 109 | 3.9% |
Harpenden West
Aaron Jacob ConservativeFiona Gaskell Lib DemJohn Galvin Lib Dem
Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Jacob Elected | Conservative | 1,290 | 40.4% |
| Ric Belfield | Lib Dem | 1,270 | 39.8% |
| Paul Stuart Brayley | Reform | 305 | 9.6% |
| Mario May | Green | 220 | 6.9% |
| David Crew | Labour | 108 | 3.4% |
Hill End
Anthony Rowlands Lib DemGraeme Shaw Lib DemJamie Day Lib Dem
Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jamie Day Elected | Lib Dem | 1,615 | 62.5% |
| Marianne Jordan | Green | 343 | 13.3% |
| Caspar Hugo Issac Thomas | Reform | 293 | 11.3% |
| Sudha Bharadia | Conservative | 234 | 9.1% |
| Steve Clark | Labour | 97 | 3.8% |
London Colney
Emma Turnbull LabourMike Hobday LabourTony Lillico Lib Dem
Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tony Lillico Elected | Lib Dem | 872 | 34.9% |
| Eleanor Frances Jackson | Reform | 632 | 25.3% |
| David Eaton | Labour | 563 | 22.6% |
| Sarah Lister | Conservative | 226 | 9.1% |
| Aimee Crompton-Smith | Green | 203 | 8.1% |
Marshalswick East & Jersey Farm
Lorraine Kirby Lib DemRaihaanah Ahmed Lib DemRaj Visram Lib Dem
Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lorraine Helen Kirby Elected | Lib Dem | 1,389 | 49.2% |
| Graham Leonard | Conservative | 610 | 21.6% |
| Larraine Charters | Reform | 418 | 14.8% |
| Joe Flynn | Green | 319 | 11.3% |
| Stephen Poxon | Labour | 87 | 3.1% |
Marshalswick West
Michael Jones Lib DemSimon Mostyn Lib Dem
Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Mortimer Jones Elected | Lib Dem | 1,121 | 57.5% |
| Don Deepthi | Conservative | 282 | 14.5% |
| Thomas Peter Russell | Reform | 248 | 12.7% |
| Jason Flynn | Green | 215 | 11.0% |
| Sarah Heiser | Labour | 82 | 4.2% |
Park Street
Nuala Webb Lib DemRav Dighe Lib DemTerrie Smith Lib Dem
Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rav Dighe Elected | Lib Dem | 1,185 | 42.2% |
| Roger John Curtis Gray | Reform | 760 | 27.0% |
| Richard Curthoys | Conservative | 513 | 18.3% |
| Mark Stephen Charles Park-Crowne | Green | 261 | 9.3% |
| Laurence Chester | Labour | 91 | 3.2% |
Redbourn
Brian Gunson Lib DemDavid Mitchell Independent
Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Mitchell Elected | Independent | 771 | 39.7% |
| Joy Katherine Swan | Reform | 399 | 20.5% |
| Naina Bloom | Lib Dem | 316 | 16.3% |
| Amanda Nash | Conservative | 268 | 13.8% |
| Matthew Thomas | Green | 124 | 6.4% |
| Andy Hayes | Labour | 64 | 3.3% |
Last by-election, 1 May 2025
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Ralph Gunson Elected | Lib Dem | 507 | 31.1% |
| Tom Finnis | Independent | 362 | 22.2% |
| Victoria Mead | Conservative | 356 | 21.8% |
| Philip Martin Wells | Reform | 270 | 16.5% |
| Symon Vegro | Labour | 94 | 5.8% |
| Kevin Tiplady | Green | 43 | 2.6% |
Sandridge & Wheathampstead
Ann Chance-Read Lib DemOwain McKenzie Lib DemSimon Johns Lib Dem
Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026 (2 seats)
| Candidate | Party | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Ann Ellen Mary Chance-Read Elected | Lib Dem | 1,278 |
| Simon Richard Johns Elected | Lib Dem | 1,061 |
| Gill Clark | Conservative | 666 |
| Andrew Waterfield | Conservative | 665 |
| Nigel Kenneth Hawes | Reform | 547 |
| Fred Philpott | Reform | 502 |
| Danielle Durant-Taylor | Green | 352 |
| Oliver Hitch | Green | 299 |
| Denise Brown | Labour | 132 |
| Symon Vegro | Labour | 77 |
Party shares count each party's leading candidate.
Last by-election, 7 December 2023
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simon Richard Johns Elected | Lib Dem | 793 | 55.9% |
| Claudio Duran | Conservative | 480 | 33.8% |
| Oliver Hitch | Green | 78 | 5.5% |
| James Morrell | Labour | 68 | 4.8% |
Sopwell
Harriet Sherlock Lib DemJesús Pastor Lib DemSarwar Shamsher Lib Dem
Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sarwar Shamsher Elected | Lib Dem | 1,226 | 53.1% |
| Jane Dawson-Davis | Reform | 367 | 15.9% |
| Len Pattenden | Green | 344 | 14.9% |
| Janet Smith | Labour | 187 | 8.1% |
| Heather Rench | Conservative | 171 | 7.4% |
| Mark Antony Ewington | Communist Party of Britain | 15 | 0.6% |
St Peters
Juliet Voisey GreenSean Hughes Lib DemSimon Grover Green
Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sean William Hughes Elected | Lib Dem | 1,347 | 49.4% |
| Sally Leonard | Green | 868 | 31.8% |
| Jim Brodie | Reform | 240 | 8.8% |
| Claudio Duran | Conservative | 172 | 6.3% |
| David Byatt | Labour | 102 | 3.7% |
Last by-election, 13 June 2023
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Juliet Voisey Elected | Green | 628 | 44.7% |
| David John Partridge | Lib Dem | 537 | 38.2% |
| Ambrose Killen | Conservative | 156 | 11.1% |
| David Byatt | Labour | 84 | 6.0% |
St Stephen
Ajanta Hilton Lib DemGiles Fry Lib DemMohammed Rafi Lib Dem
Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026 (2 seats)
| Candidate | Party | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Ajanta Hilton Elected | Lib Dem | 1,414 |
| Mohammed Rafi Elected | Lib Dem | 1,175 |
| Richard Brooks | Reform | 892 |
| Stewart Irus Jason Vassie | Reform | 781 |
| Martyn Redstone | Conservative | 671 |
| Simin Taheri | Conservative | 502 |
| Gabriel Roberts | Green | 218 |
| Ben Tiplady | Green | 175 |
| Janet Blackwell | Labour | 108 |
| Jane Hobday | Labour | 81 |
Party shares count each party's leading candidate.
Verulam
Dawn Gamble Lib DemEdgar Hill Lib DemJulian Degg Lib Dem
Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dawn Gamble Elected | Lib Dem | 1,679 | 57.3% |
| Susan Devi | Conservative | 445 | 15.2% |
| Alan Hugh Dodds | Reform | 382 | 13.0% |
| Kevin Tiplady | Green | 300 | 10.2% |
| Geoff Meade | Labour | 125 | 4.3% |
Councillors
Changed party since the election
1 councillor now sit for a different party from the one they were elected for.
| Ward | Councillor | Elected as | Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colney Heath | Chris Brazier | Lib Dem 2026 | Independent |
Next election
Seats up on 6 May 2027
18 of 56 seats are up. Seats held now, by party:
Lib Dem 13 Green 2 Independent 1 Conservative 1 Labour 1
| Ward | Councillor whose term ends |
|---|---|
| Batchwood | Jenni Murray Lib Dem |
| Bernards Heath | Chris Brattle Lib Dem |
| Clarence | Matt Fisher Green |
| Cunningham | Keith Cotton Lib Dem |
| Harpenden East | Dason Canning Independent |
| Harpenden North & Rural | Ayesha Rohale Lib Dem |
| Harpenden South | Teresa Heritage Conservative |
| Harpenden West | Fiona Gaskell Lib Dem |
| Hill End | Graeme Shaw Lib Dem |
| London Colney | Emma Turnbull Labour |
| Marshalswick East & Jersey Farm | Raj Visram Lib Dem |
| Park Street | Nuala Webb Lib Dem |
| Redbourn | Brian Gunson Lib Dem |
| Sandridge & Wheathampstead | Simon Johns Lib Dem |
| Sopwell | Harriet Sherlock Lib Dem |
| St Peters | Simon Grover Green |
| St Stephen | Mohammed Rafi Lib Dem |
| Verulam | Julian Degg Lib Dem |
Term end dates from Open Council Data.
By-elections
Every council by-election since 2021
5 by-elections since July 2021, 2 of them gains.
| Date | Ward | Result | Winner's share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 May 2025 | Redbourn | Lib Dem hold | 31.1% |
| 17 October 2024 | Harpenden North & Rural | Conservative gain from Lib Dem | 49.0% |
| 14 December 2023 | Sandridge | Lib Dem hold | |
| 18 August 2023 | Marshalswick East | Lib Dem hold | |
| 18 June 2023 | St Peters | Green gain from Lib Dem | 44.7% |
Parliament
Parliamentary constituencies
| Constituency | Share of council | 2024 winner | Projected now |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Albans | 66% | Lib Dem | Lib Dem 44% |
| Harpenden and Berkhamsted | 34% | Lib Dem | Lib Dem 47% |
Share of the council: the proportion of its census neighbourhoods (2021 LSOAs) in each seat. The projection is PollCheck's demographic model at current polling, not a forecast.
People
Who lives in St Albans
148,161 residents in 58,982 households
Voted Leave in 2016
37% 15 below GB
Degree or higher
53% 19 above GB
No qualifications
10% 8 below GB
Own their home
71% 10 above GB
Rent from a council or housing association
12% 5 below GB
Rent privately
16% 4 below GB
Aged 15 to 34
26% 5 below GB
Aged 65 and over
22% same as GB
GB figure. 2021 Census (Scotland: 2022): age as a share of residents aged 15 and over, qualifications of residents aged 16 and over, housing as a share of households. Leave: 2016 EU referendum, Electoral Commission results by counting area.
Similar
Councils most like this one
ElmbridgeLiberal Democrats / Independent CoalitionSouth CambridgeshireLiberal Democrats (Majority)WaverleyLiberal Democrats / Independent / Green CoalitionWokinghamLiberal Democrats (Majority)Vale of White HorseLiberal Democrats (Majority)
Closest on the measures above: the 2016 Leave vote, age, qualifications and housing. Maps show which party holds each ward.
Sources
Sources and method
Seat totals and control: PollCheck council control tracker. Councillors: Open Council Data (CC BY-SA 4.0). Election results: Democracy Club (CC BY 4.0), with some vote counts from DCLEAPIL, Leman (2025) (CC BY-SA 4.0), and corrections checked against councils' official declarations. Ward boundaries: Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v.3.0. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Census: Office for National Statistics and National Records of Scotland.
Councillor lists and DCLEAPIL-derived vote counts on this page are available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
In wards electing more than one councillor, a party's share counts only its leading candidate (the Rallings and Thrasher method). Independents count individually. The lead is the gap between the top two parties' shares.