SusanGaszczak

As I head off to bed after a long polling day I thought I would reflect on the day. It was lovely start to the day. After spending the first part of the day in South West Herts, the urgent call I knew would come came, and off I went to help us gain the third Lib Dem controlled authority in Hertfordshire! Such a lovely success.

It is a credit to St Albans Lib Dems that we now have full control. We can now make many clearer decisions in Saint Albans, as we have done in recent years in Watford and for a very long time in Three Rivers. You just have to look at the Council tax decrease in Three Rivers - it is a council that delivers for the residents and tax payers.

I also have to reflect on the fantastic result we have had nationally so far. The feeling amongst party members was we were going to be a much smaller group of councillors throughout the country - this is not the case. Checking the BBC website I see we are up 11 councillors. Not the heady heights of 2004 but a real gain considering the negative reviews we gave ourselves on Lib Dem Voice!

A sad loss in Herts, Nigel Quinton who has fought long and hard to save the local hospital in Welwyn Hatfield. But also some fantastic new district councillors in St Albans - Chris White, Allan Witherick, Fred Wartenberg and Roger Axworthy. Two are County Councillors but now serving on the District as well.

 I was also glad to see people like Clare Body re-elected in North Herts alongside Lee Downie.

Tomorrow will see what the rest of our results will bring, I am sure they will be as positive as today - not that the national press will notice...