Election candidates revealed

Hertfordshire County Council have published the names of candidates standing in the forthcoming elections on Thursday 1st May.

The town is represented by two county councillors, with rural areas around the town covered by a further three.

Hertford All Saints

The Division of All Saints covers much of Bengeo and parts of Kingsmead and is currently represented by Green councillor Ben Crystall, who is standing for re-election.

The candidates are:

Nahum CLEMENTS, Labour Party
Ben CRYSTALL, The Green Party
Sean HOWLETT, The Conservative Party
Graham MCANDREW, Reform UK
Andrew PORRER, Liberal Democrats

Hertford St.Andrew

Covers the east and south of he town, including Sele Farm, Horns Mil, Hertingfirdbury, Fore Street and parts of Kingsmead. The Division is currently represented by Conservative councillor Bob Deering, who is not standing for re-election.

The candidates are:

Rachel CARTER, The Green Party
Sean FIGG, Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
Ryan HENSON, The Conservative Party
Geoff MADGE, Liberal Democrats
Jack RISBRIDGER, Labour Party
David WEST, Reform UK

Hertford Rural

To the north and west of the town is Hertford Rural, currently represented by Conservative councillor Ken Crofton.

Standing for election are:

Ken CROFTON, The Conservative Party
Joe HOWLETT, Liberal Democrats
Rob PINKHAM, Labour and Co-Operative Party
Lydia SOMERVILLE, The Green Party
Gayle WARD, Reform UK

Ware South

To the south and east of the town is the Division of Ware South, whihc includes Hertford Hedathnand Brickendon. The Division is currently represented by Conservative Jonathan Kaye, who is standing down at this election.

Standing for election are:

Joanne BELSEY, Reform UK
Lesley GREENSMYTH, The Conservative Party
Freddie JEWITT, Liberal Democrats
Martin SMITH, Labour Party
Steven WATSON, The Green Party

Ware North

The Division of Ware North lies to the north-east of the A602 and east of the A10, abutting Hertford All Saints.

Candidates standing here are:

Nigel ADAMS, Reform UK
David ANDREWS, The Conservative Party
Bryan CLARE, Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
David DAVIES, Liberal Democrats
Jack KIDSTON, Labour Party
Kirsty TAYLOR-MORAN, The Green Party

Hertfordshire County Council was created in 1889 and is responsible for a range of public services including social care, transport, roads, education, and the Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service. There are 78 county councillors and the council is currently controlled by the Conservatives. The makeup of the council is:

42 Conservatives
22 Liberal Democrats
6 Labour
5 independents
1 Reform
1 Green
1 vacancy

The future of the council is uncertain with national government looking to replace two-tier local authorities with unitary councils. The county's local authorities have recently issued a statement on the future of local government in Hertfordshire, suggesting a number of options for reorganisation.