Results tagged “South West Hertfordshire” from Communities - Northwood & Northwood Hills

HEAVY snowfall and sub-zero temperatures caused traffic chaos across south-west Hertfordshire during the weekend.

Hundreds of drivers were stranded after a lorry reportedly jack-knifed on the M25, near to Rickmansworth on Saturday (18).

Firefighters from Rickmansworth were also stuck in traffic on the M25 for more than four hours on Saturday (18), on route back to the station after extinguishing a car fire close to junction 16.

RUISLIP, Northwood and Pinner MP Nick Hurd has secured a new job in the coalition government as Minister for Civil Society, responsible for the voluntary sector.

Mr Hurd, who was re-elected on May 6, previously performed the role of Shadow Charities Minister for a year and a half.

His parliamentary duties included holding the government to account for its policies in relation to charities, social enterprises and voluntary organisations - known as the Third Sector.

CONSERVATIVE MP David Gauke has welcomed the formation of a coalition government.

Mr Gauke, who was re-elected for South West Hertfordshire constituency with a majority of 26.3 per cent last Thursday, said the partnership between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats was the best outcome available.

He said: "Of course, I would have preferred an outright Conservative majority but given the result in the General Election and the need to tackle the financial crisis, I think this was the best outcome available.

4.25am: INCUMBENT Conservative MP David Gauke has held on to his South West Hertfordshire constituency.

Mr Gauke received 30,773 votes, while Liberal Democrat rival, Christopher Townsend, won the confidence of 15,853 voters, with 6,536 chosing Labour candidate Harry Mann.

UKIP candidate Mark Benson received 1,450 votes, while Deirdre Gates of the BNP, who did not attend the count, secured 1,302.

Independent candidate James Hannaway gained 846 votes and 120 votes were rejected.

Overall, 72.7 per cent of the electorate exercised their right to vote - an increase compared to last year's turn out of 68 per cent.

Mr Gauke said he was pleased to see a substantial increase in the number of voters.

He thanked his fellow candidates for their efforts before adding: "It has been an enormous honour and privilege to serve the people of South West Hertfordshire for the past five years and I am absolutely delighted to have been re-elected with an increased majority.

"Earlier in the campaign if someone told me that I would get a 4.7 per cent swing against the Liberal Democrats, I wouldn't have believed it.

"It is a really pleasing result and hopefully in the morning we will have a change in government but who knows, we may be back later in October doing it all over again."

A dejected-looking Mr Townsend said: "I am disappointed but I am pleased to have improved the total number of votes that the Liberal Democrats got compared with the last election.

"There will certainly be another election here, but I have no idea what my plans are yet and if I will stand again."

3.22am: One of the counters has just announced that there are only three boxes to go...

2.40am: THE country is crying out for a change of government and wants to put Labour out of its misery, according to incumbent MP for South West Hertfordshire, David Gauke.

But Mr Gauke insisted he does not want to declare himself or his party as the winners until all the votes have been counted.

He said: "We are all still waiting to see what's going to happen but from what I have gathered so far, I hope we will see a Conservative majority and people recognise that's what the country needs.

"The fact that some people have not been able to vote is clearly a great concern but all we can do is see what the results are. People seem to have been queueing up hour after hour and I think that's a sign that they are fed up with the current government and want change."

And Mr Gauke, who spent the day visiting constituents across South West Hertfordshire, branded a coalition government with Labour and the Liberal Democrats as 'ludicrous'.

He added: "Labour might try and battle on with the support of the Lib Dems but it won't help the country - we need a change of PM, a change of government and a change from Labour, and it's time they were put out of their misery."

2.25am: WITH the vote count at Watersmeet Theatre in Rickmansworth in full flow, Democrat candidate Christopher Townsend says he is feeling confident.

"I have spent the day focusing on areas in South West Herts we have not covered as effectively as before, and obviously the count hasn't finished yet but I hope it all goes well," he told the Gazette.

"I am am confident the seat is winnable and very hopeful that the Liberal Democrats will make serious progress in the election."

2.15am: CONSERVATIVE candidate David Gauke and Liberal Democrat hopeful Christopher Townsend have both arrived at Watersmeet Theatre in Rickmansworth to learn whether their bids for the South West Hertfordshire seat have been successful.

2am: THE leader of Three Rivers District Council had to queue to cast his vote this morning.

Councillor David Sansom said more than 200 people went through the doors of his polling station, in Malvern Way, Croxley Green, within the first two hours alone.

He said: "It has been a fantastic turn out and I am confident the Conservatives will get a majority - it is just a matter of how much.

"Labour have 13 years in power and people have completely lost faith, it's as simple as that."

Cllr Sansom is also confident that he will remain a councillor in Rickmansworth after tomorrow's local elections, and that his party may even claim a couple of new seats in Three Rivers.

"People have not forgotten the William Penn swimming pool saga and the fact that it was not open for so long and cost the council so much money. For parents, that is time their children can never get back.

1.30am: UKIP CANDIDATE Mark Benson has admitted he has no chance of claiming victory in South West Hertfordshire.

Mr Benson (pictured left with agent Michael Siveyer), who has been watching the general election results unfold at Watersmeet Theatre in Rickmansworth, said: "If I get 1,000 votes I will be happy but I doubt I will get my deposit back.

"I stood for MP because I believe in democracy and it makes me very angry to see the state of my country - we are in a mess in terms of the economy, social cohesion, political corruption, Europe.

"I am a realist and despite trying to good things, sometimes they do go wrong and life just seems to be perverse in that way."

And Mr Benson has equally little hope that UKIP leader, Nigel Farage, who has been forced to miss his election count in Buckingham after being involved in a plane crash yesterday (Thursday), will secure his seat.

"I would love to see Nigel elected but is standing against John Bercow, who will be very difficult to beat."

12.30am: THE verification of votes in South West Hertfordshire continues at Watersmeet Theatre in Rickmansworth.

As soon as all the votes are verified, the count will begin.

Three Rivers District Councillor for Croxley Green South, Phil Brading, predicted the turnout would be higher than last year's (68 per cent), but said it would be impossible to be sure.

When asked about tomorrow's local election count, he said: "We don't know how the national vote will translate into the local vote and with a high turnout, anything could happen.

"I am glad that the local election count is at 1pm tomorrow so I can have a lie-in!"

12.05am: LABOUR candidate Harry Mann has arrived at Watersmeet Theatre together with his campaign team, including Three Rivers councillor Phil Redshaw, agent Nena Spellen, and her husband Councillor Ron Spellen, vice-chairman of the district council.

Mr Mann said he had been working hard on the campaign trail right up until the polling stations closed this evening, enjoying very little sleep over the past 24 hours as a result.

He said: "I have been keeping myself awake by drinking Coke!

"It's still early days and there isn't much to say at the moment, but it's very concerning that some people have not been able to vote.

"I am feeling positive and I think it will be an interesting night for Labour. The party has done a lot this year and there are lots of people who restored their faith in us."

As for whether Gordon Brown will remain at 10 Downing Street in the morning, Mr Mann said: "Ask me that question in a couple of hours but I certainly hope so."

12.00am: THE postal vote has been completed and all the ballot boxes have arrived at Watersmeet Theatre in Rickmansworth, with the votes currently being validated.

From eye view, David Gauke for the Conservatives has the highest number of postal votes, followed closely by Christopher Townsend for the Liberal Democrats, with Harry Mann for Labour trailing in third position.

By comparison, just a handful of votes were placed in front of labels for the British National Party candidate Deirdre Gates, UKIP's Mark Benson and independent candidate James Hannaway.

Steven Halls, chief executive at Three Rivers District Council and returning officer for the count, has praised the hard work of the counting team.

"Every is going smoothly and we have some very good people working here tonight," he said.

"Elections are always enormous fun and this is no exception to the rule. This is what it's all about and I am thoroughly enjoying myself.

10pm: THE polls have officially closed and the vote count has begun for the South West Hertfordshire constituency at Watersmeet Theatre in Rickmansworth.

Postal votes, which account for about 10,000 of the 78,000 total electorate, are currently being counted.

Ballot boxes are arriving from across the constituency, with counters poised to continue long into the night.

4.10pm: Reminder of the candidates standing for South West Hertfordshire:

David Gauke (Con), Harry Mann (Lab), Christopher Townsend (Lib Dem), Deidre Gates (BNP), Mark Benson (UKIP), James Hannaway (Independent).

WELCOME to the Uxbridge Gazette election blog for South West Hertfordshire.

Post your views using the Add a Comment button below.