The Watford Liberal Democrats have accused the Conservatives of giving up as there are no Conservative candidates in certain areas of the Watford constituency for the time ever in this set of local elections.
There is no Conservative candidate in Stanborough ward (Watford Borough) and in Abbots Langley, Gade Valley and Leavesden (Three Rivers), all wards that have historically elected Conservative councillors and form around a quarter of Richard Harrington's constituency. In Watford Borough there are currently no Conservative councillors.
The Liberal Democrats have fielded a full slate of candidates across both Watford and Three Rivers.
Voters now have a clear choice on May 2nd. To support their Liberal Democrat councillors who are working to continue moving our town forwards, investing in our parks and leisure centres or the local Labour Party who were at the wheel when Watford Council was branded one of the worst run councils in the country by government inspectors.'
Liberal Democrat leader of Three Rivers District Council Cllr Sara Bedford said, 'This is truly shocking. The Conservatives state they would like to run the council, but they are not even contesting enough seats to make that a possibility.
Cllr Ian Stotesbury, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Watford said, 'The local Conservative party is in complete free fall. They've got no councillors in Watford, no candidates in a quarter of the constituency and no chance of winning. Voters should back their local Liberal Democrat candidates who will stand up for their communities on May 2nd.'