LIBERAL DEMOCRATS CONFIRMED AS MAIN CHALLENGER IN ST ALBANS AFTER NARROW MISS IN GENERAL ELECTION

2.53.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 11th May 2010

In one of the best results for the Liberal Democrats in the whole country, Sandy Walkington narrowly failed to unseat Anne Main as MP for St Albans. Starting in third place in a seat which was Number 24 on the Labour target seat list, Sandy dramatically increased his vote while Labour support slumped. The Conservative performance was the worst in Hertfordshire in a contest which also saw one of the highest voter turn-outs in the country.

"Of course I am disappointed to have missed by such a small margin, but with 59 percent of St Albans voters not supporting Mrs Main and a Conservative majority of only 2,305 over the Liberal Democrats, she is clearly on notice to quit. I have received a flood of messages and e-mails from people who voted for other parties saying they will back the Liberal Democrats next time. We have also had a huge number of membership applications and all sorts of offers of support," Sandy said.

The Liberal Democrats also continued their advance in the council elections taking place on the same day, holding all the seats they were defending and gaining Marshalswick South from the Conservatives and Batchwood from Labour.

"All the momentum locally continues to be with the Liberal Democrats," Sandy said. "One of the most striking things of the campaign was the enthusiastic support from young people who flooded into our headquarters to help. Nick Clegg's performance in the campaign had a huge and positive impact. Our young supporters made our campaigning incredibly lively and fun. We won a number of school mock elections and a St Albans 4 Sandy facebook group set up by local young people attracted an enthusiastic following. It all bodes really well for the future."