Happy Friday and welcome to a brand-new month!
With the sun blazing and temperatures pushing summer highs, you’d be forgiven for thinking we’d fast-forwarded to July. Glorious for a walk — less so if you’ve been stuck in traffic with no air-con. All change next week.

But while the weather was hot, so too was the political atmosphere yesterday as Broxbourne went to the polls for the County Council Elections. Some schools closed to make way for polling stations, making it impossible to miss — and yet, many did. The turnout was dismal. Several polling stations were practically empty.

But the real action came after the polls closed — and I was there at the count to cover it all.

💥 A political upset is unfolding in Broxbourne. Reform UK has cracked the blue wall, even unseating the council leader. It’s a seismic shift in a borough long considered safely Conservative.

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📅 Election Date: Thursday 1st May 2025
📊 Voter Turnout: 27.64%

Broxbourne voters delivered a mixed verdict in this year's County Council elections — with the Conservatives holding key ground but Reform UK making two major breakthroughs.

Elected: ✅ Paul Seeby (Conservative) – 1,169

Elected: ✅ Anthony Owen (Reform UK) – 1,472

Elected: ✅ Tony Hill (Reform UK) – 1,197

Elected: ✅ Alexander Curtis (Conservative) – 1,460

Elected: ✅ Steve Wortley (Conservative) – 1,669

Elected: ✅ Dee Hart (Conservative) – 939

👉 Reform UK’s presence in Broxbourne has gone from noise to real numbers. The question now: is this a one-off, or the start of a political reshaping in our borough?

In what may come to be seen as a pivotal night in Broxbourne’s modern political history, the 2025 Hertfordshire County Council elections have delivered both a familiar continuation and a shock to the borough's political identity. With a voter turnout of just 27.64%, the result could easily be dismissed as inconsequential by national observers. But beneath the low participation rate lies a story of change, challenge, and a rising tide of voter discontent.

Broxbourne has long been a bastion of Conservative dominance, a fixture of the party's safe-seat narrative in Hertfordshire and beyond. In the 2021 County Council elections, the Conservatives swept all six divisions in Broxbourne, securing over 60% of the vote across the borough. The area’s leafy suburbs, traditionally low council tax, and aversion to perceived metropolitan politics have made it a stronghold.

But this election delivered a fracture to that narrative. While the Conservatives held four of the six seats, they lost Goffs Oak & Bury Green and Flamstead End & Turnford to Reform UK — a party often characterised as a repository for disaffected right-wing voters who feel the mainstream Conservative Party no longer represents their views.

Reform UK, emerging from the ashes of the Brexit Party, has made gains across pockets of England, but their success in Broxbourne represents something more significant. This is not a working-class Labour stronghold swinging right; this is a deep-blue Conservative borough showing signs of internal erosion.

In Goffs Oak & Bury Green, Reform’s Anthony Owen took the seat with 1,472 votes, ousting Conservative Corina Gander, who received 1,178. Similarly, in Flamstead End & Turnford, Tony Hill of Reform UK edged out Council Leader Mark Mills-Bishop of the Conservatives by just 28 votes, with 1,197 to 1,169. A recount held until nearly 2am confirmed the upset.

These gains are not marginal; they are emblematic. Reform UK is no longer a protest vote—in Broxbourne, it is now a serious political contender.

The result in Cheshunt Central was another close call. Reform’s Siobhan Monaghan scored a remarkable 1,007 votes, a strong challenge to Conservative veteran Paul Seeby, who scraped through with 1,169 votes. Labour’s Zahra Spencer came third with 564.

Across Hoddesdon North, Hoddesdon South, and Waltham Cross, the Conservatives retained their seats, but not without pressure. Reform UK consistently polled in second place, reducing majorities and keeping long-established incumbents on edge.

To comprehend what just happened in Broxbourne, one must understand not only local dynamics but also the national climate. The Conservative Party, embroiled in leadership instability, economic stagnation, and internal divisions, has struggled to hold together its 2019 electoral coalition. Issues like immigration, crime, and council service delivery are being leveraged by Reform UK with a straightforward narrative: "We will say what the Conservatives won't and do what they failed to."

Locally, concerns about overdevelopment, road congestion, and cuts to services have bred frustration. Reform UK’s messaging, which included calls for local control, fiscal conservatism, and prioritising British workers, struck a chord with parts of the electorate, particularly in more suburban and semi-rural divisions like Goffs Oak.

Historically, Broxbourne's loyalty to the Conservative Party has been near-absolute. Whether at the borough, county, or parliamentary level, Tory candidates have dominated. Even during the Labour landslides of 1997 and 2001, Broxbourne remained blue.

However, the borough has always harboured small undercurrents of dissent—often expressed through low turnouts or occasional spikes in support for independents or single-issue parties. The difference in 2025 is that those undercurrents have coalesced into an organised, alternative right-wing political force.

The county council election results, while not binding on parliamentary outcomes, are often bellwethers of future general election results. If Reform UK can continue building credibility at the local level, they may position themselves as a significant disruptor not just in Broxbourne but in other safe Conservative seats.

For the Conservatives, the message is clear: the base is no longer guaranteed. Councillors and MPs alike will need to work harder, listen more, and deliver better. Broxbourne's result should serve as a wake-up call that the politics of loyalty and brand alone may no longer suffice.

Labour and the Liberal Democrats will also need to reassess. While both parties fielded strong candidates, their inability to break through in this election underscores a disconnect with Broxbourne’s evolving electorate. Their national resurgence is yet to filter down to places like Wormley, Hoddesdon, and Cheshunt.

For Broxbourne residents, this election has brought a fresh sense of political competition. With different voices now at the table, especially from Reform UK, debates at council level may become sharper, more polarised, and possibly more representative of the full range of voter concerns.

There is a sense of awakening in Broxbourne—not a revolution, but a redrawing of familiar lines. Whether this trend deepens or retreats will depend on how the major parties respond in the coming year.

As the final ballot boxes were sealed and verified under the dim lights of the Laura Trott Leisure Centre (count centre), one thing became clear: Broxbourne will no longer be taken for granted.

📅 Saturday, 3rd May 2025
🕛 12:00 PM
📍 Hoddesdon Methodist Church Hall, Middlefield Road, EN11 9DZ

Looking to join a local community that supports veterans, families, and our town? The Hoddesdon branch of the Royal British Legion is inviting new and prospective members to a friendly membership engagement event.

☕ Pop in for a cuppa and a chat
💬 Find out what the Legion does locally
📣 MYTH BUSTER: You don’t need to have served in the forces to become a member — membership is open to all!

💷 Annual membership for 2025–2026 is just £20

If you can't make it but want to learn more, message them directly or email:
📧 [email protected]

🔗 Visit their website for more info.

Let’s support our local branch and grow the community together!

🗓️ Date: Saturday, 3rd May 2025
🕛 Time: 12:00pm – 6:00pm
📍 Venue: The Bulls Head

Join us for a fantastic Family Fun Fest packed with games, sweet treats, face painting, glitter tattoos, festival hair styling, a tombola, and a raffle with great prizes! Enjoy the outdoor bar, cocktails, and live entertainment throughout the afternoon.

🎟️ Activities:

🎶 Live music and outdoor bar entertainment all afternoon!

All proceeds will support Cheshunt Animal Rescue and Isobel Hospice. Come along and make a difference!

🗓️ Dates: Thursday 8 May – Friday 9 May 2025
📍 Locations: Cheshunt, Waltham Cross, and Hoddesdon

Join Broxbourne Borough Council as we mark 80 years since VE Day with a series of special events:

Thursday, 8 May:

Friday, 9 May:

Celebrate, remember, and reflect with your community.

🎖️ Learn more: www.broxbourne.gov.uk/veday80

Friday

23°C 🌡 9°C | ☀ Sunny and a gentle breeze | ☀ Sunrise 05:30 Sunset 20:25

Saturday

21°C 🌡 6°C | ☀ Sunny and a moderate breeze | ☀ Sunrise 05:28 Sunset 20:27

Sunday

13°C 🌡 4°C | ☀ Light cloud and a moderate breeze | ☀ Sunrise 05:27 Sunset 20:28

Tottenham Hotspur 3 | 1 Bodø / Glimt

Tottenham delivered one of their best performances of a disappointing domestic season, securing a 3-1 first-leg win over Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League semi-final. Goals from Brennan Johnson, James Maddison, and a penalty by Dominic Solanke put Spurs in control, though a late deflected strike from Ulrik Saltnes gave the Norwegian side a lifeline.

Despite Bodo/Glimt's reputation for strong home form, they were largely outplayed and managed just one shot on target. Spurs’ main concern now is the injuries to Maddison and Solanke. With the return leg in the Arctic Circle—where Glimt boasts a 70% home win rate—nothing is guaranteed.

Meanwhile, a potential all-English final is taking shape, with Manchester United winning 3-0 away at Athletic Club.

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Wishing you a fantastic long weekend!

Cheers,
Editor-in-chief | Emeka Ogbonnaya

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