North East Herts looks as if it will be retained by the Torys by some margin, judging from the way the voting papers are piling up. Tory candidate Oliver Heald said: I m hopeful we will have an outright majority but I never treat it as a safe seat. A

North East Herts looks as if it will be retained by the Torys by some margin, judging from the way the voting papers are piling up.

Tory candidate Oliver Heald said: "I'm hopeful we will have an outright majority but I never treat it as a safe seat."

A Labour insider fears the party will end up in third place.