Today's announcement of Hertsmere Borough Council's election results brings to a close what has, at times, been a niggly, unpleasant campaign.

After kicking off last month with the authority's leader, Morris Bright, being forced to step down from hosting an event at Elstree Film Studios, it finished off this week with an argument over the use of a particular word on an election leaflet.Turn-outs at polling stations were expected to be among some of the lowest ever recorded in the borough. It is little surprise.Actions such as those we have seen in the past four weeks do little to change the public's view of politicians as egocentric Punch and Judy merchants.