Before the 2004 Harrogate Borough Council election, which was held under all postal voting for the first time in Harrogate, the Conservatives, which had gained a majority after 2 Liberal Democrats defected to the Conservatives in autumn 2003, ran the council with more seats than the other two parties.
The election was held under all postal voting, for the first time in Harrogate. The Conservatives had gained a majority after 2 Liberal Democrats defected to the Conservatives in autumn 2003. Before the election the Conservatives ran the council with 28 seats, while the Liberal Democrats had 21 seats and there were 4 independents. 
