Emma Pogson-Golden has won Middleton Park ward for the SDP, defeating Labour’s Lauren Summers by almost 400 votes in the Leeds City Council elections held yesterday (4 May 2023). Emma Pogson-Golden joins Wayne Dixon with the SDP now holding two out of the three seats in the ward.
Labour won in Hunslet & Riverside ward where sitting Councillor Paul Wray held off Omar Mushtaq of the Green Party by almost 300 votes. Last year Ed Carlisle made a breakthrough for the Greens when he beat Labour’s Elizabeth Nash, but they weren’t able to repeat the win this time.
Andrew Scopes increased his majority for Labour in Beeston & Holbeck ward winning 63% of the vote.
Commenting on her win Cllr Emma Pogson-Golden (SDP, Middleton Park) said:
“I’m so proud of everybody that went out to vote for us. We are really going to make a difference. We are looking at communities and families. We’re looking to make sure that everybody is looked after.”
Defeated Labour candidate Lauren Summers said:
“I’m pleased that we improved our result from last year and I’ve really enjoyed meeting people in Middleton and Belle Isle. I’m proud of the campaign we’ve run and I’m so grateful for all the help from Labour Party members.”
Cllr Paul Wray (Labour, Hunslet & Riverside) said:
“I’m absolutely thrilled and honoured to have the huge responsibility of representing the people of Hunslet & Riverside. It’s been a tough campaign, but hard work and a commitment to honestity, integrety and doing things the right way and a fabulous campaign team and the really generous, kind, warm-hearted community has kept me going and I look forward to serving them over the next four years.”
Omar Mushtaq, the losing Green candidate said:
“It was a pleasure running for my first time and an honour running for the community that I live amongst. Credit to Paul, he’s very active as a Councillor, but I think I’ve done pretty well considering it was my first time running. I’m going to carry on and try again next year.”
Cllr Andrew Scopes (Labour, Beeston & Holbeck) commented:
“Firstly I’d like to say a massive thanks to the team that helped me campaign and particularly my agent Adam Ogilvie, an Honorary Alderman of the city and a former Beeston & Holbeck Councillor. I’m really honoured to have been given a new mandate by the residents of Beeston & Holbeck ward to keep doing what I’ve been doing for the last five years, I’m looking forward to carrying on.”
Overall there has been little change to the political make up of the Council. Labour are expected to retain an outright majority of the 99 seats once all the results are declared later this afternoon.
UPDATE (5:40pm): With all results in, Labour keep control of the Council, increasing their seats from 58 to 61 out of 99, despite the loss in our area.
The election results in full:
Beeston & Holbeck Ward
Labour Party HOLD
Elected: SCOPES Andrew Timothy
| Candidate | Description | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| ANDREWS Peter Richard | Liberal Democrats | 209 |
| AZEEM Muhammad | The Conservative Party Candidate | 450 |
| GWYTHER Katherine Alice | Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition | 44 |
| PERRY Nigel | Social Democratic Party | 107 |
| POLUCCIU Mariana | Green Party | 662 |
| SCOPES Andrew Timothy | Labour Party | 2,494 |
| Electorate: | 18,712 |
|---|---|
| Turnout: | 21% |
| Spoilt ballots: | 30 |
Hunslet & Riverside Ward
Labour and Co-operative Party HOLD
Elected: WRAY Paul Ian
| Candidate | Description | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| DUNCAN Oisín Conor | Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition | 27 |
| FOSTER Thomas Peter | Social Democratic Party | 48 |
| MUSHTAQ Mohammed Omar | Green Party | 1,809 |
| RUTHERFORD Owen Scott | The Conservative Party Candidate | 231 |
| TURNER-CHASTNEY Benedict Luke | Liberal Democrats | 89 |
| WRAY Paul Ian | Labour and Co-operative Party | 2,095 |
| Electorate: | 17,795 |
|---|---|
| Turnout: | 24% |
| Spoilt ballots: | 31 |
Middleton Park Ward
Social Democratic Party GAIN
Elected: POGSON-GOLDEN Emma Louise
| Candidate | Description | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| ADEYEMI Samson Roberts | The Conservative Party Candidate | 376 |
| AGBEMAFLE Eunice Delali | Green Party | 186 |
| ARBUCKLE Jude Patrick | Liberal Democrats | 86 |
| DONALDSON Joelle Darnelle | Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition | 91 |
| POGSON-GOLDEN Emma Louise | Social Democratic Party | 1,985 |
| SUMMERS Lauren Alice | Labour and Co-operative Party | 1,587 |
| Electorate: | 20,215 |
|---|---|
| Turnout: | 21% |
| Spoilt ballots: | 9 |
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