Here is a list of all the candidates standing in Beeston & Holbeck ward for election to Leeds City Council on Thursday 7 May 2026.
We have contacted all the candidates to ask them about why they are standing and what their policies are. We will publish their answers as they send them in so keep checking back to compare answers and make your choice.
We held an online hustings meeting on Thursday 30 April, you can watch a recording of the meeting here:
Al Garthwaite
Labour Party
73 Cross Flatts Avenue, Beeston, Leeds, LS11 7
I’ve lived here most of my life and over the years I’ve worked hard locally as a school parent governor; set up a local nursery and an enterprise centre; raised money and developed Cross Flatts Park, from the exercise trail and Pavilion to summer bands and dog show; made films and radio shows with local people about their lives; run ESOL and IT courses; campaigned for safer streets, and much more.
This is a great community and I’m really keen to represent it on Council. We all know there are challenges, and much to be done, from patching potholes and stopping fly-tipping to maintaining vital community centres. I’ve the enthusiasm and determination to do it. My experience as a councillor elsewhere in Leeds will come in handy. Through living here, listening to lots of local people and working with community groups I know what’s needed. Together with fellow councillors I’ll do my very best to get it done.
Do vote for me on May 7th: a local woman who will devote herself full-time for the good of everyone who lives and works in Beeston, Holbeck and Cottingley Hall.
Christopher Thomas HOWDEN
Liberal Democrats
Flat 69, Uncle Leeds, 3 Whitehall Road, Leeds, LS12 1FA
Alex KETTLE
The Conservative Party Candidate
Address in Leeds*
Loreen NIX
Reform UK
Address in Leeds*
My name is Loreen Nix.
I am the Reform UK candidate for Beeston and Holbeck in the Local elections.
I live in Harehills Leeds and work full time in a nursing home in the Roundhay area.
I come from Pakistan, where I worked as a gynaecologist for over15 years. I emmigrated to the UK after marrying my husband.
I decided to get involved in politics because I was so saddened by what I see happening in the country i.e. it’s going down the shoot.
As I looked at the different political parties I saw, and now strongly believe that the Reform UK policies offer the best solutions to ordinary people.
Having a daughter, I especially feel strongly about the awful labour policy of putting illegal immigrants into local communities. In my view this is downright dangerous.
Since been chosen as a Reform UK council candidate for B&H I am doing my best to make myself aware of thr local issues.
Some of these include:
-Antisocial behaviour/crime
-Housing issues
-Lack of jobs
-Mental health issues
-Waste and flytipping.
If I were elected as councillor for B&H I would represent local challenges to the best of my ability.
Matt ROGAN
Green Party
1006 Calvert House, Ingram Row, Holbeck, Leeds, LS11 9EL
I’ve lived, volunteered, and worked hard in our Beeston and Holbeck communities for many years now. In that time, I’ve seen the issues we face first-hand: waste & fly-tipping, anti-social behaviour, housing, parking problems, and more. But I’ve also seen a community of neighbours, of love, with so much potential to thrive.
Our community is hungry for change. Myself and your local Green team have been here for you all year-round, taking action on these issues and, importantly, listening to you. I’ve been a dedicated campaigner for many years now, having co-led successful campaigns on saving libraries, organised practical action, engaged with you at forums/listening events, co-ran community events (including the LS11 Yard Sale), and spoken out on the big issues: planning battles, housing, environmental issues, and more.
On May 7th, a vote for me is a vote to put our community first: I will be Beeston and Holbeck’s voice on Leeds City Council, not the council’s voice in our area. With your support, myself and your Green team can do so much more and bring fresh thinking to the table.
It’s time for change. For year-round hard-work, for a fresh voice: VOTE MATT ROGAN, GREEN PARTY, ON MAY 7TH.
Nick THE DUCK GUY
Official Monster Raving Loony Party
Address in Leeds*
I’m the duck guy. I waddle around Beeston and Holbeck. I quack. I spread my wings. They’re neither left or right wings, not centrist, they are just flaps. I always encourage people to vote, even if they have no trust in the other candidates. You could spoil your ballot paper, or you could just vote for duck guy. It totally makes sense. Probably. My feathers aren’t in a twist; my plumage is supreme. I’m the only duck standing for election in Leeds.
Sasha WATSON
Social Democratic Party
54 Cross Flatts Crescent, Beeston, Leeds, LS11 7JP
I was born in Cottingley and raised in Beeston, where I live with my partner and our children.
I spend a lot of my time volunteering and listening to people through my roles at Beeston Forum, Beeston Festival, and as a school governor. With a background in care, including kinship care, I got into politics because I’m determined to make our area better for our children and for all our neighbours.
I’ve already worked hard alongside residents to fight service cuts, improve social housing, campaign to save our much-loved local lollipop lady, and challenge the Council’s use of illegal children’s homes. Day in, day out, I also help fix the everyday problems that matter — getting potholes filled, paths resurfaced, missed bins collected, and housing issues sorted.
In 2022, Leeds City Council welcomed its first SDP councillor. Since then, the SDP has taken more seats from Labour in South Leeds than any other party. I joined the SDP because I want to build on that success with you and continue putting local residents first.
If you want a dedicated, hard-working local councillor with a proven track record of standing up for our community and improving it, please vote for me.
*In England, if a candidate has requested not to make their home address public, the relevant electoral area in which their home address is situated (or country if their address is outside the UK) will be provided.