Local elections: Greens and SDP win in South Leeds

As widely predicted, the old two party election battles were truly out of the window in South Leeds as smaller parties won all three seats.

In Hunslet & Riverside ward Cllr Ed Carlisle held on to his seat for the Green Party by a considerable margin of 1,780 votes over the Labour Party.

In closer battles Matt Rogan took Beeston & Holbeck for the Greens, beating Labour by 253 votes, whilst in Middleton Park ward Cllr Wayne Dixon held on to his seat by 267 votes from Reform UK.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can read the full results below.

Speaking to South Leeds Life, Cllr Ed Carlisle (Green, Hunslet & Riverside) said:

“Many thanks to everyone who voted yesterday, many thanks to all the candidates. The political landscape is changing and I think that’s a good thing for our communities, it’s a good thing for democracy. Now it’s back to the real work of serving our communities. I strongly believe that all the candidates want the best for our communities so we really now the job on to work hard for the good of our communities.

“I think there’s a responsibility on politicians everywhere to be co-operative and to work together. Labour are clearly having a bad election, but we the Greens have already said publicly that we aren’t going to join them in coalition, but we are keen to work with anyone in coincil for the good of our city.”

Cllr Wayne Dixon (SDP, Middleton Park) commented:

“I feel like my community has got my back today. They’ve chosen someone who’s from the community rather than someone who’s promised the world, to change national policy from the council. That has been what was really frustrating thoughout the campaign – they had no ideas about what they wanted to do and literally just campaigned on national issues, which didn’t affect the people of Middleton and Belle Isle. I’m glad people saw through that.”

In his acceptance speech, Cllr Matt Rogan (Green, Beeston & Holbeck) said:

“I guenuinely dont have the words … I am in awe of this result. I want to pay tribute to the outgoing councillor, Annie Maloney, and to Al Garthwaite. I know the work that has happened in Beeston & Holbeck over the past few years – that still stands. I understand it’s a difficult day today for the Labour Party, but it’s nothing personal.

“Beeston & Holbeck is my home. I’m proud to live in such a diverse community of neighbours. Thank you for electing me to this position, I am honoured, I am humbled. Many thanks, let’s go!”

The results overall across the city leave the parties as follows:

Overall political composition (99 seats in total):

Labour [LAB]: 48 seats (down net eight)

Conservative [CON]: 14 seats (up one)

Green [GR]: 11 seats (up five)

Reform UK (REF): 10 seats (up eight)

Liberal Democrats [LD]: 6 seats (unchanged)

Garforth and Swillington Independents Party [GSIP]: 3 seats (unchanged)

Morley Borough Independents [MBI]: 3 seats (unchanged)

Social Democratic Party [SDP]: 3 seats (unchanged)

Independent: 1 seat

The turnout figure for the city was 41.49 per cent.

Following the election, Leeds City Council is in no overall control with Labour as the largest single group.

 

Beeston & Holbeck Ward

Candidate	Description	Votes
Al GARTHWAITE	Labour Party	1,725
Christopher Thomas HOWDEN	Liberal Democrats	159
Alex KETTLE	The Conservative Party Candidate	280
Loreen Gulrez NIX	Reform UK	1,245
Matt ROGAN	Green Party	1,978
Nick THE DUCK GUY	The Official Monster Raving Loony Party	43
Sasha WATSON	Social Democratic Party	284

Electorate:	18,361
Turnout:	31.29%
Spoilt ballots:	17

 

Hunslet & Riverside Ward

Candidate	Description	Votes
Taiwo Funmilayo ADEYEMI	The Conservative Party Candidate	199
Ed CARLISLE	Green Party	3,202
Roderic PARKER	Liberal Democrats	112
Sarata SAWO	Labour and Co-operative Party	1,422
Ayesha SHAMIM	Reform UK	700
Paul THOMAS	Social Democratic Party	57

Electorate:	16,891
Turnout:	33.8%
Spoilt ballots:	19

 

Middleton Park Ward

Candidate	Description	Votes
Samson Roberts ADEYEMI	The Conservative Party Candidate	206
Wayne Alan DIXON	Social Democratic Party	2,203
Ciaran Lee HEAD	Green Party	545
Innocent IGIEHON	Labour and Co-operative Party	773
KJames ENDALL	Reform UK	1,936
Kristof SZECSI	Liberal Democrats	108

Electorate:	19,618
Turnout:	29.5%
Spoilt ballots:	12

 

Main photo: Cllr Ed Carlisle holds Hunslet & Riverside ward

 

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