Political control of the city council is set to be confirmed after Labour lost its overall majority in the local elections.
The city’s 99 councillors are due to meet at the Civic Hall on Wednesday (20 May 2026) for the authority’s annual meeting.
Labour remains by far the city’s biggest political group, despite gains for Reform UK and the Greens, and is expected to form a minority administration. The arrangement can be made when a council falls under “no overall control”, with no party holding more than 50 per cent of the seats.
Led by Kippax and Methley councillor James Lewis, Labour would form the new executive board, the council’s main decision-making body. But without an overall majority, the party may need to work with other political groups to seek consensus on major issues voted on at full council meetings.
Stewart Golton, who leads the city’s Liberal Democrat group, said he hoped it would lead to more collaboration between parties.
Coun Golton, who was re-elected to represent Rothwell last week, said:
“It means there’s an opportunity for the Labour administration to say, ‘We get it. We get the message’. People want to feel listened to. We’ll be looking forward to that new politics, going forward.”
Labour had 48 councillors following the May 7 vote, down from 56 before the election.
Labour’s share has since fallen to 47 after Jess Lennox, Crossgates and Whinmoor councillor, left to sit as an independent.
Coun Lennox previously served as Labour’s executive member for housing. First elected in 2018, she is now listed as an independent member on the council’s website.
Councils under no overall control are sometimes run by coalitions formed between different political groups. But that would require agreement between parties strongly opposed to each other.
In Leeds, the Conservatives are now the second biggest group with 14 councillors, followed by the Greens with 11 and Reform with 10.
This post was written by Don Mort, Local Democracy Reporter
While you’re here, can we ask a favour?
South Leeds Life is published by a not-for-profit social enterprise. We keep our costs as low as possible but we’ve been hit by increases in the print costs for our monthly newspaper which have doubled in the last two years.
Could you help support local community news by making a one off donation, or even better taking out a supporters subscription?
Donate here, or sign up for a subscription at bit.ly/SLLsubscribe
