2026 Leeds City Council election

2026 Leeds City Council election
7 May 2026
34 of 99 seats on Leeds City Council
50 seats needed for a majority
 
Leader James Lewis Alan Lamb Penny Stables
Party Labour Conservative Green
Leader's seat Kippax and Methley Wetherby Wetherby
Last election 19 seats, 43.3% 5 seats, 20.5% 3 seats, 16.3%
Current seats 56 14 6
 
Leader Stewart Golton Oliver Newton Mark Dobson
Party Liberal Democrats Morley Borough Independents Garforth and Swillington Independents
Leader's seat Rothwell Morley South Garforth and Swillington
Last election 2 seats, 9.4% 2 seats, 2.3% 1 seat, 1.8%
Current seats 6 4 3
 
Leader Wayne Dixon Trish Smith
Party SDP Reform UK Independent
Leader's seat Middleton Park Pudsey
Last election 1 seat, 1.6% 0 seats, 1.3% 0 seats, 0.8%
Current seats 3 2 3
Map of Leeds City Council wards
Incumbent Council Control

Majority administration
Labour



Main article: Leeds City Council elections

The 2026 Leeds City Council election is due to take place on 7 May 2026 alongside other local elections across the United Kingdom.[1]

Councillors not standing for re-election

Councillor Ward First elected Party Reason

David Blackburn[2]

Farnley and Wortley 1998, 2024 Green standing down[3]

Annie Maloney[4]

Beeston and Holbeck 2022 Labour standing down[5]
Alice Smart[6] Armley 2014 Labour standing down[7]

Previous council composition

After 2024 election Before 2026 election
Party Seats Party Seats
Labour 61 Labour 56
Conservative 15 Conservative 14
Liberal Democrats 6 Liberal Democrats 6
Green 5 Green 6
Morley Borough Independents 4 Morley Borough Independents 4
Garforth and Swillington Independents 3 Garforth and Swillington Independents 3
SDP 3 SDP 3
Reform UK 0 Reform UK 2
Independent 2 Independent 3
Vacant N/A Vacant 2

Changes 2024–2026:

  • May 2024: Trish Smith (Conservative) leaves party to sit as an independent[8]
  • August 2024: Mark Sewards (Labour) resigns – by-election held October 2024[9]
  • October 2024: David Blackburn (Green) gains by-election from Labour[10]
  • May 2025:
    • Winifred Kidger (Independent)[a] resigns - by-election held June 2025[11]
    • Trish Smith (Independent) joins Reform[12]
  • June 2025:
    • Ryan Taylor (Reform) gains by-election nominally from Morley Borough Independents[13]
    • Abigail Marshall Katung (Labour) leaves party to sit as an independent[14]
  • September 2025: Zara Hussain (Labour) leaves party to sit as an independent[15]
  • January 2026: Mahalia France-Mir (Labour) dies - seat left vacant until 2026 election[16]
  • March 2026: Nicole Lloyd (Labour) resigns

Incumbents

Ward Incumbent councillor Party Re-standing
Adel & Wharfedale Barry Anderson Conservative
Alwoodley Dan Cohen Conservative
Ardsley & Robin Hood Karen Renshaw Labour
Armley Alice Smart Labour No
Beeston & Holbeck Annie Maloney Labour No
Bramley & Stanningley Kevin Ritchie Labour
Burmantofts & Richmond Hill Luke Farley Labour
Calverley & Farsley Andrew Carter Conservative
Chapel Allerton Eileen Taylor Labour
Cross Gates & Whinmoor Pauleen Grahame Labour
Farnley & Wortley David Blackburn[b] Green No
Garforth & Swillington Mark Dobson G&SI Yes
Gipton & Harehills Salma Arif Labour
Guiseley & Rawdon Eleanor Thomson Labour
Harewood Matthew Robinson Conservative
Headingley & Hyde Park Jonathan Pryor Labour Yes
Horsforth Emmie Bromley Labour
Hunslet & Riverside Ed Carlisle Green
Killingbeck & Seacroft John Tudor Labour
Kippax & Methley Mary Harland Labour
Kirkstall Hannah Bithell Labour Yes
Little London & Woodhouse Kayleigh Brooks Labour
Middleton Park Wayne Dixon SDP Yes
Moortown Vacant[c] n/a
Morley North Bob Gettings Independent
Morley South Oliver Newton Morley Borough Independents
Otley & Yeadon Colin Campbell Liberal Democrats
Pudsey Simon Seary Conservative Yes
Rothwell Stewart Golton Liberal Democrats
Roundhay Zara Hussain[d] Independent
Temple Newsam Debra Coupar Labour
Weetwood Izaak Wilson Labour
Wetherby Norma Harrington Conservative

References

  1. ^ Kidger was elected for the Morley Borough Independents
  2. ^ Elected at the 2024 Farnley & Wortley by-election.
  3. ^ Cllr Mahalia France-Mir died in January 2026. Seat left vacant until the 2026 election.
  4. ^ Originally elected as Labour, but left the party to sit as an Independent in September 2025.
  1. ^ "Elections and referendums in Leeds". Leeds City Council. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  2. ^ "Councillor David Blackburn". democracy.leeds.gov.uk. Leeds City Council. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  3. ^ "Green Party councillor David Blackburn to retire at election". West Leeds Dispatch. 9 February 2026. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  4. ^ "Councillor Annie Maloney". democracy.leeds.gov.uk. Leeds City Council. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
  5. ^ "Ex-Lord Mayor to fight Beeston & Holbeck seat next May". South Leeds Life. 10 September 2025. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  6. ^ "Councillor Alice Smart". democracy.leeds.gov.uk. Leeds City Council. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  7. ^ "Armley councillor Alice Smart to stand down at next election". West Leeds Dispatch. 14 July 2025. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  8. ^ Baron, John (4 May 2024). "Pudsey councillor Trish Smith quits Conservative party". West Leeds Dispatch. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  9. ^ Connolly, James (30 August 2024). "Leeds set for by-election as MP announces he's standing down from city role". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  10. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Farnley and Wortley Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  11. ^ Connolly, James (13 May 2025). "Leeds set for fresh by-election after resignation - here's what you need to know". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  12. ^ Baron, John (12 May 2025). "Pudsey councillor Trish Smith switches to Reform UK". West Leeds Dispatch. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  13. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Morley South Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  14. ^ Boothroyd, David. "Social justice gets reformed". LocalCouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  15. ^ Morton, Dennis (26 September 2025). "'Remaining would go against my own morals' - Leeds councillor quits Labour". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  16. ^ Morton, Dennis. "'She will be missed by so many': Tributes paid to Leeds councillor Mahalia France-Mir". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
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