2026 Wakefield Metropolitan District Council election

Main article: Wakefield Metropolitan District Council elections
2026 Wakefield Metropolitan District Council election
7 May 2026 (2026-05-07)
All 63 seats to Wakefield Metropolitan District Council
32 seats needed for a majority
 
Leader Denise Jeffrey Jakob Williamson[a] Rachel Speak
Party Labour Independent Liberal Democrats
Last election 56 seats, 53.9% 1 seat, 0.4% 3 seats, 3.1%
Current seats 49[1] 8[b] 2
 
Party Reform UK Conservative Green
Last election 0 seats, 1.4% 3 seats, 18.8% 0 seats, 12.2%
Current seats 2 1 1
Incumbent Leader

Denise Jeffrey
Labour



The 2026 Wakefield Metropolitan Borough Council election will be held on 7 May 2026, alongside the other local elections across the United Kingdom being held on the same day. All 63 members of Wakefield Metropolitan Borough Council will be elected.[2]

Background

In 2024, Labour retained control of the council.[3] Following ward boundary changes, all 63 seat on the council will be up for election.

Council composition

After 2024 election Before 2026 election[c][1]
Party Seats Party Seats
Labour 56 Labour 49
Liberal Democrats 3 Liberal Democrats 2
Reform UK 0 Reform UK 2
Conservative 3 Conservative 1
Green 0 Green 1
Independent 1 Independent 8

Changes 2024–2026:

  • October 2024: Graham Isherwood (Labour) dies – by-election held December 2024[4]
  • December 2024: Scott Haslam (Labour) wins by-election[5]
  • March 2025: Pete Girt (Liberal Democrats) leaves party to sit as an independent[6]
  • April 2025: Jakob Williamson (Labour) leaves party to sit as an independent[7]
  • May 2025: Stan Bates (Labour) leaves party to sit as an independent[8]
  • June 2025:
    • Michael Graham (Labour) and Kevin Swift (Labour) leave party to sit as an independent[9][10]
    • Nick Farmer (Conservative) joins Reform[11]
  • September 2025:
    • Martin Roberts (Labour) leaves party to sit as an independent[12]
    • Olivia Rowley (Labour) suspended from party[13]
  • January 2026:
    • Samantha Harvey (Conservative) joins Reform[14]
    • Olivia Rowley (Labour) readmitted to party
  • March 2026:
    • Nadiah Sharp (Independent) joins the Green Party[15]
    • Steve Tulley (Labour) leaves party to sit as an independent[16]

References

  1. ^ Leader of the Unity group.
  2. ^ Of the 8 Independent councillors before the election, 4 sat in the Unity group, 1 sat in the Conservative & Independent Group, and 3 were non-aligned.
  3. ^ Last updated 11 February 2026.
  1. ^ a b "Wakefield Council Composition: Latest". opencouncildata.co.uk. Open Council Data UK. Archived from the original on 11 February 2026. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  2. ^ "Wakefield Council confirms 2026 'all out' local election will go ahead as planned". Wakefield Express. 16 January 2026. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  3. ^ "Wakefield result - Local Elections 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  4. ^ Gardner, Tony (15 October 2024). "Tributes paid following death of veteran Featherstone councillor Graham Isherwood". Wakefield Express. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  5. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Featherstone Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  6. ^ Gardner, Tony (27 March 2025). "Lib Dem leader quits over "unjustifiable" by-election campaign before councillor's funeral". Wakefield Express. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  7. ^ Boothroyd, David. "Longdendale lights up for Reform". LocalCouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  8. ^ Boothroyd, David. "Post-election roundup". LocalCouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  9. ^ Gardner, Tony (2 June 2025). "High-profile cabinet member Michael Graham resigns, saying he has 'lost all faith' in the Labour Party". Wakefield Express. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  10. ^ Boothroyd, David. "Social justice gets reformed". LocalCouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  11. ^ Gardner, Tony (18 June 2025). "Wakefield gets first Reform councillor as Tory quits to join party". Wakefield Express. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  12. ^ Boothroyd, David. "Reform's going to Topham". LocalCouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  13. ^ Gardner, Tony (1 September 2025). "Wakefield councillor suspended over alleged fatal shooting comments". Wakefield Express. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  14. ^ Gardner, Tony (9 January 2026). "Wakefield councillor Samantha Harvey leaves Tories to join Reform". Wakefield Express. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  15. ^ Gardner, Tony (3 March 2026). "Wakefield Council gets first Green councillor as independent joins party". Wakefield Express. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  16. ^ Gardner, Tony (3 March 2026). "Labour councillor quits as maximum tax increase approved at budget meeting". Wakefield Express. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
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