# 2022 Wakefield Metropolitan District Council election

The 2022 Wakefield Metropolitan District Council election took place on 5 May 2022 to elect members of Wakefield Council. This was on the same day as other local elections. 21 of the 63 seats were up for election.

## Background

Since its first election in 1973, Labour has always controlled Wakefield Council, only falling below 60% of seats on 4 occasions (most recently in 2010). In the 2021 election, Labour lost 6 seats with 45.1% of the vote, the Conservatives gained 6 seats with 37.5%, the Liberal Democrats gained 1 with 3.0%, and independents lost 1 with 2.1%
The seats up for election this year were last elected in 2018. In that election, Labour lost 1 seat with 51.7% of the vote, the Conservatives gained 4 with 34.0%, independents lost 1 with 3.9%, and UKIP lost both their seats up for election with 1.1%.

## Previous council composition

| After 2021 election | After 2021 election | After 2021 election | Before 2022 election | Before 2022 election | Before 2022 election | After 2022 election | After 2022 election | After 2022 election |
| Party | Party | Seats | Party | Party | Seats | Party | Party | Seats |
| | Labour | 43 | | Labour | 44 | | Labour | 45 |
| | Conservative | 17 | | Conservative | 15 | | Conservative | 13 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 2 | | Liberal Democrats | 2 | | Liberal Democrats | 3 |
| | Independent | 1 | | Independent | 2 | | Independent | 2 |
Changes:
* December 2021: Ian Womersley (independent) joins Labour
* March 2022: Akef Akbar leaves Conservatives to sit as an independent
* Paul Stockhill leaves Conservatives to sit as an independent
* Conservative group leader Nic Stansby leaves Conservatives to sit as an independent.

## Results

Change with 2021.
2022 Wakefield Metropolitan District Council election :
| Party | Party | This election | This election | This election | Full council | Full council | Full council | This election | This election | This election |
| Party | Party | Seats | Net | Seats % | Other | Total | Total % | Votes | Votes % | +/− |
| | Labour | 17 | 1 | 80.95 | 28 | 45 | 71.4 | 38,561 | 51.7 | +6.6 |
| | Conservative | 3 | 2 | 14.29 | 10 | 13 | 20.6 | 20,512 | 27.5 | -10.0 |
| | Independent | 0 | | 0.0 | 2 | 2 | 3.2 | 4,007 | 5.4 | +3.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 1 | 1 | 4.76 | 2 | 3 | 4.8 | 3,960 | 5.3 | +2.3 |
| | Green | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 3,641 | 4.9 | -1.5 |
| | Yorkshire | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 3,228 | 4.3 | -0.1 |
| | Freedom Alliance | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 369 | 0.5 | New |
| | Reform UK | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 160 | 0.2 | -0.2 |
| | TUSC | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 102 | 0.1 | +0 |
| | SDP | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 52 | 0.1 | New |

## Results by ward

An asterisk indicates an incumbent councillor. Changes with 2021.

### Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton

Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Allan Garbutt* | 1,537 | 44.81 | +9.61 |
| | Conservative | David Pointon | 916 | 26.71 | −9.89 |
| | Independent | Gwen Marshall | 568 | 16.56 | +12.96 |
| | Green | Jody Gabriel | 288 | 8.40 | +1.7 |
| | Freedom Alliance | Carol Higgins | 121 | 3.53 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 621 | 18.10 | +16.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,430 | 25.6 | −4.7 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Airedale and Ferry Fryston

Airedale and Ferry Fryston :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Kathryn Scott* | 1,524 | 61.43 | +10.33 |
| | Conservative | Richard Evans | 541 | 21.81 | −1.29 |
| | Independent | Neil Kennedy | 311 | 12.54 | +1.04 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Leah Birdsall | 105 | 4.23 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 983 | 39.62 | +11.62 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,481 | 21.4 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Altofts and Whitwood

Altofts and Whitwood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jacquie Speight* | 2,053 | 56.49 | +9.0 |
| | Conservative | Barbara Wright | 809 | 22.26 | −15.8 |
| | Independent | John Thomas | 613 | 16.87 | +11.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Leanne Hall | 159 | 4.38 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,244 | 34.23 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,634 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Castleford Central and Glasshoughton

Denise Jeffery is the incumbent Leader of the Council going into the election.
Castleford Central and Glasshoughton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Denise Jeffery* | 1,900 | 64.60 | +2.2 |
| | Conservative | Joanne Smart | 482 | 16.39 | −5.4 |
| | Yorkshire | Paul Phelps | 471 | 16.01 | +4.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Janet Walton | 88 | 2.99 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,418 | 48.21 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,941 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Crofton, Ryhill and Walton

Crofton, Ryhill and Walton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Usman Ali | 1,832 | 47.70 | +4.0 |
| | Conservative | Chad Thomas | 1,335 | 34.76 | −10.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Connor Clayton | 364 | 9.48 | N/A |
| | Green | Garry Newby | 310 | 8.07 | −2.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 497 | 12.94 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,841 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Featherstone

Dick Taylor sat as a Labour councillor, however, stood as an independent following his de-selection by the local party.
Featherstone :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Steve Vickers | 2,000 | 60.4 | −0.3 |
| | Independent | Dick Taylor* | 717 | 21.6 | N/A |
| | Conservative | John Taylor | 597 | 18.0 | −5.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,283 | 38.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,314 | 25.2 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Hemsworth

Hemsworth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Melanie Jones | 1,752 | 62.2 | +18.2 |
| | Green | Lyn Morton | 604 | 21.4 | +10.0 |
| | Conservative | Eamonn Mullins | 461 | 16.4 | −3.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,148 | 40.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,817 | 23.5 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 4.1 | |

### Horbury and South Ossett

Horbury and South Ossett :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Deborah Nicholls | 2,222 | 51.1 | +13.0 |
| | Conservative | Gill Cruise* | 1,522 | 35.0 | −9.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mark Goodair | 289 | 6.6 | +2.8 |
| | Yorkshire | Ryan Kett | 183 | 4.2 | N/A |
| | Green | Richard Norris | 131 | 3.0 | −0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 700 | 16.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,347 | 37.0 | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 11.4 | |

### Knottingley

Knottingley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Robert Girt | 1,504 | 50.6 | −3.6 |
| | Labour | Paul Green | 1,216 | 40.9 | +12.0 |
| | Conservative | Roger Kirby | 254 | 8.5 | −5.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 288 | 9.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,974 | 28.7 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Swing | 7.8 | |

### Normanton

Isabel Owen was the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for West Yorkshire under Mark Burns-Williamson.
Normanton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Isabel Owen | 1,735 | 56.8 | +5.0 |
| | Conservative | James Hardwick | 697 | 22.8 | −8.2 |
| | Independent | Cliff Parsons | 280 | 9.2 | +2.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Deborah Goodall | 183 | 6.0 | +3.3 |
| | Green | John Clayton | 161 | 5.3 | −0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,038 | 34.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,056 | 23.8 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 6.6 | |

### Ossett

Ossett :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Nick Farmer* | 1,818 | 42.7 | −11.1 |
| | Labour Co-op | Armaan Khan | 1,610 | 37.9 | −0.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tony Sargeant | 333 | 7.8 | +5.3 |
| | Yorkshire | Deborah Dawson | 317 | 7.5 | N/A |
| | Green | Stephen Scott | 175 | 4.1 | −0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 208 | 4.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,253 | 33.7 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 5.1 | |

### Pontefract North

Pontefract North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Clive Tennant* | 1,718 | 52.0 | +5.9 |
| | Conservative | Christopher Hyomes | 655 | 19.8 | −11.4 |
| | Yorkshire | Chris Dawson | 562 | 17.0 | −0.5 |
| | Green | Emma Tingle | 255 | 7.7 | +2.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sheila Atha | 116 | 3.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,063 | 17.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,306 | 23.2 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 8.7 | |

### Pontefract South

Pontefract South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | George Ayre* | 2,082 | 54.3 | +12.8 |
| | Conservative | Stephanie Fishwick | 1,305 | 34.0 | −10.7 |
| | Yorkshire | James Craven | 262 | 6.8 | −2.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Susan Hayes | 133 | 3.5 | N/A |
| | SDP | Trevor Lake | 52 | 1.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 777 | 20.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,834 | 32.2 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 11.8 | |

### South Elmsall and South Kirkby

South Elmsall and South Kirkby :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Stan Bates | 1,851 | 60.6 | −0.2 |
| | Independent | Nikky Stevens | 596 | 19.5 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Pepe Ruzvidzo | 445 | 14.6 | −10.4 |
| | Green | Stefan Ludewig | 164 | 5.4 | +0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,255 | 41.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,056 | 22.5 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Stanley and Outwood East

Lynn Masterman is a former Labour councillor for Ossett ward before losing in the 2021 election.
Stanley and Outwood East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Lynn Masterman | 2,139 | 54.0 | +3.9 |
| | Conservative | Gideon Harvey | 1,122 | 28.3 | −7.6 |
| | Yorkshire | Brent Hawksley | 326 | 8.2 | +1.1 |
| | Green | Richard Copeland | 226 | 5.7 | +1.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Malcolm Pollack | 146 | 3.7 | +1.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,017 | 25.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,959 | 30.4 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 5.8 | |

### Wakefield East

Wakefield East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Yubi Ayub | 2,503 | 69.8 | +25.3 |
| | Conservative | Nick Hannam | 616 | 17.2 | −28.6 |
| | Green | Janet MacKintosh | 237 | 6.6 | ±0.0 |
| | Freedom Alliance | Michael Dodgson | 128 | 3.6 | N/A |
| | TUSC | Michael Griffiths | 102 | 2.8 | −0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,887 | 52.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,586 | 30.9 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 27.0 | |

### Wakefield North

Wakefield North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Pickersgill | 2,139 | 60.7 | +13.8 |
| | Conservative | Naeem Formuli | 817 | 23.2 | −9.8 |
| | Yorkshire | Andy Mack | 222 | 6.3 | −0.9 |
| | Green | Dan Russell | 199 | 5.6 | −3.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mary Macqueen | 146 | 4.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,322 | 37.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,523 | 29.3 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 11.8 | |

### Wakefield Rural

Wakefield Rural :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Samantha Harvey* | 2,347 | 47.0 | −11.8 |
| | Labour | Jordan Bryan | 1,838 | 36.8 | +6.8 |
| | Yorkshire | David Herdson | 428 | 8.6 | N/A |
| | Green | Karen Sadler | 314 | 6.3 | −4.9 |
| | Freedom Alliance | Lien Davies | 69 | 1.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 509 | 10.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,996 | 36.4 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 9.3 | |

### Wakefield South

Wakefield South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Nadeem Ahmed* | 1,836 | 46.7 | −3.5 |
| | Labour | Paul Belbin | 1,533 | 39.0 | +2.3 |
| | Yorkshire | Dan Cochran | 212 | 5.4 | −0.9 |
| | Green | Krys Holmes | 203 | 5.2 | −1.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nigel Ebbs | 151 | 3.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 303 | 7.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,935 | 36.5 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 2.9 | |

### Wakefield West

Wakefield West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Kevin Swift* | 1,770 | 55.5 | +6.3 |
| | Conservative | Laura Weldon | 905 | 28.4 | −12.0 |
| | Yorkshire | Richard Bentley | 245 | 7.7 | N/A |
| | Green | Lewis Elliott | 157 | 4.9 | −2.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Carol Girt-Wilson | 61 | 1.9 | N/A |
| | Freedom Alliance | Gaynor Haycock | 51 | 1.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 865 | 27.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,189 | 28.4 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 9.2 | |

### Wrenthorpe and Outwood West

Nic Stansby was the Leader of the Conservative group before being de-selected by her local branch. Waj Ali is a former Brexit Party member and candidate.
Wrenthorpe and Outwood West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Nadiah Sharp | 1,607 | 39.0 | −0.4 |
| | Conservative | Waj Ali | 1,032 | 25.0 | −18.5 |
| | Independent | Nic Stansby* | 922 | 22.4 | New |
| | Reform UK | David Dews | 160 | 3.9 | +0.8 '"`UNIQ−−ref−00000076−QINU`"' |
| | Green | Oliver Thompson | 220 | 5.3 | −1.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Natasha de Vere | 182 | 4.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 575 | 14.0 | +9.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,123 | 31.6 | −2.0 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 9.05 | |