# Pontefract North

Pontefract North is an electoral ward of the City of Wakefield district, used for elections to Wakefield Metropolitan District Council.

## Overview

The ward is one of 21 in the Wakefield district, and has been held by Labour since the current boundaries were formed for the 2004 Council election. As of 2015, the electorate stands at 12,495 of which 94.4% identify as "White British" and 69.3% of who identify as Christian.
Notable landmarks in the ward include Pontefract Racecourse, Pontefract Castle and Valeo Confectionery, with the main areas being Monkhill and Pontefract Town centre.

## Representation

Like all wards in the Wakefield district, Pontefract North has 3 councillors, whom are elected on a 4-year-rota. This means elections for new councillors are held for three years running, with one year every four years having no elections.
The current councillors are Clive Tennant, Patricia Garbutt and Lorna Malkin, all of whom are Labour.
The last time a Conservative councillor represented the ward was Philip Thomas who elected in the 2008 Council election however, he ran for re-election as an independent as was subsequently defeated in the 2011 election by Paula Sherriff who would later serve as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Dewsbury between 2015 and 2019.

## Councillors

| Election | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor |
| 1996 | Fredrick Hodgson (Lab) | Jack Kershaw (Lab) | Frank Ward (Lab) |
| 1998 | Fredrick Hodgson (Lab) | Jack Kershaw (Lab) | Frank Ward (Lab) |
| 1999 | Fredrick Hodgson (Lab) | Jack Kershaw (Lab) | Frank Ward (Lab) |
| 2000 | David Grason (Lab) | Jack Kershaw (Lab) | Frank Ward (Lab) |
| 2002 | David Grason (Lab) | Jack Kershaw (Lab) | Frank Ward (Lab) |
| 2003 | David Grason (Lab) | Jack Kershaw (Lab) | Clive Tennant (Lab) |
| 2004 (new boundaries) | Patricia Garbutt (Lab) | Jack Kershaw (Lab) | Clive Tennant (Lab) |
| 2006 | Patricia Garbutt (Lab) | Jack Kershaw (Lab) | Clive Tennant (Lab) |
| 2007 | Patricia Garbutt (Lab) | Jack Kershaw (Lab) | Clive Tennant (Lab) |
| 2008 | Patricia Garbutt (Lab) | Philip Thomas (Cons) | Clive Tennant (Lab) |
| 2010 | Patricia Garbutt (Lab) | Philip Thomas (Cons) | Clive Tennant (Lab) |
| 2011 | Patricia Garbutt (Lab) | Philip Thomas (Cons) | Clive Tennant (Lab) |
| 2012 | Patricia Garbutt (Lab) | Paula Sherriff (Lab) | Clive Tennant (Lab) |
| 2014 | Patricia Garbutt (Lab) | Paula Sherriff (Lab) | Clive Tennant (Lab) |
| 2015 | Patricia Garbutt (Lab) | Paula Sherriff (Lab) | Clive Tennant (Lab) |
| 2015 by-election | Patricia Garbutt (Lab) | Lorna Malkin (Lab) | Clive Tennant (Lab) |
| 2016 | Patricia Garbutt (Lab) | Lorna Malkin (Lab) | Clive Tennant (Lab) |
| 2018 | Patricia Garbutt (Lab) | Lorna Malkin (Lab) | Clive Tennant (Lab) |
| 2019 | Patricia Garbutt (Lab) | Lorna Malkin (Lab) | Clive Tennant (Lab) |
| 2021 | Patricia Garbutt (Lab) | Lorna Malkin (Lab) | Clive Tennant (Lab) |
| 2022 | Patricia Garbutt (Lab) | Lorna Malkin (Lab) | Clive Tennant (Lab) |

## Election Results

2021: Pontefract North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Lorna Malkin | 1,653 | 46.1 | +4.7 |
| | Conservative | Chris Hyomes | 1,120 | 31.2 | +11.8 |
| | Yorkshire | Ryan Kett | 628 | 17.5 | −21.7 |
| | Green | Emma Tingle | 183 | 5.1 | +5.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 533 | 14.9 | +12.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,584 | 25.4 | +3.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |
2019: Pontefract North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Patricia Garbutt | 1214 | 41.4 | −18.8 |
| | Yorkshire | Steven Crookes | 1148 | 39.2 | +29.9 |
| | Conservative | Chris Hyomes | 570 | 24.9 | −5.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 66 | 2.2 | −20.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2932 | 22.1 | −0.4 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 54 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
2018: Pontefract North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Clive Tennant | 1724 | 60.2 | +6.9 |
| | Conservative | Chris Hyomes | 714 | 24.9 | +9.2 |
| | Yorkshire | Arnie Craven | 266 | 9.3 | +3.7 |
| | Green | Rennie Smith | 162 | 5.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1010 | 35.3 | +7.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2866 | 22.5 | −3.6 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 3 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
2016: Pontefract North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Lorna Malkin | 1601 | 53.3 |
| | UKIP | Joshua Spencer | 762 | 25.4 |
| | Conservative | Chris Hyomes | 470 | 15.7 |
| | Yorkshire First | Arnie Craven | 168 | 5.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 839 | 27.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3001 | 26.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
2015 By-election: Pontefract North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Lorna Malkin | 909 | 48.0 | −3.7 |
| | UKIP | Nathan Garbutt | 453 | 23.9 | +2.3 |
| | Conservative | Anthony David Hill | 299 | 15.8 | −5.1 |
| | Yorkshire First | Lucy Brown | 124 | 6.5 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Daniel Woodlock | 86 | 4.5 | N/A |
| | TUSC | Daniel Dearden | 24 | 1.3 | −0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1895 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
*The by-election follows the resignation of Paula Sheriff who was elected the MP for Dewsbury.
2015: Pontefract North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Pat Garbutt | 3398 | 51.7 | +3.1 |
| | UKIP | Nathan Garbutt | 1422 | 21.6 | −14.0 |
| | Conservative | Chris Speight | 1375 | 20.9 | +7.2 |
| | Green | Rennie Smith | 286 | 4.3 | N/A |
| | TUSC | Daniel Dearden | 97 | 1.5 | −0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1976 | 30.1 | +17.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6578 | 54.0 | +25.7 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
2014: Pontefract North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Clive Tennant | 1645 | 48.6 | +0.7 |
| | UKIP | Nathan Garbutt | 1205 | 35.6 | +24.9 |
| | Conservative | Amy Swift | 463 | 13.7 | −0.3 |
| | TUSC | Daniel Dearden | 71 | 2.1 | −0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 440 | 13.0 | −12.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3384 | 28.3 | +0.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
2012: Pontefract North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Paula Sherriff | 1,649 | 47.9 | −11.9 |
| | Independent | Jack Kershaw | 769 | 22.3 | +22.3 |
| | Conservative | Hannah Crowther | 481 | 14 | −9.6 |
| | UKIP | Nathan Garbutt | 368 | 10.7 | 0 |
| | Green | Rennie Smith | 103 | 3.0 | −2.4 |
| | TUSC | Daniel Dearden | 76 | 2.2 | +2.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 880 | 25.5 | −10.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,446 | 28.1 | −3.1 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
2011: Pontefract North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Pat Garbutt | 2,261 | 59.8 | +14.2 |
| | Conservative | Chris Speight | 894 | 23.6 | −0.2 |
| | UKIP | Justin Hudson | 403 | 10.7 | +10.7 |
| | Green | Rennie Smith | 205 | 5.4 | +3.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,367 | 36.1 | +14.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,784 | 31.2 | −24.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
2010: Pontefract North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Clive Tennant | 3,051 | 45.6 |
| | Conservative | Carl Milner | 1,594 | 23.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Doug Dale | 1,008 | 15.1 |
| | Independent | Bob Evison | 279 | 4.2 |
| | Green | Rennie Smith | 150 | 2.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,457 | 21.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,692 | 55.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
2008: Pontefract North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Philip Thomas | 1,352 | 40.8 | −6.4 |
| | Labour | Jack Kershaw | 1,323 | 39.9 | −12.9 |
| | Independent | Bob Evison | 398 | 12.0 | +12.0 |
| | Green | Rennie Smith | 240 | 7.2 | +7.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 29 | 0.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,313 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |
2007: Pontefract North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Patricia Garbutt | 1,695 | 52.8 | −9.2 |
| | Conservative | Philip Thomas | 1,517 | 47.2 | +9.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 178 | 5.6 | −18.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,212 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
2006: Pontefract North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Clive Tennant | 1,757 | 62.0 |
| | Conservative | Mellisa Wan Omer | 1,077 | 38.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 680 | 24.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,834 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
2004: Pontefract North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Jack Kershaw | 2,008 | |
| | Labour | Patricia Garbutt | 1,716 | |
| | Labour | Clive Tennant | 1,599 | |
| | UKIP | Stephanie Wilder | 994 | |
| | UKIP | Howard Burdon | 848 | |
| | Conservative | Geoffrey Walsh | 838 | |
| | Conservative | Eamonn Mullins | 838 | |
| | Conservative | Catherine Campbell-Reitzik | 783 | |
| | Socialist Alternative | John Gill | 232 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,856 | 35.6 |
*The 2004 election was the first one with the new boundaries. As such, all three seats were up for election.
2003: Pontefract North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Clive Tennant | 1,443 | 58.2 | −10.0 |
| | Conservative | Richard Molloy | 536 | 21.6 | −1.6 |
| | UKIP | Howard Burdon | 352 | 14.2 | +14.2 |
| | Socialist Alternative | John Gill | 149 | 6.0 | +1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 907 | 36.6 | −8.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,480 | 19.7 | −1.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
2002: Pontefract North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jack Kershaw | 1,875 | 68.2 | −2.9 |
| | Conservative | Richard Molloy | 638 | 23.2 | −5.7 |
| | Socialist Alternative | John Gill | 134 | 4.9 | +4.9 |
| | Socialist Labour | Zane Carpenter | 103 | 3.7 | +3.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,237 | 45.0 | +2.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,750 | 21.0 | +4.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
2000: Pontefract North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | David Grason | 1,453 | 71.1 |
| | Conservative | June Drysdale | 590 | 28.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 863 | 42.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,043 | 16.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
1999: Pontefract North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Frank Ward | 1,757 | 81.9 |
| | Conservative | June Drysdale | 385 | 17.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,327 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,149 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
1998: Pontefract North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Jack Kershaw | 1,870 | 83.1 |
| | Conservative | June Drysdale | 372 | 14.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,498 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,498 | 19.24 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |