# Pontefract South

Pontefract South 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 is one of its most marginal. Its marginal nature can be largely put down to the nature of its demographics. The ward takes in traditionally Labour-voting areas of Pontefract, in the form of Chequerfield, Baghill and the Carleton Park estate, along with more Conservative-leaning areas such as Carleton and the outlying villages of Darrington, Wentbridge and East Hardwick. Other areas of the ward, such as the Larks Hill estate, are probably the most locally marginal parts of the ward, their voters swinging between Labour and the Conservatives from one election to another.
In December 2010 the ward's electorate stood at 12,090.

## Representation

Like all wards in the Wakefield district, Pontefract South 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.
At present, the ward is represented by two labour councillors, George Ayre and Brian Mayhew and one Conservative councillor, Tony Hames. For over 10 years the ward was represented solely by Conservative/Tory councillors, however at the local government elections held on 5 May 2011, Conservative councillor Philip Booth lost his seat to the late Tony Dean, meaning Labour gained representation in the ward once again.
At the local elections in May 2014, Pontefract local George Ayre (Labour) unseated the Wakefield District Tory group leader of Wakefield Council, Geoff Walsh. This means Labour hold the majority of seats in Pontefract South once again. In 2015, David Jones (Labour) replaced Tony Dean who retired that year. In 2018 and 2019 respectively, George Ayre and David Jones were re-elected.
David Jones served as Mayor of Wakefield from 2020 to 2023.
David Jones stood down in 2023. Brian mayhew won the 2023 local election and replaced David Jones.
Cllr George Ayre, Brian Mayhew and Tony Hames represent Pontefract South. The next elections will take place in 2024.
Cllr George Ayre is the longest serving councillor for Pontefract South having been elected in 2014.

## Election results

Note: The turnout figures below are inclusive of spoiled ballots, except for the 2012 and 2016 results.
2023:
Pontefract South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Brian Arthur Mayhew | 1,658 | 50.0 |
| | Conservative | Arnie Craven | 1244 | 37.5 |
| | Green | Oliver Luke Watkins | 164 | 5.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Susan Hayes | 163 | 4.9 |
| | SDP | Trevor Lake | 84 | 2.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 414 | 12.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,313 | 28 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 20 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
2022 local elections: Pontefract South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | George Ayre | 2,082 | 54.3 | |
| | Conservative | Stephanie Fishwick | 1,305 | 34 | |
| | Yorkshire | James Craven | 262 | 6.8 | |
| | Liberal Democrat Focus Team | Susan Hayes | 133 | 3.5 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 777 | 20.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3834 | 32.2 | |
| | Labour gain from | Labour gain from | Labour gain from | Labour gain from | Labour gain from |
2021 local elections: Pontefract South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tony Hames | 1,842 | 44.7 | +4.5 |
| | Labour | Melanie Jones | 1,712 | 41.5 | −4.9 |
| | Yorkshire | Trevor Peasant | 390 | 9.5 | +9.5 |
| | Green | Katherine Dodd | 178 | 4.3 | +4.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 130 | 3.2 | −3.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,122 | 34.3 | +6.0 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour |
2019 Local Elections: Pontefract South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Jones | 1560 | 46.4 | −5.8 |
| | Conservative | Tony Hames | 1351 | 40.2 | −2.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Salli Martlew | 450 | 13.4 | +8.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 209 | 9.3 | +3.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3361 | 28.3 | −3.6 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 160 | 4.76 | +4.17 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
2018 Local Elections: Pontefract South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | George Ayre | 2000 | 52.2 | +5 |
| | Conservative | Amy Swift | 1646 | 42.9 | +1.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Daniel Woodlock | 188 | 4.9 | −0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 354 | 9.3 | +3.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3834 | 31.9 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 23 | 0.59 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
2016 Local Elections: Pontefract South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Celia Loughran | 1917 | 47.2 | −1.9 |
| | Conservative | Geoff Walsh | 1669 | 41.1 | −2.7 |
| | TUSC | John Gill | 271 | 6.7 | −0.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Daniel Woodlock | 203 | 5.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 248 | 6.1 | +0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4060 | 35.3 | −25.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
2015 Local Elections: Pontefract South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Jones | 3577 | 49.1 | +7.3 |
| | Conservative | Geoff Walsh | 3196 | 43.8 | +9.9 |
| | TUSC | John Gill | 518 | 7.1 | +5.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 381 | 5.3 | −2.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7291 | 61.1 | +25.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Local elections 2014: Pontefract South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | George Ayre | 1,766 | 41.8 | −8.6 |
| | Conservative | Geoff Walsh | 1,434 | 33.9 | −2.8 |
| | UKIP | Terence Edward Uttley | 957 | 22.6 | +12.5 |
| | TUSC | John Gill | 69 | 1.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 332 | 7.9 | −5.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,226 | 35.5 | −1.1 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
Local elections 2012: Pontefract South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Celia Loughran | 2,222 | 50.4 | −3.1 |
| | Conservative | Mark Crowther | 1,617 | 36.7 | −9.1 |
| | UKIP | Terence Edward Uttley | 446 | 10.1 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Douglas Dale | 122 | 2.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 605 | 13.7 | +6.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,407 | 36.6 | −5.9 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
Local elections 2011: Pontefract South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tony Dean | 2,734 | 53.5 | +17.1 |
| | Conservative | Philip Booth | 2,341 | 45.8 | +6.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 393 | 7.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,114 | 42.5 | −20.5 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |
Local elections 2010: Pontefract South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Geoff Walsh | 2,978 | 39.1 | −9.5 |
| | Labour | Jack Kershaw | 2,773 | 36.4 | −1.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Chris Rush | 1,333 | 17.5 | +4.0 |
| | Independent | Matt Haddleton | 275 | 3.6 | N/A |
| | Green | Neil Frankland | 221 | 2.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 205 | 2.7 | −8.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,612 | 63.0 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −4.7 | |
Local elections 2008: Pontefract South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Mark Crowther | 2,340 | 48.6 | −0.9 |
| | Labour | Trevor Izon | 1,801 | 37.4 | +0.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Chris Rush | 650 | 13.5 | +0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 539 | 11.2 | −1.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,810 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −0.6 | |
Local elections 2007: Pontefract South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Philip Booth | 2,241 | 49.5 | +7.5 |
| | Labour | Bill O'Brien | 1,685 | 37.2 | −3.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Chris Rush | 575 | 12.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 556 | 12.3 | +11.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,524 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +6.6 | |
Local elections 2006: Pontefract South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Geoff Walsh | 1,852 | 41.9 | |
| | Labour | James Nicholson | 1,810 | 41.0 | |
| | Independent | Clive Wigham | 730 | 16.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 42 | 1.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,420 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Local election 2004: Pontefract South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Trevor Izon | 2,474 | |
| | Conservative | Philip Booth | 2,464 | |
| | Labour | James Nicholson | 2,374 | |
| | Conservative | Richard Molloy | 2,103 | |
| | Labour | Sylvia Burton | 2,059 | |
| | Conservative | David Howarth | 1,963 | |
| | BNP | David Redfearn | 651 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 14,088 | 46.0 |
Local election 2003: Pontefract South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Philip Booth | 1,290 | 44.1 | |
| | Labour | Patricia Garbutt | 1,270 | 43.4 | |
| | UKIP | James Marran | 224 | 7.7 | |
| | Socialist Alliance | Alan Hyman | 141 | 4.8 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 20 | 0.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,925 | 27.9 | −0.5 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |
Local election 2002: Pontefract South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Trevor Izon | 1,581 | | |
| | Labour | Martyn Ward | 1,317 | | |
| | Conservative | Ian Bloomer | 1,250 | | |
| | Conservative | Philip Booth | 1,243 | | |
| | Socialist Alliance | Carol Ives | 285 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,676 | 28.4 | +4.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Local election 2000: Pontefract South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Anthony Dean | 1,250 | 48.6 |
| | Conservative | Richard Molloy | 1,023 | 39.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Arthur | 297 | 11.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 227 | 8.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,570 | 24.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |