# 2023 Wakefield Metropolitan District Council election

The 2023 Wakefield Metropolitan District Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of Wakefield Council in West Yorkshire, England. This was on the same day as other local elections across England. There were 21 of the 63 seats up for election, being the usual third of the council.
Labour retained its majority on the council.

## Overview

Labour increased its majority by taking four seats from the Conservatives. After the election Labour had 49 councillors. The Conservatives lost all four seats they were defending, leaving them with seven seats. The Liberal Democrats held the one seat they were defending in Knottingley, leaving them with three councillors overall after the election. Both the independent councillors who were standing re-election were defeated, leaving four independent councillors after the election.

## Results

2023 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 | 20 | 6 | 95.2 | 29 | 49 | 77.8 | 34,304 | 52.7 | +1.0 |
| | Conservative | 0 | 4 | 0.0 | 7 | 7 | 11.1 | 14,153 | 21.7 | -5.8 |
| | Independent | 0 | 2 | 0.0 | 4 | 4 | 6.3 | 5,415 | 8.3 | +2.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 1 | | 4.8 | 2 | 3 | 4.8 | 3,300 | 5.1 | -0.2 |
| | Green | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 4,663 | 7.2 | +2.3 |
| | Yorkshire | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 2,563 | 3.9 | -0.4 |
| | Reform UK | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 446 | 0.7 | +0.5 |
| | TUSC | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 165 | 0.3 | +0.2 |
| | SDP | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 84 | 0.1 | +0 |

## Results by ward

An asterisk (*) indicates a sitting councillor standing for re-election. Changes with 2019.

### Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton

Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jessica Carrington* | 1,516 | 47.5 | +12.7 |
| | Conservative | Chad Jordan Thomas | 579 | 18.1 | −0.2 |
| | Independent | Gwen Marshall | 550 | 17.2 | +9.3 |
| | Reform UK | Arthur Jerome Miles | 293 | 8.8 | New |
| | Green | Jody Paul Gabriel | 267 | 8.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 937 | 29.4 | +12.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,221 | 23.9 | −3.4 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 28 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Airedale and Ferry Fryston

Comparison for the Wakefield District Independents for this ward are comparing to the Independent candidate in 2019 due to them being of the same grouping, but now formalising this arrangement. However, as a by-election was held in 2021, this seat remains a Labour hold rather than a Labour gain.
Airedale and Ferry Fryston :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Les Shaw | 1,061 | 48.6 | +6.3 |
| | Wakefield District Independents | Neil Kennedy | 711 | 32.5 | −12.7 |
| | Conservative | Keith Hudson | 258 | 11.8 | −0.7 |
| | Green | John Paul Ingham | 88 | 4.0 | New |
| | Liberal Democrats | Richard Heaps | 67 | 3.1 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 350 | 16.1 | +13.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,192 | 19 | −3.4 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 7 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Altofts and Whitwood

Comparison for the Wakefield District Independents for this ward are comparing to the Democrats and Veterans candidate in 2019.
Altofts and Whitwood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jo Hepworth* | 1,748 | 52.8 | +13.4 |
| | Wakefield District Independents | John Thomas | 804 | 24.3 | +17.8 |
| | Conservative | Amy Louise Swift | 518 | 15.7 | −1.1 |
| | Green | Katherine Clare Dodd | 238 | 7.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 944 | 28.5 | +21.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,308 | 23.0 | −1.8 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 11 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Castleford Central and Glasshoughton

Castleford Central and Glasshoughton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tony Wallis* | 1,657 | 62.1 | +19.4 |
| | Yorkshire | Paul Phelps | 435 | 16.3 | −6.1 |
| | Conservative | Joanne Grace Smart | 368 | 13.8 | −5.7 |
| | Green | Stephen James Brennan | 114 | 4.3 | New |
| | Liberal Democrats | Janet Walton | 95 | 3.6 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,222 | 45.8 | +30.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,669 | 21.3 | −4.0 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 16 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Crofton, Ryhill and Walton

Crofton, Ryhill and Walton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Maureen Anne Cummings* | 2,032 | 58.6 | +9.5 |
| | Conservative | Connor James Clayton | 904 | 26.1 | −6.2 |
| | Yorkshire | Daniel Cochran | 280 | 8.1 | New |
| | Green | Garry Newby | 250 | 7.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,128 | 32.5 | +15.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,466 | 28.1 | +0.5 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 16 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Featherstone

Featherstone :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Graham Leslie Isherwood* | 2,057 | 73.1 | +2.1 |
| | Conservative | James Robert Hardwick | 475 | 16.9 | −12.1 |
| | Green | Ashton Victor Howick | 281 | 10.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,582 | 56.2 | +14.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,813 | 21.5 | +2.1 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 18 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Hemsworth

Hemsworth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jakob Matthew Williamson | 1,310 | 56.3 | +18.8 |
| | Green | Lyn Morton | 704 | 30.3 | +24.0 |
| | Conservative | Liz Cowton | 313 | 13.5 | +6.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 606 | 26.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,327 | 19.3 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 11 | | |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### Horbury and South Ossett

Horbury and South Ossett :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Gwen Page | 1,796 | 50.3 | +17.5 |
| | Conservative | Simon John Fishwick* | 1,303 | 36.5 | −2.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mark Andrew Goodair | 283 | 7.9 | −3.0 |
| | Green | Richard Hargreaves Norris | 192 | 5.4 | −3.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 493 | 13.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,574 | 30.7 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 18 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Knottingley

Knottingley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Rachel Nadine Speak | 1,398 | 58.6 | −4.5 |
| | Labour | Theo Biddle | 734 | 30.8 | +9.5 |
| | Conservative | Eamonn Malachy Mullins | 182 | 7.6 | −0.2 |
| | Green | Ruth Alexandra Love | 72 | 3.0 | −4.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 664 | 27.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,386 | 22.8 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 11 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### Normanton

Normanton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Armaan Khan | 1,258 | 47.1 | +1.5 |
| | Wakefield District Independents | Cliff Parsons | 520 | 19.5 | −21.0 |
| | Conservative | Laura Weldon | 494 | 18.5 | +4.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nigel James Ebbs | 225 | 8.4 | New |
| | Green | John Robert Clayton | 175 | 6.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 738 | 27.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,672 | 20.8 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 13 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Ossett

Ossett :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Olivia Maria Rowley | 1,531 | 45.5 | +6.3 |
| | Independent | Deano Kitchen | 670 | 19.9 | New |
| | Yorkshire | Simon David Watson Britcliffe | 484 | 14.4 | New |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tony Sargeant | 473 | 14.0 | +6.8 |
| | Green | Stephen Scott | 210 | 6.2 | −4.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 861 | 25.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,368 | 27.0 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 29 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Pontefract North

Pontefract North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Hannah Ruth Appleyard | 1,832 | 62.7 | +21.3 |
| | Conservative | Christopher Robert Hyomes | 464 | 15.9 | −3.5 |
| | Yorkshire | Christopher Dawson | 375 | 12.8 | −26.4 |
| | Green | Emma Kay Tingle | 151 | 5.2 | New |
| | Liberal Democrats | Leah Birdsall | 101 | 3.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,368 | 46.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,923 | 20.5 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 9 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Pontefract South

Pontefract South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Brian Arthur Mayhew | 1,658 | 50.0 | +3.6 |
| | Conservative | Arnie Craven | 1244 | 37.5 | −2.7 |
| | Green | Oliver Luke Watkins | 164 | 5.0 | New |
| | Liberal Democrats | Susan Hayes | 163 | 4.9 | −8.5 |
| | SDP | Trevor Lake | 84 | 2.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 414 | 12.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,313 | 28 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 20 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### South Elmsall and South Kirkby

South Elmsall and South Kirkby :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Steve Tulley* | 2,091 | 79.8 | +4.2 |
| | Green | Stefan Arnold Ludewig | 265 | 10.1 | New |
| | Conservative | Perpertua Ruzvidzo | 265 | 10.1 | −0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1826 | 69.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,621 | 19.2 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 14 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Stanley and Outwood East

Stanley and Outwood East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jack Spencer Hemingway* | 2,018 | 55.8 | +11.0 |
| | Conservative | Kully Sanghera | 733 | 20.3 | −4.2 |
| | Wakefield District Independents | Jenny Prest | 336 | 9.3 | New |
| | Yorkshire | Brent Andrew Hawksley | 273 | 7.5 | New |
| | Green | Richard David Copeland | 223 | 6.2 | New |
| | TUSC | Darren Joseph Lumber | 36 | 1.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,285 | 35.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,619 | 27.5 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 8 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Wakefield East

Wakefield East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Stuart Heptinstall* | 1,815 | 52.5 | −4.4 |
| | Conservative | Muhammad Ansar Hayat | 1,175 | 34.0 | +21.8 |
| | Independent | Matt Wilson | 216 | 6.2 | New |
| | Green | Janet Mackintosh | 183 | 5.3 | −3.6 |
| | TUSC | Mick Griffiths | 70 | 2.0 | −0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 640 | 18.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,459 | 29.6 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 14 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Wakefield North

Wakefield North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Margaret Isherwood* | 1,818 | 61.3 | +15.3 |
| | Conservative | Angela Margaret Holwell | 643 | 21.7 | +2.2 |
| | Green | Daniel Mark Russell | 224 | 7.6 | New |
| | Yorkshire | Andy Mack | 222 | 7.5 | −2.6 |
| | TUSC | Tom Griffiths | 59 | 2.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,175 | 39.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,966 | 24.3 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 11 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Wakefield Rural

Wakefield Rural :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jordan Phillip Bryan | 1,530 | 37.5 | +4.5 |
| | Conservative | Ian John Sanders* | 1516 | 37.2 | −7.2 |
| | Yorkshire | David John Rowntree Herdson | 494 | 12.1 | New |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mark Simon Lord | 300 | 7.4 | −1.1 |
| | Green | Karen Sadler | 240 | 5.9 | −8.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14 | 0.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,080 | 29.9 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 13 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Wakefield South

Wakefield South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Katrina Pentland Frame Law | 1,493 | 42.6 | +14.4 |
| | Conservative | Naeem Formuli | 1,424 | 40.6 | −0.2 |
| | Wakefield District Independents | Karl Johnson* | 298 | 8.5 | −32.3 |
| | Green | Krys Tal Holmes | 291 | 8.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 69 | 2.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,506 | 32.5 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 13 | | |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing | | |
Karl Jones had been elected as a Conservative in 2019 but left the party in February 2023 to join the Wakefield District Independents.

### Wakefield West

Wakefield West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Michael Paul Graham* | 1,829 | 64.0 | +15.7 |
| | Conservative | Nick Hannam | 681 | 23.8 | +1.7 |
| | Wakefield District Independents | Christine Mary Gill | 190 | 6.7 | New |
| | Green | Lewis Elliott | 156 | 5.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,148 | 40.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,856 | 25.3 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 10 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Wrenthorpe and Outwood West

Wrenthorpe and Outwood West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Charlie Keith* | 1,520 | 40.2 | +6.0 |
| | Wakefield District Independents | Nic Stansby | 1,120 | 29.7 | New |
| | Conservative | Waj Ali | 614 | 16.3 | −16.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Natasha De Vere | 195 | 5.2 | −2.3 |
| | Green | Oliver Thompson | 175 | 4.6 | New |
| | Reform UK | David Alan Dews | 153 | 4.1 | −13.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 400 | 10.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,777 | 29.2 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 5 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |