# 2018 Wakefield Metropolitan District Council election

The 2018 Wakefield Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on 3 May 2018 to elect members of Wakefield Metropolitan District Council in England. The election was held on the same day as other local elections. The Labour Party and the Conservative Party fielded a full slate of 21 candidates, as well as 12 Liberal Democrats, 6 Yorkshire Party candidates, 4 Green Party candidates, 3 UK Independence Party candidates, 1 Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition candidate and 1 Democrats and Veteran's Party candidate.

## Council make-up

The make up of the Council following the election was:
Party political make-up of Wakefield Council :
| Party | Seats | Seats | Seats | | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) |
| Party | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2018 | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) | Current Council (2018) |
| Labour | 54 | 53 | 53 | 52 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Conservative | 6 | 6 | 7 | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| UKIP | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Independent | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Summary

Wakefield Local Election Result 2018 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Labour | 16 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 76 | 51.7 | 35,344 | -1.7 |
| Conservative | 5 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 24 | 34.0 | 23,236 | +10.7 |
| Liberal Democrats | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.9 | 3347 | +1.4 |
| Independent | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 | 3.9 | 2633 | +0.0 |
| Yorkshire | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.0 | 2023 | +1.3 |
| UKIP | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 | 1.1 | 766 | -10.4 |
| Green | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.1 | 749 | +0.0 |
| Democrats and Veterans | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.2 | 140 | +0.2 |
| TUSC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.2 | 135 | -1.2 |
* +/- compared with Wakefield Council election 2016.

## Results by ward

Changes compared to 2014.
Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Allan Garbutt | 1,383 | 42.3 | 0.9 |
| | Conservative | Philip Davies | 817 | 25.0 | 2.8 |
| | Independent | Gwen Marshall | 461 | 14.1 | New |
| | Yorkshire | Martin Roberts | 286 | 8.8 | New |
| | Green | George Scogings | 202 | 6.2 | New |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mary MacQueen | 119 | 3.6 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 566 | 17.3 | 8.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,268 | 25.3 | 4.9 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 5 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 1.9 | |
Airedale and Ferry Fryston :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Kathryn Scott | 1,662 | 76.2 | 21.8 |
| | Conservative | Eamonn Mullins | 520 | 23.8 | 14.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,142 | 52.4 | 34.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,182 | 18.9 | 6.1 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 10 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 4.0 | |
Altofts and Whitwood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jacquie Speight | 1,823 | 57.5 | 8.1 |
| | Conservative | Anthony Hill | 888 | 28.0 | 13.9 |
| | Yorkshire | Steven Crookes | 320 | 10.1 | New |
| | Democrats and Veterans | John Thomas | 140 | 4.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 935 | 29.5 | 16.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,171 | 23.9 | 3.8 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 9 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 2.9 | |
Castleford Central and Glasshoughton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Denise Jeffrey | 1,652 | 60.9 | 6.0 |
| | Yorkshire | Paul Phelps | 684 | 25.2 | New |
| | Conservative | Joanne Smart | 377 | 13.9 | 6.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 968 | 35.7 | 18.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,713 | 22.4 | 4.4 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 8 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 9.6 | |
Crofton, Ryhill and Walton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Albert Manifield | 1,958 | 54.1 | 14.7 |
| | Conservative | Susan Lodge | 1,268 | 35.0 | 15.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Adam Belcher | 396 | 10.9 | 5.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 690 | 19.1 | 15.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,622 | 29.7 | 4.4 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 11 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 0.3 | |
Featherstone :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Richard Taylor | 2,238 | 75.8 | 4.8 |
| | Conservative | Diane Dolby | 716 | 24.2 | 4.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,522 | 51.6 | 9.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,954 | 22.7 | 3.3 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 38 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 4.8 | |
Hemsworth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Sandra Pickin | 1,512 | 54.7 | 0.8 |
| | Independent | Ian Womersley | 1,012 | 36.6 | New |
| | Conservative | Terry Brown | 241 | 8.7 | 0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 500 | 18.1 | 0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,765 | 23.3 | 2.8 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 3 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 17.9 | |
Horbury and South Ossett :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Gillian Cruise | 1,790 | 44.7 | 23.6 |
| | Labour | Melanie Jones | 1,583 | 39.5 | 1.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mark Goodair | 432 | 10.8 | 5.4 |
| | Green | Richard Norris | 202 | 5.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 207 | 5.2 | New |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,007 | 33.6 | 0.9 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 11 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | 12.7 | |
Knottingley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Harry Ellis | 1,419 | 66.6 | 11.3 |
| | Conservative | Joshua Spencer | 713 | 33.4 | 11.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 706 | 33.2 | 22.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,132 | 20.7 | 3.5 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 29 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 11.3 | |
Normanton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Susan Blezard | 1,777 | 70.8 | 3.8 |
| | Conservative | Hilary Plumbley | 733 | 29.2 | 3.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,044 | 41.6 | 7.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,510 | 20.3 | 3.3 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 21 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 3.8 | |
Ossett :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Nick Farmer | 2,124 | 51.0 | 23.4 |
| | Labour Co-op | Kerron Cross | 1,543 | 37.0 | 6.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tony Sargeant | 499 | 12.0 | 5.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 581 | 14.0 | New |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,166 | 33.2 | 0.5 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 12 | | |
| | Conservative gain from UKIP | Conservative gain from UKIP | Swing | 8.6 | |
Farmer was first elected as a UKIP Councillor for Ossett in 2014, but resigned his membership in 2017 and later joined the Conservatives.
Pontefract North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Clive Tennant | 1,724 | 60.2 | 11.6 |
| | Conservative | Chris Hyomes | 714 | 24.9 | 11.2 |
| | Yorkshire | Arnie Craven | 266 | 9.3 | New |
| | Green | Rennie Smith | 162 | 5.7 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,010 | 35.3 | 22.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,866 | 22.5 | 5.8 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 3 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 0.2 | |
Pontefract South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | George Ayre | 2,000 | 52.2 | 10.4 |
| | Conservative | Amy Swift | 1,646 | 42.9 | 9.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Daniel Woodlock | 188 | 4.9 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 354 | 9.3 | 1.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,834 | 31.9 | 3.6 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 23 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 0.7 | |
South Elmsall and South Kirkby :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Lynne Whitehouse | 1,755 | 55.1 | 13.5 |
| | Independent | Wilf Benson | 844 | 26.5 | 24.5 |
| | Conservative | Dianne Presha | 269 | 8.4 | 1.0 |
| | Independent | Laurie Harrison | 233 | 7.3 | New |
| | Independent | Jim Kenyon | 83 | 2.6 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 911 | 28.6 | New |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,184 | 23.4 | 3.4 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 7 | | |
| | Labour gain from Independent Politician | Labour gain from Independent Politician | Swing | 19.0 | |
Harrison stood as Labour candidate for South Elmsall and South Kirby in 2014.
Stanley and Outwood East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jacqui Williams | 1,700 | 48.7 | 3.6 |
| | Conservative | Nathaniel Harvey | 1,230 | 35.2 | 3.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nicola Sinclair | 352 | 10.1 | 2.3 |
| | UKIP | James Johnston | 209 | 6.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 470 | 13.5 | 7.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,491 | 27.8 | 3.2 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 8 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 3.7 | |
Wakefield East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Olivia Rowley | 1,918 | 64.9 | 12.7 |
| | Conservative | Richard Wakefield | 594 | 20.1 | 4.4 |
| | Green | Jody Gabriel | 183 | 6.2 | New |
| | TUSC | Michael Griffiths | 135 | 4.6 | 1.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Margaret Dodd | 124 | 4.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,324 | 44.8 | 21.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,954 | 26.0 | 4.4 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 15 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 4.2 | |
Wakefield North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tracey Austin | 1,660 | 54.2 | 10.2 |
| | Conservative | Antony Calvert | 890 | 29.1 | 12.5 |
| | Yorkshire | Lucy Brown | 223 | 7.3 | New |
| | UKIP | Keith Wells | 166 | 5.4 | 24.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Natasha de Vere | 121 | 4.0 | 1.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 770 | 25.1 | 11.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,060 | 26.3 | 4.2 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 13 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 1.2 | |
Wakefield Rural :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Samantha Harvey | 2,625 | 54.3 | 16.9 |
| | Labour | Kevin Barker | 1,781 | 36.8 | 2.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Finbarr Cronin | 431 | 8.9 | 2.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 844 | 17.5 | New |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,837 | 35.1 | 2.6 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 14 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | 9.6 | |
Wakefield South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Nadeem Ahmed | 2,209 | 56.7 | 17.0 |
| | Labour | Gwen Page | 1,250 | 32.1 | 2.2 |
| | Yorkshire | Daniel Cochran | 234 | 6.0 | New |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Currie | 205 | 5.3 | 0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 959 | 24.6 | 14.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,898 | 37.0 | 2.2 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 6 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 7.4 | |
Wakefield West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Kevin Swift | 1,478 | 51.6 | 5.3 |
| | Conservative | Nathan Garbutt Moore | 1,183 | 41.3 | 14.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Clayton | 203 | 7.1 | 1.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 295 | 10.3 | 8.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,864 | 26.1 | 3.0 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 8 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 4.4 | |
Wrenthorpe and Outwood West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Nic Stansby | 1,689 | 44.0 | 20.7 |
| | Labour | Christine Sharman | 1,528 | 39.8 | 6.7 |
| | UKIP | David Dews | 391 | 10.2 | 28.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Esther Amis-Hughes | 227 | 5.9 | 1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 161 | 4.2 | New |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,835 | 31.4 | 2.7 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 6 | | |
| | Conservative gain from UKIP | Conservative gain from UKIP | Swing | 7.0 | |