Leeds votes Labour out of power

Labour have lost control of Leeds City Council for the first time for nearly a quarter of a century.

The party needed 50 seats to have a majority in the council chamber, but could manage only 40.

The Liberal Democrats have 26, the Conservatives 24, there are three Greens and six independents.

Labour group leader Keith Wakefield blamed national issues for the party's poor showing in Leeds and said he would be considering what to do.

Inner city

The Liberal Democrat group leader, Mark Harris, said Labour could not dimiss their problems in this way.

He pointed out that his party has been taking inner city seats from Labour for several years.

Andrew Carter, the Conservative group leader, also welcomed Labour's demise.

It's long overdue, they were stale. They got too many things wrong," he said.

First seats

The BNP won four seats on Bradford Council - their first in the West Yorkshire city.

They were successful in the Keighly West, Wibsey, Wyke and Worth Valley wards.

No party has overall control in Bradford.

As well as the four BNP members, the council has 38 Conservatives and 29 Labour. There are 15 Liberal Democrats and four Green members.

Largest group

All the seats have been declared in Calderdale, leaving no party again in overall control.

The council now has 21 Conservatives, 15 Liberal Democrats, and three BNP members. Labour has nine seats and there are three independents.

The situation in Kirklees is similar, as no party has an absolute majority.

The Liberal Democrats are the largest group with 25 seats. The Tories have 22, Labour 17, the Greens three and the BNP and independents one each.

About 50% of the electors in Kirklees took part in the postal ballot.

Control of Wakefield Council has not changed, although both the Independents and Conservatives took seats from Labour.

The Council now has 11 Tory members, three Liberal Democrats, six Independents and 43 Labour members.