Labour loses overall control of Leeds City Council

There was a seismic shift for Leeds City Council after Labour lost overall control of the authority in the local elections.

Labour councillors now make up 48 of the 99 seats at the authority - 50 were needed to maintain overall control.

Despite the loss, Labour remains the largest party, with only a third of the seats up for election this year.

James Lewis, Leeds City Council leader, admitted it had been a "really difficult day" for the party, adding it reflected a nationwide trend.

"It has not all been one-way traffic, but we have seen some disappointing results today," Lewis said.

"Some really good, hard-working councillors have lost their seats."

Among those to have lost their seats was Jonathan Pryor.

The now former deputy leader was ousted from the Hyde Park and Headingley ward by the Green Party.

Nilesh Chohan, who secured the seat with 4334 votes to Pryor's 1278, said he was "immensely proud" to represent the area where he has lived his entire life.

He pledged to uphold the "Green values" of community cohesion.

Cheers and applause from the Greens and Reform UK echoed throughout the John Charles Centre for Sport as a similar story played out across the counting tables.

Leeds East Labour MP, Richard Burgon, said he was "absolutely devastated".

He holds Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer responsible for the loss.

"I think Keir Starmer needs to be honest with himself, honest with the party and honest with the country and accept that he has fought his last election as Labour party leader," he said.

"He needs to set a timetable to go."

Hilary Benn, Labour MP for Leeds South, also conceded it had been "a bad night for Labour" but insisted Starmer remained the man for the top job.

"Changing the country is hard graft and the party needs to unite, come together under Keir's leadership and carry on with doing precisely that," he said.

Future arrangements for running Leeds City Council are expected to be confirmed at an annual full council meeting on 20 May.

The council said the overall election turnout across the city was 41.49%.

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