2022 Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council election

The 2022 Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on 5 May 2022. One third of councillors—23 out of 69—on Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council were elected. The election took place alongside other local elections across the United Kingdom.

2022 Kirklees Council election
5 May 2022
23 of 69 seats on Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council
35 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Shabir Pandor David Hall John Lawson
Party Labour Conservative Liberal Democrats
Last election 33 seats, 35.9% 19 seats, 38.0% 9 seats, 10.2%
  Fourth party Fifth party
 
Leader Andrew Cooper Charles Greaves
Party Green Independent
Last election 3 seats, 10.4% 5 seats, 4.6%
council control before election


No overall control

 Subsequent council control

TBD

Following the previous council election in 2021, no party held a majority of seats. Labour held 33, and ran a minority administration. The Conservatives held 19, the Liberal Democrats held 9, the Greens held 3 and independent councillors and councillors for local parties held the remaining five.

Background
Result of the council election when these seats were last contested in 2018
Result of the most recent council election in 2021

The Local Government Act 1972 created a two-tier system of metropolitan counties and districts covering Greater Manchester, Merseyside, South Yorkshire, Tyne and Wear, the West Midlands, and West Yorkshire starting in 1974. Kirklees was a district of the West Yorkshire metropolitan county.[1] The Local Government Act 1985 abolished the metropolitan counties, with metropolitan districts taking on most of their powers as metropolitan boroughs. The West Yorkshire Combined Authority was established in 2014 and began electing the mayor of West Yorkshire in 2021.[2]

Kirklees Council has generally been under no overall control or Labour control since its creation, with the Conservatives controlling the council between 1976 and 1979. The council was under no overall control from 1999 until the 2018 election, when Labour gained two seats to achieve an overall majority on the council. Labour's majority narrowed, with the party holding 35 seats following the 2019 election. Three Labour councillors resigned from their party in November 2020, citing national issues and linked by media to the suspension of the former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.[3][4] In the most recent council election in 2021, the council remained in no overall control with Labour winning 12 seats on 35.9% of the vote, the Conservatives winning 9 seats on 38.0% of the vote, the Liberal Democrats winning 2 seats on 10.2% of the vote, the Green Party winning one seat on 10.4% of the vote and the Heavy Woollen District Independents winning one seat with 0.4% of the vote.[5]

Positions up for election in 2022 were last elected in 2018. In that election, 12 Labour councillors were elected, as were seven Conservatives, three Liberal Democrats, one Green and one independent.[6]

Campaign

The Local Democracy Reporting Service reported that Almondbury, Colne Valley, Dalton, Denby Dale, Dewsbury East, Golcar, Heckmondwike, Holme Valley North, and Lindley wards were "battlegrounds", and that the Liberal Democrats and Green Party were unlikely to support Labour if they needed to work with other parties having lost seats.[7]

Electoral process

The council elects its councillors in thirds, with a third being up for election every year for three years, with no election in the fourth year.[8][9] The election will take place by first-past-the-post voting, with wards generally being represented by three councillors, with one elected in each election year to serve a four-year term.

All registered electors (British, Irish, Commonwealth and European Union citizens) living in Kirklees aged 18 or over will be entitled to vote in the election. People who live at two addresses in different councils, such as university students with different term-time and holiday addresses, are entitled to be registered for and vote in elections in both local authorities. Voting in-person at polling stations will take place from 07:00 to 22:00 on election day, and voters will be able to apply for postal votes or proxy votes in advance of the election.

Previous council composition
After 2021 election Before 2022 election
Party Seats Party Seats
Labour 33 Labour 33
Conservative 19 Conservative 19
Liberal Democrats 9 Liberal Democrats 9
Independent 5 Independent 5
Green 3 Green 3

Results summary
2022 Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council election
Party This election Full council This election
Seats Net Seats % Other Total Total % Votes Votes % +/−
  Labour 14 Increase 3 60.9 22 36 52.2 44,786 40.9 +5.0
  Conservative 5 Decrease 1 21.7 13 18 26.1 34,895 31.9 -6.1
  Liberal Democrats 3 Decrease 1 13.1 5 8 11.6 14,409 13.2 +3.0
  Independent 0 Decrease 1 0.0 4 4 5.8 1,849 1.7 -2.3
  Green 1 Steady 4.3 2 3 4.3 10,244 9.4 -1.0
  Workers Party 0 Steady 0.0 0 0 0.0 2,563 2.3 N/A
  Monster Raving Loony 0 Steady 0.0 0 0 0.0 236 0.2 N/A
  Freedom Alliance 0 Steady 0.0 0 0 0.0 170 0.2 -0.1
  UKIP 0 Steady 0.0 0 0 0.0 106 0.1 N/A
  Yorkshire 0 Steady 0.0 0 0 0.0 68 0.1 -0.3
  Reform UK 0 Steady 0.0 0 0 0.0 63 0.1 ±0.0

Ward results

Almondbury
Almondbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Alison Munro 2,238 48 +8
Conservative Maria Ackroyd 1,275 27 +4
Labour Barbara Jones 840 18 -12
Green Peter Taylor 286 6 +2
Majority 963 21
Turnout 4,639 34.5
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Ashbrow
Ashbrow
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Fran Perry 2,315 57 +7
Conservative Dafydd Daniel 1,109 27 -8
Green Brenda Smithson 447 11 +1
Liberal Democrats Manjit Singh 213 5 0
Majority 1,206 30
Turnout 4,084 29.0
Labour hold Swing

Batley East
Batley East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Adam Zaman 2,170 45 -23
Workers Party Abdul Daji 1,611 33 N/A
Conservative Keiron Gavaghan 734 15 -7
Green Simon Duffy 201 4 -2
Liberal Democrats David Shepherd 152 3 0
Majority 559 12
Turnout 4,868 37
Labour hold Swing

Batley West
Batley West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Gwen Lowe 2,713 64 +7
Conservative Mohammed Laher 1,087 25 -4
Liberal Democrats Stephen Long 233 5 +2
Green Jack Senior 233 5 -1
Majority 1,626 39
Turnout 4,266 30.8
Labour hold Swing

Birstall & Birkenshaw
Birstall & Birkenshaw
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Liz Smaje 2,104 53 +2
Labour Julie Smith 1,370 35 +12
Liberal Democrats Louise Walsh 254 6 +1
Green Tahir Akram 240 6 -3
Majority 734 18
Turnout 3,968 30.7
Conservative hold Swing

Cleckheaton
Cleckheaton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats John Lawson 2,650 61.1 +12.4
Conservative Piers Briggs 1,085 25.0 -9.7
Labour Khalid Patel 600 13.8 +2.0
Majority 1,565 36.1
Turnout 4,335 32.0
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Increase11.1

Colne Valley
Colne Valley
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Harry McCarthy 2,509 45.5 +8.3
Conservative Donna Bellamy 1,988 36.0 +3.3
Liberal Democrats Jake Marchington 542 9.8 -13.6
Green Julia Norman 375 6.8 ±0.0
UKIP Melanie Roberts 106 1.9 N/A
Majority 521 9.5
Turnout 5,520 40.4
Labour Co-op hold Swing Increase2.5

Crosland Moor & Netherton
Crosland Moor & Netherton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jo Lawson 2,460 56.2 +5.5
Conservative Isaac Barnett 1,035 23.7 -6.2
Liberal Democrats Suzanne Barraclough 358 8.2 +1.6
Green Chris Green 341 7.8 -0.6
Independent Steve Bradbury 182 4.2 +1.2
Majority 1,425 32.5
Turnout 4,376 32.9
Labour hold Swing Increase5.9

Dalton
Dalton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Tyler Hawkins 1,941 51.8 +11.6
Conservative Jason Easingwood 1,180 31.5 -4.7
Green Clare Walters 357 9.5 -4.3
Liberal Democrats Dominic Black 270 7.2 -2.6
Majority 761 20.3
Turnout 3,748 29.9
Labour hold Swing Increase8.2

Denby Dale
Denby Dale
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Will Simpson 2,879 49.8 +10.0
Conservative Vicky Rank 2,283 39.5 -8.4
Liberal Democrats Craig Armistead 264 4.6 +1.0
Green Michael Shaw 259 4.5 -2.9
Freedom Alliance Jonathan Tilt 96 1.7 N/A
Majority 596 10.3
Turnout 5,781 43.3
Labour gain from Conservative Swing Increase9.2

Dewsbury East
Dewsbury East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Cathy Scott 1,934 48.9 +5.7
Conservative Keith Mallinson 1,307 33.1 +2.6
Liberal Democrats Dan Woodlock 311 7.9 +4.5
Monster Raving Loony Sir Archibald Earl 'Eaton 236 6.0 N/A
Green Gideon Richards 164 4.1 +0.6
Majority 627 15.8
Turnout 3,952 28.1
Labour hold Swing Increase1.6

Dewsbury South
Dewsbury South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Masood Ahmed 3,069 70.7 +27.5
Conservative Sean Guy 907 20.9 -9.6
Green Albert Parker 217 5.0 +1.5
Liberal Democrats Dennis Hullock 147 3.4 ±0.0
Majority 2,162 49.8
Turnout 4,340 32.3
Labour hold Swing Increase18.6

Dewsbury West
Dewsbury West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ammar Anwar 3,268 64.7 +23.3
Conservative Sajid Hussain 1,328 26.3 -1.8
Liberal Democrats John Rossington 229 4.5 +1.6
Green Nicholas Whittingham 229 4.5 +1.7
Majority 1,940 38.4
Turnout 5,054 36.4
Labour hold Swing Increase12.6

Golcar
Golcar
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Graham Turner 1,744 38.1 +6.1
Liberal Democrats Robert Iredale 1,695 37.1 +5.2
Conservative Trevor Bellamy 751 16.4 -8.1
Green Nina Roberts 309 6.8 -3.1
Freedom Alliance Miri Finch 74 1.6 -0.1
Majority 49 1.0
Turnout 4,573 33.0
Labour gain from Liberal Democrats Swing Increase0.5

Greenhead
Greenhead
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Mohan Sokhal 3,179 66.1 +8.4
Conservative Eileen Marchant 674 14.0 -6.8
Green Heather Peacock 639 13.3 -2.7
Liberal Democrats Peter Harrison 321 6.7 +1.2
Majority 2,505 52.1
Turnout 4,813 34.7
Labour hold Swing Increase7.6

Heckmondwike
Heckmondwike
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Viv Kendrick 1,985 43.5 -1.7
Conservative Itrat Ali 1,317 28.9 -13.1
Workers Party Zahid Kahut 952 20.9 N/A
Liberal Democrats Josie Pugsley 309 6.8 +2.5
Majority 668 14.6
Turnout 4,563 34.0
Labour hold Swing Increase5.7

Holme Valley North
Holme Valley North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Tony McGrath 1,739 33.1 +0.2
Independent Terry Lyons 1,667 31.7 -3.1
Labour Ben Lockley 1,214 23.1 +1.1
Green Samuel Midgley 364 6.9 +0.9
Liberal Democrats Kingsley Hill 206 3.9 +0.9
Reform UK Susan Laird 63 1.2 N/A
Majority 72 1.4
Turnout 5,253 39.3
Conservative gain from Independent Swing Increase1.7

Holme Valley South
Holme Valley South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Moses Crook 3,016 46.8 +11.0
Conservative Damian Brook 2,710 42.0 -4.9
Green Darryl Gould 453 7.0 ±0.0
Liberal Democrats Andrew McCaig 266 4.1 -2.3
Majority 306 4.8
Turnout 6,445 42.2
Labour gain from Conservative Swing Increase8.0

Kirkburton
Kirkburton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Bill Armer 2,450 49.6 -4.7
Green Richard Burton 1,690 34.2 ±0.0
Labour Soyeb Yusuf 670 13.6 +3.3
Liberal Democrats Waheed Anwar 132 2.7 +1.6
Majority 760 15.4
Turnout 4,942 39.0
Conservative hold Swing Decrease2.4

Lindley
Lindley
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Cahal Burke 3,062 49.3 +13.7
Conservative David Heathcote 2,069 33.3 -6.4
Labour Gulfam Asif 844 13.6 -5.0
Green Ian Vincent 233 3.8 -2.4
Majority 993 16.0
Turnout 6,208 40.2
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Increase10.1

Liversedge & Gomersal
Liversedge & Gomersal
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Hall 2,364 56.6 -1.6
Labour Jude McKaig 1,274 30.5 +5.4
Green Linda Simmons 300 7.2 +0.5
Liberal Democrats David Snee 237 5.7 +1.7
Majority 1,090 26.1
Turnout 4,175 29.9
Conservative hold Swing Decrease3.5

Mirfield
Mirfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Vivien Lees-Hamilton 3,020 54.0 -15.1
Labour Geoff Kernan 1,808 32.3 +12.4
Green Catherine Whittingham 547 9.8 +1.3
Liberal Democrats Stephen Bird 214 3.8 +1.2
Majority 1,212 21.7
Turnout 5,589 35.9
Conservative hold Swing Decrease13.8

Newsome
Newsome
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Karen Allison 2,360 60.6 -0.4
Labour Mohammed Safdar 984 25.3 -0.6
Conservative John Roberts 379 9.7 -1.8
Liberal Democrats Andrew Wilkinson 106 2.7 +1.1
Yorkshire Bikatshi Katenga 68 1.7 N/A
Majority 1,376 35.3
Turnout 3,897 30.8
Green hold Swing Decrease0.1

References
  1. Local Government in England and Wales: A Guide to the New System. London: HMSO. 1974. p. 7. ISBN 0-11-750847-0.
  2. "West Yorkshire devolution deal". GOV.UK. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  3. "Labour loses majority on Kirklees Council as councillors quit the party". www.dewsburyreporter.co.uk. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  4. Earnshaw, Tony (19 November 2020). "Labour loses Kirklees Council majority after three councillors quit the party". YorkshireLive. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  5. Earnshaw, Tony (8 May 2021). "Kirklees local election results: no party in overall control". YorkshireLive. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  6. Lavigueur, Nick (4 May 2018). "Kirklees Council election results 2018 - who won in your ward". YorkshireLive. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  7. Earnshaw, Tony (14 March 2022). "How Kirklees could look after May's local elections". YorkshireLive. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  8. "Local government structure and elections". GOV.UK. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  9. "Election Timetable in England" (PDF).
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