Labour Loses Leeds City Council Control 2026; Leeds, 2026

Key Points

• Labour lost its overall majority at Leeds City Council after losing eight seats in the May 7 local elections, dropping from 56 to 48 councillors
• The city’s 99 councillors will meet at Civic Hall on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, for the annual meeting, where political control will be formally confirmed
• Labour remains the largest political group with 48 seats but falls two short of the 50 seats needed for overall control, placing the council under “no overall control.”
• Labour is expected to form a minority administration led by council leader James Lewis (Kippax and Methley councillor), who has led the council since February 2021
• Coun Jess Lennox (Cross Gates and Whinmoor), previously Labour’s executive member for housing, left Labour to sit as an independent, reducing Labour’s share to 47 councillors.
• The Conservatives are now the second-largest group with 14 councillors (up one), followed by the Greens with 11 (up five) and Reform UK with 10 (up eight)
• Minority administration requires Labour to seek consensus with other political groups on major issues voted on at full council meetings.
• Coalition formation would require agreement between parties strongly opposed to each other, making minority administration the more likely outcome.
• The city’s voter turnout was 41.49 per cent across 36 contested seats
• Deputy council leader Jonathan Pryor (Headingley and Hyde Park) lost his seat to the Greens, underscoring growing political pressure on Labour

Leeds City Council (The Leeds Times) May 16, 2026 – Political control of Leeds City Council is set to be formally confirmed after Labour lost its overall majority in the local elections held on May 7, 2026. As reported by Don Mort, local democracy reporter for West Leeds Dispatch, Labour has lost its overall control of Leeds City Council after losing eight seats in the local elections. The party now holds 48 of the council’s 99 seats, falling two short of the 50 needed for overall control.

According to the official Leeds City Council announcement, the new political make-up shows Labour at 48 seats (down net eight), Conservatives at 14 seats (up one), Greens at 11 seats (up five), and Reform UK at 10 seats (up eight). The turnout figure for the city was 41.49 per cent, with 36 seats contested across all 33 wards in the city plus additional vacant seats.

Why Is the Council Now Under “No Overall Control”?

Councils fall under “no overall control” when no party holds more than 50 per cent of the seats, which is now the situation at Leeds City Council.

As explained in West Leeds Dispatch, only if Labour ends up with fewer than 50 per cent of the overall seats would the council be classified as being under “no overall control”. With 48 seats out of 99, Labour precisely falls into this category.

As reported by Don Mort of West Leeds Dispatch, when a council goes to no overall control, negotiations are launched between the city’s political groups on the formation of a new council, selection of a council leader, and the make-up of the executive board, which is the council’s main decision-making body.

How Will the Minority Administration Work?

Labour remains the city’s biggest political group despite gains for Reform UK and the Greens, and is expected to form a minority administration.

As reported by Place Yorkshire, Leeds appears more politically stable despite Labour losing its majority, with council leader Cllr James Lewis expected to remain in post and continue leading the authority as a minority administration.

Led by Kippax and Methley councillor James Lewis, Labour would form the new executive board, the council’s main decision-making body.

Cllr James Lewis has been Leader of Leeds City Council since February 2021 and has previously held the position of Deputy Leader since May 2015. He was first elected as a Labour Councillor to represent the Barwick and Kippax ward (now Kippax and Methley ward) in 2003.

However, without an overall majority, the party may need to work with other political groups to seek consensus on major issues voted on at full council meetings. As reported by Place Yorkshire, Labour will now need support from opposition councillors to pass major decisions.

What Happened to Councillor Jess Lennox?

Labour’s share has since fallen to 47 after Jess Lennox, Cross Gates and Whinmoor councillor, left to sit as an independent.

Coun Lennox previously served as Labour’s executive member for housing. First elected in 2018, she is now listed as an independent member on the council’s website.

Councillor Jess Lennox had been vocal about housing issues in Leeds. As reported in an October 2025 announcement, she stated:

“We are determined, as a council, to ensure that everyone in Leeds can enjoy the stability and sense of security that comes with having a safe, warm and well-managed place to live”.

She added:

“I’m delighted, therefore, that the business case for a new and expanded selective licensing scheme has been endorsed by the council’s executive board”.

What Are the Options for Running the Council?

Councils under no overall control are sometimes run by coalitions formed between different political groups. As explained by West Leeds Dispatch, the party that retains the most councillors could seek to form a minority administration, or parties could form a coalition with a mandate to run the council.

However, in Leeds, a coalition would require agreement between parties strongly opposed to each other. The Conservatives are now the second biggest group with 14 councillors, followed by the Greens with 11 and Reform UK with ten.

Given the ideological differences between these parties, particularly between Labour and Reform UK, coalition formation appears less likely than minority administration.

As reported by Don Mort of West Leeds Dispatch, options for Leeds could include a minority administration run by Labour, or a coalition between parties, but it is expected that an agreement would be reached ahead of the next full council meeting.

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What Did Council Leader James Lewis Say About the Results?

When the results were announced, James Lewis, Labour council leader, expressed disappointment. As reported by Don Mort of West Leeds Dispatch, Coun Lewis said:

“I’m disappointed that hard-working councillors and candidates have lost. I’m grateful for everybody’s hard work over the years”.

When asked what the likely outcome was, Coun Lewis stated:

“We are here for the best interests of the people of Leeds. I hope the other parties have the same approach”.

This statement reflects the council leader’s emphasis on cross-party cooperation in the new political landscape.

Which Wards Saw Significant Changes?

Armley was among the wards the Greens gained after Clancy Walker secured a majority. As reported by Don Mort of West Leeds Dispatch, Walker said:

“It is a real honour to represent a place I love. This is a people-powered community and this was a people-powered campaign”.

Jonathan Pryor, Headingley and Hyde Park Labour member and deputy council leader, was among those who lost to the Greens. As noted by Place Yorkshire, the loss of deputy leader Jonathan Pryor to the Greens underlined growing political pressure on the party in the city.

Pudsey’s Simon Seary was among Conservatives who held their seats. He said:

“I’m really honoured to get a massive majority. The campaign starts now for the next four years”.

Liberal Democrat leader Stewart Golton also held his seat in Rothwell. He thanked his team and opponents for a clean-fought contest, saying:

“I want to thank the people of Rothwell who put their faith in me for another four years”.

When Will the New Arrangements Be Confirmed?

The city’s 99 councillors are due to meet at the Civic Hall on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, for the authority’s annual meeting.

As reported by Don Mort of West Leeds Dispatch, future arrangements are expected to be confirmed at an annual full council meeting on May 20. Similarly, BBC News reported that plans for the future management of Leeds City Council are anticipated to be finalized during the annual full council meeting scheduled for May 20.

The annual meeting will formally confirm the political leadership and executive board composition, marking the official transition to the new governance structure.

Background: How Leeds City Council Reached This Political Turning Point

Labour had 48 councillors following the May 7 vote, down from 56 before the election. Prior to this election, Labour was the controlling party, holding 56 of the city’s 99 council seats, with the Conservatives as the second biggest group with 13 seats. The shift represents a net loss of eight seats for Labour, while Reform UK saw an extraordinary 400 per cent increase in representation, adding eight seats to reach ten.

The Liberal Democrats maintained 6 seats unchanged, while the Garforth and Swillington Independents Party, Morley Borough Independents, and Social Democratic Party each retained 3 seats. One independent councillor also holds a seat. This diversification of political representation across Leeds City Council reflects broader national trends in local government fragmentation.

Councillor James Lewis has been Leader of Leeds City Council since February 2021, having previously served as Deputy Leader since May 2015. During his tenure, he has held the position of Executive Board Member for Resources, overseeing the council’s financial management, corporate planning, policy development, Human Resources, and the digital and “smart city” agenda.

The executive board serves as the council’s main decision-making body, and under the new minority administration arrangement, its composition and decision-making processes will require greater consultation with opposition parties.

Prediction: How This Development Will Affect Leeds Residents and Local Communities

The shift to a minority administration at Leeds City Council will directly affect Leeds residents, particularly regarding major policy decisions on housing, planning, and public services. As reported by Place Yorkshire, Labour will now need support from opposition councillors to pass major decisions, which means that residents can expect more negotiated outcomes on contentious issues.

For Leeds residents concerned about housing, the new political arrangement may slow decision-making on housing initiatives. Councillor Jess Lennox, who previously served as Labour’s executive member for housing before becoming independent, had championed expanded selective licensing for private landlords and new council housing projects. Under a minority administration, housing policies will require consensus-building across party lines, potentially delaying or modifying housing initiatives that previously moved through Labour’s majority.