Labour claws back 2021 losses in Wakefield

Faith Heptinstall won back the Crofton, Ryhill and Walton ward for Labour

Labour has made gains on Wakefield Council at the local elections as it retained its control of the local authority.

The party gained eight seats in total strengthening its substantial majority.

Labour's notable victories were in the Ossett ward, Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton ward and in Crofton, Ryhill and Walton.

The seats were gained from independent candidates who had previously been Conservative party members.

The latter two seats had previously been Labour strongholds, but the party lost both to the Conservatives in 2021.

Elsewhere, the Liberal Democrats retained the one seat they were defending in Knottingley, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The results mean Labour have 56 councillors, the Conservative's have three, the Liberal Democrats three and there is one Independent Councillor.

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