Local election results 2022: Barnsley and Sheffield Labour losses

Counting was delayed in Sheffield as a ballot box was late to arrive following a police incident

Sheffield City Council remains under no overall control after the Labour Party failed to make the necessary gains.

Labour won 15 of the 28 seats up for grabs, with the Liberal Democrats taking nine and the Green Party four.

The result left Labour, who currently run the council in coalition with the Greens, four seats short of a controlling majority.

Meanwhile, in Barnsley, Labour remained in control despite losing three seats to opposition parties.

Counting of votes was delayed in Sheffield for a short time after reports of a man making threats to staff at a polling station in Fulwood.

The man who made the threats was being sought by officers, South Yorkshire Police said.

With a third of the council's 84 seats being up for election, Labour could have regained overall control after losing it in 2019.

However, it continued to shed seats to opposition parties.

Labour lost Beighton to the Liberal Democrats, while it also lost both Gleadless Valley and Hillsborough to the Green Party.

It gained single seat Crookes and Crosspool from the Liberal Democrats and also gained the Nether Edge and Sharrow ward from the Green Party.

Council leader and Labour councillor Terry Fox said the results were optimistic for the party.

"Overall, we've seen an improving trend across the city," he said.

"We've won Nether Edge, we've won in Crookes and Crosspool so it shows that we are actually listening, we are delivering and we're going to improve."

Local Liberal Democrat leader Shaffaq Mohammed said his party would continue to be a strong opposition.

"Labour wanted this election to be a referendum on Boris Johnson, and all they were interested in talking about was national issues when actually this was local Sheffield Council.

"As a result, Labour failed to gain a majority and have less councillors now than they had coming into these elections."

Green councillor Paul Turpin said he was "pleased" with gains for his party.

"We're the only party who's gained any seats. It's a little bit disappointing that we didn't win all of our targets but there's lots to be optimistic about."

The make-up of the ruling coalition could change with politicians telling the Local Democracy Reporting Service "discussions... are for another day".

Barnsley remains Labour

The deputy leader of Barnsley Council lost his seat but Labour held overall control

In Barnsley, Labour remained in control despite losing three seats to opposition parties including the unseating of the long-serving council deputy leader.

The Liberal Democrats gained two seats from Labour in the Darton East and Dodworth wards, while the Conservatives gained the Rockingham ward from Labour.

Labour holds a majority of 29 seats on the council, with a third of wards being up for election this year.

Conservative candidate David White won the Rockingham seat, toppling deputy leader and Labour councillor Jim Andrews by just 42 votes.

Mr White said people voted to to solve "very, very basic issues" like green spaces and dog walking.

Liberal Democrat Will Fielding, elected to the Dodworth ward, joined his father and fellow Liberal Democrat Peter Fielding on the council.

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