Local election results 2023: Labour retain control of Barnsley

Labour have celebrated retaining power of Barnsley Council

Labour have retained control of Barnsley Council, bolstering their majority in the process.

The party ousted the Conservatives from the Penistone East ward, which Labour had not won for 25 years, and won four seats from independents.

Labour now has 48 of the council's 63 seats, up from 45 before the election.

The Liberal Democrats, who gained Kingstone ward from Labour, have 10 seats while the Tories saw their councillors cut from two to one.

Independent Jake Lodge was re-elected in Worsborough, while Labour lost Rockingham to independent Andrew Wray.

• Latest results and reaction from across England's elections

Sir Stephen Houghton, the council's Labour leader, said the results "show we're going in the right direction," adding "the majorities in the seats we have won are really outstanding".

Alex Burnett, who became Labour's first councillor for Penistone East since 1998, said he hoped his victory was "a sign of things to come" in the next general election.

He added: "It's been Conservative for a long, long time - a generation, really - so hopefully we're seeing results like this replicated across the country."

Barnsley Council said turnout in the 4 May vote was 24.72%.

• Who won in my area?

• Chris Mason: Tories face up as results come in

• Scrap voter ID, say critics

• Watch: Reaction at the counts