One third of Leeds City Council in the City of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England is elected each year, followed by no election in one year out of every four years. A total of 99 councillors have been elected from 33 electoral wards across Leeds since 1980.
Political control
From 1889 until 1974 Leeds was a county borough, independent from any county council. Under the Local Government Act 1972 it had its territory enlarged and became a metropolitan borough, with West Yorkshire County Council providing county-level services. The first election to the reconstituted city council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority before coming into its revised powers on 1 April 1974. West Yorkshire County Council was abolished in 1986 and Leeds became a unitary authority. Political control of the council since 1974 has been held by the following parties: (Put "Leeds" in search box to see specific results.) Party in control Years 1974–1976 1976–1979 1979–1980 1980–2004 2004–2011 2011–2026 2026–present
Leadership The first leader of the reformed council in 1974, Albert King, had been the last leader of the old county borough council. The leaders of the council since 1974 have been:
Councillor Party From To Albert King 1974 1975 Irwin Bellow 1975 1979 Peter Sparling 1979 1980 George Mudie 1980 1989 Jon Trickett 1989 1996 Brian Walker 1996 May 2003 Keith Wakefield 2003 28 June 2004 Mark Harris 28 June 2004 30 November 2004 Andrew Carter 1 December 2004 23 May 2005 Mark Harris 24 May 2005 30 November 2005 Andrew Carter 1 December 2005 22 May 2006 Mark Harris 23 May 2006 30 November 2006 Andrew Carter 1 December 2006 21 May 2007 Mark Harris 24 May 2007 30 November 2007 Andrew Carter 1 December 2007 22 May 2008 Richard Brett 22 May 2008 30 November 2008 Andrew Carter 1 December 2008 21 May 2009 Richard Brett 21 May 2009 30 November 2009 Andrew Carter 1 December 2009 27 May 2010 Keith Wakefield 27 May 2010 21 May 2015 Judith Blake 21 May 2015 24 February 2021 James Lewis 24 February 2021 incumbent From 2004 until 2010 a coalition agreement between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats saw the leadership formally alternate every six months between their party leaders, an arrangement was sometimes described as being joint leaders.
Council elections
Summary of the council composition after council elections, click on the year for full details of each election. Boundary changes took place for the 1980 election which increased the number of seats by 3, leading to the whole council being elected in that year. Further boundary changes made in 2004 again required the full council to be elected.
YearLabourConservativeLiberal DemocratsIndependentGreensMorley Borough IndependentsSDPBNP 1973 44 38 14 0 0 0 0 0 1975 41 43 12 0 0 0 0 0 1976 38 50 8 0 0 0 0 0 1978 39 50 7 0 0 0 0 0 1979 44 45 7 0 0 0 0 0 1980 62 29 8 0 0 0 0 0 1982 56 32 11 0 0 0 0 0 1983 54 33 11 1 0 0 0 0 1984 53 33 12 1 0 0 0 0 1986 58 28 11 2 0 0 0 0 1987 58 25 14 2 0 0 0 0 1988 59 25 14 1 0 0 0 0 1990 66 21 11 1 0 0 0 0 1991 68 21 9 1 0 0 0 0 1992 67 23 8 1 0 0 0 0 1994 67 23 8 1 0 0 0 0 1995 75 15 8 1 0 0 0 0 1996 83 8 8 0 0 0 0 0 1998 80 9 9 0 1 0 0 0 1999 71 12 14 1 1 0 0 0 2000 61 16 19 1 2 0 0 0 2002 57 18 20 1 3 0 0 0 2003 52 22 20 2 3 0 0 0 2004 40 24 26 0 3 6 0 0 2006 40 24 26 0 3 5 0 1 2007 43 22 24 1 3 5 0 1 2008 43 22 24 1 3 5 0 1 2010 48 22 21 0 2 6 0 0 2011 55 21 16 0 2 5 0 0 2012 63 19 10 0 2 5 0 0 2014 63 18 9 1 3 5 0 0 2015 63 19 9 0 3 5 0 0 2016 63 19 9 0 3 5 0 0 2018 61 22 6 3 2 5 0 0 2019 57 23 8 3 3 5 0 0 2021 54 24 8 4 3 6 0 0 2022 58 21 7 3 3 6 1 0 2023 61 18 6 3 3 6 2 0 2024 61 15 6 5 5 4 3 0
Borough result maps
By-election results Following the death, removal or resignation of an incumbent councillor between council elections, by-elections occur to elect a successor to fill the vacant council seat. The next by-election will take place on 12 June 2025 in Morley South to replace Wyn Kidger. Ward by-election Date Incumbent party Winning partyHeadingley by-election28 February 1974 Burley by-election21 November 1974 Burley by-election8 January 1975 Beeston by-election27 September 1984 Aireborough by-election18 August 1986 Armley by-election8 December 1988 Burmantofts by-election15 June 1989 Morley North by-election City & Holbeck by-election30 November 1989 Wetherby by-election23 July 1992 Richmond Hill by-election26 October 1995 Beeston by-election14 November 1996 Headingley by-election10 July 1997 Whinmoor by-election21 August 1997 Bramley by-election6 August 1998 Harehills by-election13 April 2000 Morley North by-election7 June 2001 University by-election Moortown by-election19 July 2001 Headingley by-election28 July 2005 Farnley & Wortley by-election18 September 2008 Temple Newsam by-election2 April 2009 Hyde Park & Woodhouse by-election18 February 2010 Guiseley & Rawdon by-election14 October 2010 Cross Gates & Whinmoor by-election2 May 2013 Wetherby by-election12 December 2019 Farnley & Wortley by-election10 October 2024 Morley South by-election 12 June 2025
References
External links Leeds City Council