Big gains for Labour in Wakefield

Results in full

Labour gained all nine, and three more from independents, in what council leader Peter Box called “a great day” for the city.

He said: “The local authority has tried to produce good quality local services, but clearly national issues are also at play. I think many people in this district have been badly affected by cuts.”

Ousted Conservative group leader Mark Crowther was critical of his own party. He said: “It’s massively disappointing, but I expected it, to be honest. The government has a lot to answer for. They need to sort their act out and get competent at ministerial level.

“It’s about time they got their communications strategy in order.”