Labour retains council seat in by-election

The by-election follows the death in October of the district’s Mayor, Coun Brian Holmes, who represented the ward for Labour.

The new ward councillor is Rory Bickerton, who took the seat with a majority of 205 votes.

He joins ward councillors, Coun Janet Holmes, now Mayor of Wakefield following the loss of her husband, and Coun Jack Hemingway. They also both hold seats for Labour.

There was a 20.77 per cent turn-out in the by-election, which leaves the make-up of the council unchanged, with Labour holding 52 seats and the Conservatives holding 11.

Ukip candidate Graham Jesty missed regaining his old seat in the poll.