Uncertain future at Sheffield City Council after local election results
The latest Sheffield City Council elections saw Labour lose most of the seats it contested, including council leader Tom Hunt in Walkley, and both Reform UK and the Greens making big gains
The three biggest parties on Sheffield City Council are electing their leaders and considering their response to a big shake-up on the council following Friday’s election results.
The latest Sheffield City Council elections saw Labour lose most of the seats it contested, including council leader Tom Hunt in Walkley, and both Reform UK and the Greens making big gains. The LibDems had mixed fortunes.
A total of 30 seats was contested – one member in each of the 28 three-councillor wards, plus two casual vacancies caused by resignations.
Reform UK were the biggest winners, gaining 12 seats to take their total number to 13, making them the fourth biggest group on the council.
The Greens’ 10 wins, including six gains, mean they are now only two behind the LibDems and the LibDems lie just three behind biggest group Labour.
The current state of the parties is Labour/Labour and Cooperative 25, Liberal Democrats 22, Green Party 20, Reform UK 13, Sheffield Community Councillors 2, Independents 2.
Sheffield City Council has been under no overall control since 2021 and runs under a committee system.
Labour/Labour and Cooperative retained only three sitting councillors – deputy council leader Fran Belbin in the two-seat Firth Park ward, Zahira Naz in Darnall and Minesh Parekh in Crookes and Crosspool.
They lost the other Firth Park seat vacated by the resignation of Nikki Belfield to Reform UK.
Further Labour losses to Reform UK were Karen McGowan in Birley, Craig Gamble Pugh in East Ecclesfield, Nabeela Mowlana in Park & Arbourthorne, Richmond, where Beth Cheshire replaced Mike Drabble, Jayne Dunn in Southey, Janet Ridler in Stocksbridge & Upper Don.
Labour lost to the Greens in Burngreave, where Mark Jones did not defend his seat, and Nether Edge & Sharrow, where Nighat Basharat lost.
Green winners were Mustafa Ahmed in Burngreave, Tessa Lupton in Ecclesall, Tom Atkin-Withers in Graves Park, Margaret Ruth Abbey, who won Manor Castle where Terry Fox of Sheffield Community Group stood down, Lynsey Angell in Nether Edge & Sharrow, Andy Davies in Walkley.
Maleiki Haybe retained his seat for the Greens in Broomhill & Sharrow Vale and Marieanne Elliot kept her Gleadless Valley seat. Maia Salman-Lord replaced Martin Phipps for the party in Central and Richard Tinsley replaced Henry Nottage in Hillsborough.
The LibDems retained five seats and lost six.
LibDem winners were group leader Martin Smith in Dore & Totley, Simon Clement-Jones in Beauchief & Greenhill, Cliff Woodcraft in Fulwood, Will Sapwell in Stannington and Mike Levery in West Ecclesfield.
Kurtis Crossthorn lost his seat in Beighton, where two seats were up for grabs, to Reform UK. The other Beighton seat was previously been held by LibDem Ann Woolhouse, who did not stand in the election, and also went to Reform.
Steve Ayris lost his Graves Park seat to the Greens, Gail Smith lost Mosborough to Reform and Willis Marshall lost his Woodhouse seat to Reform.
The Greens also took Ecclesall, where former LibDem group leader Shaffaq Mohammed stood down after taking his seat in the House of Lords.
Reform took seven seats from Labour and four from the LibDems, plus Shiregreen & Brightside, where Garry Weatherall of the Sheffield Community Group stood as an independent.
Their new councillors are Laurence Hayward and Stuart Wallace in Beighton, Luke Goddard in Birley, Sean Maloney in East Ecclesfield, Robert Hanson in Firth Park, Joel McGuigan in Mosborough, Matt Smith in Park & Arbourthorne, Jack Byrom in Richmond, Mick Lee in Shiregreen and Brightside. Yvonne Sykes in Southey, group leader John Hesketh in Stocksbridge & Upper Don and Nathaniel Menday in Woodhouse.