Party leaders elected on Sheffield City Council ahead of key meeting next week
A new leader for Sheffield City Council will be chosen next week - after last week's local elections saw Tom Hunt lose his seat
Last updated 13th May 2026
Sheffield political parties have picked their leaders for the next year as the city council heads towards its annual meeting next week.
Fran Belbin is taking over as leader of the Labour group, which remains the biggest on the council following last Thursday’s election, despite losing 10 seats, including council leader Tom Hunt in Walkley.
Coun Belbin, who kept her seat in Firth Park, previously served as deputy group and council leader. Her deputies will be Coun Zahira Naz, who held on to her seat in Darnall last week, and Ben Miskell, who was not up for re-election in Park & Arbourthorne.
Next biggest group the LibDems chose Martin Smith as their leader for a second year. He held his Dore & Totley ward seat last week.
His deputy will be Coun Ian Horner, who represents Beighton.
The Greens chose Angela Argenzio as their leader for the second year running.
Former LibDem councillor John Hesketh, who won in Stocksbridge & Upper Don last week, has already been named as the leader of the 13-strong Reform UK group formed after the election.
The state of the parties is currently Labour/Labour and Cooperative 25, Liberal Democrats 22, Green Party 20, Reform UK 13, Sheffield Community Councillors 2, Independents 2.
The parties will now discuss who will be up for election as council leader at the annual meeting next Thursday, May 21. Coun Belbin will be most likely to take on the role as leader of the biggest political group.
Coun Andrew Sangar will step into the role of next Lord Mayor of Sheffield, taking over from Coun Safiya Saeed after her year in office. He has been Deputy Lord Mayor this year.