Voters in Armley Ward will go to the polls on Thursday, 7 May 2026 for the Leeds City Council elections. One councillor will be elected.
Voters are reminded that photo ID is needed to vote at polling stations. More details here.
West Leeds Dispatch does not support any political party, but we do encourage all our readers to use their vote.
Candidates have been asked for a statement of up to 300 words and a head and shoulders photograph to help you decide who to vote for. Here are their responses so far…
Richard Banks (Labour)
2 Middle Cross Street, Armley, Leeds LS12 1NR
Armley is my home. It’s where I was born, went to school and where I raised my family.
My name is Richard Banks and I’m standing as the Labour candidate for Armley Ward in the 2026 local elections. I want to give back to the community that has given me so much.
After leaving school I became a plumber by trade and my experience led me to get involved in the trade union movement. I became a full-time union representative to stand up for working people. I can use those skills to represent and speak up for the residents of Armley Ward.
My top pledges for Armley:
- Support for Young People: Expanding opportunities and facilities to give every young person the best start in life.
- Community Safety: Tackling crime and anti-social behaviour to make our streets, shops and neighbourhoods safe places for everyone.
- Improving our Roads: Making our local roads safer for pedestrians, drivers and cyclists. Tackling the scourge of potholes.
- Pride in our Environment: Tackling litter and criminal fly-tipping, protecting our green spaces to make our area somewhere to be proud of.
I’m also deeply committed to our ex-service men and women. I back the city council’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant to ensure our veterans have the support they and their families deserve.
We need Labour-led council that has worked hard to make our city one of the best-run in the country, three times rated outstanding by OFSTED for its children’s services.
On the 7th May a vote for me is a vote for a strong, local community representative. I will work hard, all year round, to serve residents across Armley, New Wortley, Victoria Park and the Spring Valleys.
I want to do you proud. Please elect me as your councillor.
John Beal (SDP)
Address in Leeds
I am seeking election in Armley for the Social Democratic Party (SDP). I am a retired NHS dentist.
I have lived In Leeds for 41 years. I know Leeds well, having served on the Leeds Health and Wellbeing Committee and Leeds City Council Adults and Health Scrutiny Board. I am former Chair of Healthwatch Leeds and served as a magistrate in Leeds.
Some readers may not know of the SDP. It was formed 45 years ago by a group of Labour MPs who found Labour too left-wing. It is economically centre-left supporting nationalisation of railways, gas, electricity and water industries rather than run by private companies owned by overseas investors. But is socially traditional and certainly not woke – as William Clouston, our national leader, said – “we know what a man is, and what a woman is.”
The SDP strongly supports the family, community and nation.
If elected I will work for the local community and with the local community for:
- Safer streets with more community police.
- Urgent repair of potholes – a major problem for drivers.
- Access to well-kept green spaces and parks for people of all ages with no parking charges. Available for children to play, parents and older people to walk and exercise and access for those with disabilities.
- Working with local schools to ensure that the needs of all children are met including after school activities such as school plays, music groups and sports.
- Supporting local charities and organisations seeking to improve services in Armley.
- Working to increase co-operation between NHS and Social Care services as they need to work together without barriers.
- Improvements in bus services, including around the city not just into the city centre.
If you support these policies, please VOTE FOR JOHN BEAL the Social Democratic Party candidate.
Paul Bickerdike (Reform UK)
Address in Leeds
Edmond Daramy-Williams (Conservative)
4 Reginald View, Leeds LS7 3HR
Florian Hynam (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition – TUSC)
Address in Leeds
Clancy Walker (Green)
66 Hall Lane, Armley, Leeds LS12 2BL
I’m proud to be standing as the Green Party candidate because I love Armley and it would be an honour to represent my community.
Armley has been my home for 24 years. I’ve built my life and career here, and I’ve been committed to community and voluntary activities throughout this time.
I’ve helped turn ideas into action, from community fundraising to local creative projects that connect people. I co-founded a women’s group to tackle isolation, I work with local charities and I show up to local meetings to understand what matters most to you.
A vote for me is one you can trust goes to someone with a local track record of going above and beyond work I’m paid to do, for more than 20 years.
Armley needs hardworking local councillors who listen, act and are committed all year-round. I’m honoured to have the full support of Councillor Lou Cunningham and, if I’m elected, I’ll work alongside Lou as a strong, hardworking Green team for Armley. We know that we can achieve more together.
Our priorities are your priorities. Lou and I know this because we’ve both lived here for more than 20 years and listening always comes first.
We’ll continue to focus on cleaner streets, safer roads, and firm action on anti-social behaviour and crime so everyone feels secure where they live. Championing reliable public transport to save you money and connect our community is also a key priority, as is taking practical action on the cost of living – backing fairer bills, properly insulated homes and support for those who need it.
I am standing to represent you and to represent Armley – fully, fairly and focused on a fairer, cleaner, greener Armley.
I will listen. I will connect. I will work hard and deliver for Armley.
Dan Walker (Liberal Democrat)
Address in Leeds
I’ve lived in Leeds for nearly thirty years, West Leeds since 2007, and Armley since 2017.
I am a Liberal Democrat because I believe power needs to be exercised as close as possible to the people affected by it.
I believe that people are (or should be) equal before the law, that people should be free to live their lives as they choose provided they do no harm to others, and that basic human rights and dignity apply to everyone.
Of course, such freedoms are meaningless without material security, so I support an NHS free at the point of use, renter’s rights (and more council housing with security of tenure) and proper worker’s rights, as well as improved public transport – some sort of mass transit has been coming “soon” the entire time I have lived in Leeds (and well before).
In order to exercise power closer to the people, I support devolution of powers, similar to those of Scotland or Wales, to Yorkshire.
That way we could, for example, design and finance a metro in Yorkshire without Whitehall veto.
Democracy means very little if your vote has little effect, so I support moving to a proportional representation system.
We have seen attacks on the very concept of liberal democracy by the narrow negativity of the far-right; they are funded by expat billionaires and work for them, not for the ordinary people of Armley and Leeds.
If elected, I would be a champion for Armley and Leeds and fight for the improvements to public transport, the roads, littering and other anti-social behaviour that we all know are needed.
- Candidates who have not yet submitted their profiles can still do so by e-mailing news@westleedsdispatch.com.