Labour’s Richard Lewis has lost the marginal seat of Pudsey, with Trish Smith taking the seat for the Conservatives.
In 2018 Lewis kept the seat by just 75 votes but saw a swing to the Conservatives on this occasion.
Cllr Smith said:
“This is quite a coup for the Conservative Party. Cllr Lewis had served the people of Pudsey, Tyersal and Swinnow for more than 30 years but I think the people are now wanting change. They have seen it since Cllrs Seary and Harrison were elected last May and want to put their faith in us to take the area forward.”
Pudsey MP Stuart Andrew hailed the campaign Ms Smith ran and said Pudsey was actively wanting change from Labour rule. He added:
“I am absolutely delighted. The campaign team have worked really hard – and the Conservative councillors are reaping the rewards of their hard work over the past year.”
Mr Lewis, who was the council’s executive board member for Regeneration, Transport and Planning, said:
“I’ve had a good innings, and I’ve been in politics long enough to know that I don’t have a God-given right to continually be elected. I have to accept the decision made by the people of Pudsey, it’s been a privilege to be their councillor.”
Turnout was 34.5%.
Results
ARBUCKLE Jude Patrick, Liberal Democrats 244
HARRISON Catherine, Green Party – Save Our Green Space 462
JACKSON Lee Stuart, UK Independence Party (UKIP) 569
LEWIS Richard Alwyn, Labour Party 2417
NELIS Lorraine Ida, The For Britain Movement 82
SMITH Trish, The Conservative Party Candidate 2661 – elected
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Over to you …
Well done Trish – You ran a splendid campaign and I was very impressed by you full of common sense when I met you campaigning a couple of weeks ago in Pudsey market. Congratulations.