Labour keeps control of Bradford Council in nail-biting local election

The group has 46 seats on the council - the minimum needed for a majority, and the same number they went into the elections with.

But Labour lost two high-profile councillors, with Kaneez Akthar in Keighley Central being deposed by the Conservatives, and Gill Thornton losing out to the Liberal Democrats in Eccleshill.

Gains in Thornton and Allerton, from Ukip, and Manningham, from Respect, left Labour where they had started.

Speaking from the Bradford count at Odsal's Richard Dunn sports centre, Labour group and council leader Councillor David Green said: "It is important to recognise the contribution of the really good Labour councillors we have lost in this election, but also to welcome in the new blood."

He said it was particularly important that Labour retained control of the Council, now a Conservative government was confirmed - warning the authority would face yet more "massive cuts".

The Conservatives had a particularly good night, boosting their ranks by three and leaving them with a total of 23 councillors.

They took seats from independent councillors in Craven and Queensbury, as well as taking Keighley Central from Labour.

And the Liberal Democrats performed better in the local elections than they had in the General Election, picking up one more seat, in Eccleshill.

Lib Dem leader Councillor Jeanette Sunderland, who also kept her seat in Idle and Thackley with a majority of nearly 3,000, said: "I am pleased we have regained Eccleshill and we have had a successful local election.

"But we are clearly very disappointed because Bradford has lost a hard-working and honest MP."

Respect lost one councillor, leaving them with four, and the Greens remained unchanged at three councillors, after keeping hold of Shipley.

At the Bradford count, Gill Thornton, previously councillor for Royds, had instead this year stood in Eccleshill, where Labour's Ruth Billheimer was stepping down.

But she failed to keep hold of the seat, losing out to Nicola Pollard of the Liberal Democrats.

Looking visibly upset, she said: "I am very disappointed as I was looking forward to taking over. Eccleshill needed Labour."

Cllr Pollard said: "I'm delighted, but it is bitter-sweet because we lost David [Ward] yesterday, an excellent MP."

Meanwhile, at the second count, in Keighley, the over-riding atmosphere was of Conservative success spreading down from the General Election.

And the gain of Keighley Central, where Zafar Ali unseated Labour's Kaneez Akthar camp reflected that mood.

But Labour's executive member Susan Hinchcliffe thanked residents of Windhill and Wrose for re-electing her with 55 per cent of the vote: "I'm delighted to have won again in Windhill and Wrose and would like to thank residents for putting their faith in me and the Labour team.

"I live there and it's a great place with a great community.

"And there's still lots to do!" she said.

Shipley stayed pure Green as Kevin Warnes increased his previous majority.

"I'm incredibly pleased. We had a great campaign and I am grateful to everyone," he said.

Conservative deputy leader Simon Cooke benefitted from a huge turnout in Bingley Rural to retain his role with 5,050 votes and said: “I’m chuffed that I got more than 5,000 votes, I’ve never got that many before and it’s quite humbling and I've been doing this for many years.

“There are longstanding issues in the ward we need to try and do something about, including traffic and development on green fields."

In Bingley Mark Shaw kept his seat on the council with a majority that jumped from 1,288 to 2,342.

"I'd like to thank Bingley for supporting me after a lot of work over the last four years and there's lots more to do," he said.

Tory Rebecca Poulsen held her own Worth Valley ward seat. She said: “I’m really pleased, and it’s great to have had such a high turnout as well. I want to thank everyone who came out in support of me.

“We’ve run a very positive campaign based on what we’ve achieved over the last four years.

“People are sending a message to the Labour council that we have strong voices in the Worth Valley and we will fight against cuts in rural areas,” she said.

Back in Keighley East, Labour's Doreen Lee was rewarded with a third successful election: "I've increased my majority and, as always, shall give 110 per cent to the job," she said.

The council seat of Keighley West vacated by Jan Smithies was retained for Labour with the election of Cath Bacon.

Similarly, in Baildon where Bradford's deputy mayor Roger L'Amie stepped down from his role as councillor, Conservative newcomer Mike Pollard stepped into the job and said he had "big shoes to try and fill".

"I've already got case-files to work on and am looking forward to getting into the nitty-gritty," Cllr Pollard said.