FORMER Bradford East MP David Ward has returned to local politics, a year after he lost his seat in the 2015 general election.

The Liberal Democrat lost his seat in the House of Commons to Labour’s Imran Hussain last May, but today was voted back onto Bradford Council as a councillor for Bolton and Undercliffe.

He vowed that improving the education system in Bradford would be his main focus as a councillor.

Before becoming an MP he had served on the council for around 26 years, and after the result for the ward was announced today he told the Telegraph & Argus he felt he still had plenty to do in Bradford.

He said: “After six years away from the council I’m ready to get back and and start working to improve my ward and Bradford again.

“Education is going to be my main focus, I have a lot of experience professionally, as a governor and raising issues in the House of Commons.”

He said he would like to sit on the council’s Children’s Scrutiny Committee, a cross party group of councillors who meet regularly to discuss issues effecting education and issues effecting young people.

When asked if he will be looking at any leadership positions within the party, he said: “We will have a group meeting and we will then re-assess the situation and how best I can contribute to the party.”

After losing his seat in the 2015 general election, Mr Ward criticised what he described as 'Pakistan politics' in the city, consisting of intimidation, bullying and inappropriate behaviour at polling stations.

He said this was still an issue in the city, adding: “We can’t have sectarian politics taking place in the British political system. This type of politics isn’t about doing work for the people of your ward, it is about running a bullying campaign. There are instances where we have groups of campaigners telling people who to vote.”

On the national state of the party, he said: “At a time when the party is struggling nationally we have shown locally that not only can we retain seats but we can also gain seats.”