Gemma Dillon
West Yorkshire political reporter

Wakefield has seen an overall turnout of 36.6% - the highest in 10 years.

From what I've been told, it sounds like many people who have avoiding voting for many years and first-time voters made the decision to get to the polls yesterday.

As it’s an 'all-out' election with every seat up for grabs, people feel their vote really matters and can influence the look of the entire local authority.

Grace Wood
in Keighley

The first Reform UK seats have been won in Bradford, as Ian Reed, Adam Thompson-Day and Ian Walker are declared for Wyke.

The area was previously represented by Labour councillors Tom Hughes, Sarah Ferriby and Andy Walsh.

Image source, BBC/Aisha Iqbal

Aisha Iqbal
Political reporter, Yorkshire

We've had the turnouts announced in Bradford, with huge percentages revealed in some areas.

Some of these figures are usually only hit for general elections, so this is very significant.

• Ilkley – 63%
• Wharfedale - 57%
• Baildon - 51%
• Bingley East - 54%
• Shipley - 50%
• Airedale - 50%

Richard Edwards
in Huddersfield

The leaders of Kirklees Council's Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat groups have now all lost their seats today.

Kirklees' Labour group leader Carole Pattison is managing a smile, despite the Greens and Reform UK ripping through the red-rosetted ranks she took into local election battle.

Pattison will remain group leader until a Labour meeting on Sunday, but it's unclear if there will be a Kirklees Council Labour group to lead as the party is yet to win a single seat.

Elizabeth Baines
in Leeds

Nilesh Chohan, who ousted Leeds City Council deputy leader Jonathan Pryor in the Headingley and Hyde Park ward, says he is "immensely proud" to represent the area where he has lived his entire life.

Pryor is a big figure in Leeds Labour circles, so this was quite the seat to win.

Chohan says he is "looking forward to working with the whole of the Headingley and Hyde Park ward".

He pledges to uphold the "Green values" of community cohesion.

Image source, Elizabeth Baines/BBC

Aisha Iqbal
Political reporter, Yorkshire

The Greens have held all three seats in Holmewood and Bierley, including the seat of their Bradford leader Matt Edwards.

Reform UK took the second largest vote share, followed by Labour, the Conservatives and the Lib Dems.

Asked if his party's early success could be the start of a good day, Edwards says: "We shall see. Five-party politics is something new for all of us and there's a lot that can change."

Image source, Aisha Iqbal/BBC

Richard Edwards
in Huddersfield

Kirklees' Labour group leader Carole Pattison has lost her Greenhead ward seat to the Greens.

When asked about the afternoon's events so far, she said she was "seriously concerned" about the lack of experience those making gains had in local politics.

Pattison added: "The message has been 'get Starmer out', but this is about local services, Starmer isn't standing in this election."

Gemma Dillon
West Yorkshire political reporter

Counting has restarted in Wakefield, where Reform UK have picked up 31 of the 33 seats declared so far.

Meanwhile, Labour - the current ruling party - is yet to win a seat, and council leader Denise Jeffery lost hers.

Let's see how the afternoon session progresses.

Jessica Bayley
in Halifax

Labour has had full control over Calderdale Council since 2019.

But if we go back a little further, the council has experienced long periods of no overall control, with power shifting between different parties.

Let's see how the afternoon progresses here.

Voter turnout is up from 34.38% in 2024, when a third of seats were up for grabs, to 45.13% in this 'all out' year.

Image source, Corinne Wheatley/BBC

Elizabeth Baines
in Leeds

Whoops and applause as Headingley and Hyde Park goes to Green from Labour.

Nilesh Chohan takes Jonathon Pryor’s seat with a seismic 4334 votes.

A blow for the deputy leader who secured 1278.

Richard Edwards
in Huddersfield

Kirklees Council has begun reporting results.

Reform UK have taken all three seats in Colne Valley East.

It looks like Labour's Graham Turner, who had been integral to the authority's town centre improvement plans, was edged out.

In Netherton and Newsome the Greens take all three seats -veteran Kirklees Green Andrew Cooper gets 2,703 votes.

Aisha Iqbal
Political reporter, Bradford

I have just spoken to Bradford's Independents group leader Talat Sajawal and long-serving councillor David Ward.

They are confident of picking up a few seats and are willing to get around the table with other parties to form a progressive coalition.

They refuse, however, to work with Reform.

Elizabeth Baines
BBC News, Yorkshire

Celebrations in cheers and applause for Reform UK as the first results for Leeds are announced - it's the the Killingbeck and Seacroft ward.

David Dresser secures the seat with 2371 votes.

Aisha Iqbal
Political reporter, Bradford

Matt Edwards, leader of the Greens in Bradford, says it is looking likely the party will gain more seats across the district.

"We've been told we could be second in wards in which we haven't had much of a presence in the past."

The Greens currently hold 10 seats across the district.

He adds: "I'm not going to put a number on it, but if we increase our seats I'll be very happy."

Gemma Dillon
West Yorkshire political reporter

Image source, Wakefield Council

One of the big complaints from people in many of Wakefield's surrounding towns, like Castleford, is that they feel they miss out on some of the investment seen in Wakefield.

Across the district, people feel the High Street is suffering, with anti-social behaviour being a big concern for people.

A major regeneration project for the centre of Wakefield was announced in March; The Labour-led authority bought the Ridings Shopping Centre and wants to demolish it, along with four high-rise flat blocks. They want to replace it with more housing and green space in the centre.

The council has labelled the project a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, adding that they needed to commit to a way to spend government money by the end of April.

But other parties have criticised them for not carrying out enough consultation with residents and businesses around what they want to see happen.

If Reform seize the reins of power here, it will not be an easy ride.

Gemma Dillon
West Yorkshire political reporter

Here's my take on what we are seeing in Wakefield.

The Labour dominance we have seen here for decades is coming to an end.

Richard Edwards
BBC Political Reporter in Huddersfield

Grim faces on several Labour candidates and activists at the Kirklees Council count.

Though the first results are yet to be declared, Labour is bracing itself for significant losses to both the Green Party and Reform UK.

One Labour veteran says: "People were telling us they were voting for Nigel, even though we told them he isn't standing in Kirklees."

Gemma Dillon
West Yorkshire political reporter

Reform have taken three more seats in Wakefield - this time in the Featherstone ward.

Labour's Maureen Tennant-King, who is the city's current Lord Mayor, has lost her seat along with her colleagues Steve Vickers and Scott Haslam.

Grace Wood
in Keighley

Counts for Baildon and Shipley have begun here at Keighley Leisure Centre, where Labour council leader Susan Hinchcliffe is waiting to see if she will keep her seat in Windhill and Wrose.

Elizabeth Baines
in Leeds

Image source, PA

Keir Starmer is the man for the job according to the Labour MP for Leeds South.

Hilary Benn conceded it had been "a bad night for Labour" and said he was "sorry for colleagues who are not going to win seats or hard-working councillors who are going to lose their seats".

He added: "We need to get on with what we promised to do in the general election, which is to try and change the country for the better.

"Changing the country is hard graft and the party needs to unite, come together under Keir's leadership and carry on with doing precisely that."