Why is there another election in Bradford?

Bradford voters are returning to the polls tomorrow (18 June), just six weeks after the all-out local elections which saw the make-up of the City Hall chamber completely shaken up.

The contest is to fill three vacant Bradford Council seats, with 87 of the 90 seats currently occupied.

One of the scheduled local election contests could not take place in May.

Voting in Idle and Thackley was postponed following the death of Liberal Democrat councillor and former party leader Jeanette Sunderland, who passed away from cancer shortly before polling day.

Sunderland had represented the ward for many years and was due to stand for re-election. Under electoral rules, the contest had to be rescheduled, leading to a fresh vote just weeks after the district-wide local elections.

May's local elections in Bradford saw a huge political shift, with Reform UK becoming the largest party. This election result, due on Friday, will complete the new political picture in City Hall.

Although only three council seats are being decided, all representing Idle and Thackley, the result could also have an important impact on Bradford Council.

Following May's elections, and a tense initial meeting to decide who would ultimately lead the new look council, Reform now runs the authority. However, it does so without an overall majority.

Of the 90 seats, Reform holds 28, ahead of the Conservatives on 18 and Labour on 17. The Liberal Democrats currently have just one councillor in the chamber, so successfully defending any of the seats in Idle and Thackley would mean the party largely consolidates its previous position, with a net loss of one seat.

Any gains for Reform would strengthen its position, while Labour and the Conservatives are both hoping to boost their numbers and reinforce their claims to be the council's main opposition party.

While the result of tomorrow's vote is unlikely to change who runs Bradford Council, it could offer an important insight into voters' thoughts six weeks after the local elections, and ahead of next year's elections, when a third of seats will again be up for grabs and the picture could shift again.

Bradford Council had been run by Labour since 2010, initially as a minority administration before moving into overall control in 2014.

Going into these elections Labour held the minimum 46 seats needed for a majority. With 28 seats, Reform falls far short of that requirement, however any coalition with other parties has so far been ruled out.

The full list of candidates for tomorrow's ballot (alphabetically, by surname) is:-

David Bryant, Conservative Party

Sally Cook, Conservative Party

Evelyne Godfrey, Labour

Alun Owen Griffiths, Liberal Democrats

Stuart Hurlbut, Green Party

Melissa Jacobs, Green Party

Tess Lawrence, Green Party

Gareth David Logan, Labour

Tom Macpherson Le Maire, Reform UK

David Llewelyn Mills, Reform UK

Aislin Naylor, Liberal Democrats

John Michael Riley, Reform UK

Rachel Sunderland, Liberal Democrats

Richard Edward John Wightman, Conservative Party

Paul Wright, Labour Party

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