Labour

Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield. Picture Scott Merrylees

Mid Yorkshire NHS trust criticised over staff parking charges

Yvette Cooper MP meeting with West Yorkshire Police's off -road bike team.

Everyone deserves to feel safe where they live

Wakefield Council's cabinet has agreed to scrap two-hour free parking. LDRS image

Two-hour free parking across the Wakefield district scrapped

The Ridings Shopping came under the ownership of Wakefield Council on May 1 after the authority completed a deal to buy it for just over £11m.

Major announcement on The Ridings Shopping Centre due ‘within weeks’

Borough Road car park, in Wakefield.

MPs urge council to rethink plan to scrap two-hour free parking

Lightwaves Leisure and Community Centre, in Wakefield. LDRS image

Council scraps £1 sale of former pool and leisure centre to charity

Ossett and Denby Dale MP Jade Botterill welcomed staff from Wakefield Trinity Community Foundation to Westminster following the club's historic Super League Grand Final victory.

MP welcomes Wakefield Trinity Community Foundation to Westminster

Creating the National Care Service will take time, after all the NHS wasn’t built overnight.

Jade Botterill MP: A new settlement for older people

Unity House car park, Wakefield.

Two-hour free parking set to be scrapped and charges increased - full list

The old High Well School in South Heindley was old at auction for £900,000 in August 2026. LDRS image

Former council-owned mansion set to become ‘hotel, spa and wedding venue’

Simon Lightwood MP at Labour Conference.

Simon Lightwood MP: Restoring trust, delivering change

The old Kellingley Social Club building, in Knottingley, was demolished in March 2026 LDRS

Regeneration chief’s promise to plug £1m Knottingley funding gap

People in Makerfield, Wakefield and beyond are entitled to ask when those promises become reality.

What is needed is change for the better in people's lives

The old Kellingley Social Club building, in Knottingley, was demolished in March 2026 and the site was prepared for redevelopment. LDRS image

Knottingley regeneration scheme faces £1m funding gap

Making common-sense changes that make everyday life a little easier.

Common-sense changes that make a difference to people round here

We are cutting the deficit faster than any other G7 economy, with borrowing £20 billion lower than the previous year and forecast to fall in every year of this Parliament.

Making sure decisions impacting local people are made locally
Too often, conversations about the economy can take place in the abstract. On the news they discuss things like ‘Gross Domestic Product’ and ‘Balance of Payments’ but lose sight of what that means for people in our community.
Jade Botterill MP for Ossett and Denby Dale

I have repeatedly raised residents' concerns with government colleagues and argued that we need a sensible approach that tackles anti-social behaviour while preserving the important role fireworks play in celebrations.

Safer celebrations, stronger rules on fireworks

Jacob Padget has resigned as chair of Wakefield Council's adult services and health overview and scrutiny committee. LDRS image

Reform councillor quits scrutiny committee role amid party suspension claims

Work has begun on imrpoving roads across the district.

Wakefield Council marks 100 days of Reform UK control

Wakefield Council has confirmed a road safety scheme planned for the junction of Bradford Road and Wrenthorpe Road would not be going ahead. Google image

Wakefield MP critical of council decision to shelve road safety scheme

The Ridings.

Wakefield Council reacts to public comments as The Ridings consultation closes

Express readers have shared what they would like to see happen to The Ridings.

Readers share their thoughts on The Ridings as council consultation closes

Wakefield Council released images in 2023 of how the transformed BHS building could look.

Could long awaited museum and library be scrapped in city centre revamp?

Prime Minister Andy Burnham appoints Yvette Cooper as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care in 10 Downing Street. Picture by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street

New PM determined this government will be on people's side

Wakefield Council said it would resubmit plans for a new children's playground at Barracks Playing Fields in Pontefract. Image: Wakefield Council

Pontefract kids' playground plans to be redrawn after objections

Councillors in Wakefield are set to hold a flag flying debate less than a year after voting to implement new protocols.

Councillors to hold fresh flag flying debate

Members of environmental group Just Transition Wakefield gathered outside Wakefield Town Hall ahead of the council's cabinet meeting on Tuesday July 21. LDRS image

Council abandons net zero targets as environment groups speak out
Wakefield Council has agreed to scrap its target to become a carbon neutral authority by 2030 and cut its climate change budget by £170,000.
Tony Gardner

Wakefield Council's cabinet members voted in favour of spending a further £8.2m to cover the cost of a full roof replacement and repairs to windows and masonry at County Hall, taking the overall project cost to £14.1m. LDRS image

Wakefield Council agrees to foot £14m County Hall repair bill

New Reform leader of council pledges to ‘put money where our mouth is'

Wakefield Town Hall

Council set to scrap net zero targets and cut climate change budget by £170K

Councillors in Wakefield are set to hold a flag flying debate less than a year after voting to implement new protocols.

Repair bill for ‘structurally weak’ County Hall rises above £14m

Woolley Hall is up for auction.

Woolley Hall: Council-owned mansion up for auction with £1.2m guide price

New homes are planned on Kirkgate.

Consultation of The Ridings to begin

Jon Trickett MP at Heath Common.

Local people know what is best for their own community

The Springs, Wakefield city centre

MP backs Labour's new asylum and immigration reforms

Yvette Cooper MP at the opening of the new Castleford College Construction Centre.

Giving young people in our towns the opportunities they deserve

Kate Dodd, Green Party councillor for Wakefield North ward. LDRS image

Environmentalists critical of Reform's decision to undeclare climate emergency

Lightwaves Leisure and Community Centre, in Wakefield. LDRS image

Lightwaves: Transfer of former council pool and leisure centre under review

Wakefield Council's new cabinet members. l-r: Matthew Caton, Julian Carter, Rebecca Webster, Karl Johnson, John Thomas, Ansar Hayat, Andrew Wakefield, Matthew Pinder. Image: Wakefield Council

'In depth' review of The Ridings demolition included in Reform's 10 pledges

Councillor Steve Lewis has resigned from Reform UK and will continue to represent Normanton as an Independent, Wakefield Council has confirmed. LDRS image.

Second Reform councillor quits party to become independent

Members of environmental group Just Transition Wakefield gathered outside County Hall ahead of the meeting. LDRS image

Council undeclares climate change and biodiversity emergencies

Councillors in Wakefield have voted in favour of cutting a school uniform fund by £1.3m.

Wakefield councillors vote to cut school uniform fund by £1.3m

On Wednesday, councillors are due to vote on a motion, put forward by the council’s new Reform leader Karl Johnson, to scrap declarations made the previous Labour administration.

Environmentalists urge council not to cancel climate change declaration

Earlier this month, the Reform UK-led authority announced support would be available only to “those who need it most”, including children eligible for free school meals and families experiencing hardship.

Opposition leader calls on council to reverse £1.3m school uniform cut

The council’s leader new Karl Johnson said the move was part of his administration’s commitment to “moving away from gesture politics.”

Councillors set to reject climate change and biodiversity emergency declarations

Yvette Cooper MP meeting with Border Security.

The numbers show Labour’s plan for immigration is working

Crigglestone Nursery School submitted the proposal in March this year, days after it was named among more than 300 schools across the country to benefit from the project.

Crigglestone Nursey School classroom expansion approved

Wakefield MPs Yvette Cooper, Simon Lightwood and Jade Botterill have shared their thoughts on the council's decision to cut the uniform scheme's funding.

District MPs react to Wakefield Council's uniform scheme budget cut

Wakefield Council to cut uniform fund and help struggling families

Aerial photo Ossett. Photo: stock.adobe.com

'I won’t pretend I don’t have my reservations about the new council'

Families across Wakefield are under real pressure. Photo: stock.adobe.com

Simon Lightwood MP: My reflections on the local elections

‘We won’t make promises we can’t keep’ – new council leader

Jon Trickett with striking workers from the National Coal Mining Museum at the ‘Banners Held High’ festival in Wakefield.

'I think most people in our area agree that it’s time for the PM to go'

Reform UK councillor to be new leader of Wakefield Council

Reform to elect new Wakefield Council leader later today

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