Tracy Brabin backs Johnson after Reform wins 58 Wakefield seats

tracy brabin is part of the story as Karl Johnson was selected on Monday as Reform UK's Wakefield group leader after the party won control of Wakefield Council for the first time. Reform took 58 of 63 seats, leaving Labour with just one seat after Thursday's elections.

Wakefield Town Hall

Johnson, who represents the Stanley and Outwood East ward, said: "It's a great honour to have been elected as group leader and be nominated as the new leader of Wakefield Council." He added that Wakefield would "always come first in every decision we take," and thanked residents who trusted Reform UK "to bring change at the election last week."

He also said: "We're going to be working flat out to repay your faith and deliver for everyone in our district." Johnson was previously elected to represent Wakefield South ward in 2019 as a Conservative councillor, quit the Conservative Party in 2023 and continued to sit as an independent, then later lost that seat before returning to the council in 2026 with Reform.

John Thomas at Wakefield Town Hall

Reform members also elected John Thomas, who represents Altofts and Whitwood, as deputy leader at the same meeting at Wakefield Town Hall on Monday. Thomas said: "It's a real privilege to be elected by my colleagues as deputy leader of Reform UK and be nominated as the next deputy leader of Wakefield Council."

He added: "I'm looking forward to being part of a strong Reform UK leadership team that focuses every day on making life better for all of our residents, no matter where you live in our district." Johnson and Thomas are due to be formally named as the authority's new leaders at the council's annual general meeting on 20 May, the step that will turn Reform's election win into day-to-day control of the council.