Garforth and Swillington (ward)

Electoral ward in Leeds, England

Human settlement in England

Garforth and Swillington

Garforth and Swillington highlighted within Leeds

Population| 16,205 (2023 electorate)
Metropolitan borough|

* City of Leeds

Metropolitan county|

* West Yorkshire

Region|

* Yorkshire and the Humber

Country| England
Sovereign state| United Kingdom
UK Parliament|

* Elmet and Rothwell

Councillors|

* Mark Dobson[1]
(Garforth & Swillington Independents)
* Sarah Field[2]
(Garforth & Swillington Independents)
* Suzanne McCormack[3]
(Garforth & Swillington Independents)

List of places

England
Yorkshire

Garforth and Swillington is an electoral ward of Leeds City Council in east Leeds, West Yorkshire, covering the town of Garforth as well as the villages of Great Preston and Swillington.

## Boundaries[edit]

The Garforth and Swillington ward includes the civil parishes of:

* Austhorpe (east half)
* Great and Little Preston
* Sturton Grange
* Swillington

## Councillors[edit]

Election | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor

|
|
|

1980 |  | Greg Moakes (Lab)[a] |  | David Lambert (Lab)  |  | Ernest Smith (Lab)
1982 |  | Greg Moakes (Lab)  |  | David Lambert (Lab)  |  | David Schofield (Con)[4]
1983 |  | Greg Moakes (Lab)  |  | David Lambert (Lab)  |  | David Schofield (Con)
1984 |  | Greg Moakes (Lab)  |  | David Lambert (Lab)  |  | David Schofield (Con)[b]
1986 |  | Greg Moakes (Lab)  |  | David Lambert (Lab)  |  | Alan Groves (Lab)
1987 |  | Greg Moakes (Lab)  |  | John Ratchford (Lab)  |  | Alan Groves (Lab)
1988 |  | Greg Moakes (Lab)  |  | John Ratchford (Lab)  |  | Alan Groves (Lab)
1990 |  | Greg Moakes (Lab)  |  | John Ratchford (Lab)  |  | Alan Groves (Lab)
1991 |  | Greg Moakes (Lab)  |  | Shirley Haines (Lab)  |  | Alan Groves (Lab)
1992 |  | Thomas Murray (Lab)[5] |  | Shirley Haines (Lab)  |  | Alan Groves (Lab)
1994 |  | Thomas Murray (Lab)  |  | Shirley Haines (Lab)  |  | Alan Groves (Lab)
1995 |  | Thomas Murray (Lab)  |  | Shirley Haines (Lab)  |  | Alan Groves (Lab)
1996 |  | Thomas Murray (Lab)  |  | Shirley Haines (Lab)  |  | Alan Groves (Lab)
1998 |  | Thomas Murray (Lab)  |  | Shirley Haines (Lab)  |  | Karen Groves (Lab)[6]
1999 |  | Thomas Murray (Lab)  |  | Alan Groves (Lab)  |  | Karen Groves (Lab)
2000 |  | Thomas Murray (Lab)  |  | Alan Groves (Lab)  |  | Karen Groves (Lab)
2002 |  | Thomas Murray (Lab)  |  | Alan Groves (Lab)  |  | Karen Marshall (Lab)[c]
2003 |  | Thomas Murray (Lab)  |  | Andrea Harrison (Lab)[7] |  | Karen Marshall (Lab)
2004 |  | Thomas Murray (Lab)  |  | Andrea Harrison (Lab)  |  | Mark Phillips (Con)[8]
2006 |  | Thomas Murray (Lab)  |  | Andrea Harrison (Lab)  |  | Mark Phillips (Con)
2007 |  | Thomas Murray (Lab)  |  | Andrea Harrison (Lab)  |  | Mark Dobson (Lab)
2008 |  | Thomas Murray (Lab)  |  | Andrea McKenna (Lab)[d] |  | Mark Dobson (Lab)
2010 |  | Thomas Murray (Lab)  |  | Andrea McKenna (Lab)  |  | Mark Dobson (Lab)
2011 |  | Thomas Murray (Lab)  |  | Andrea McKenna (Lab)  |  | Mark Dobson (Lab)
2012 |  | Thomas Murray (Lab)  |  | Andrea McKenna (Lab)  |  | Mark Dobson (Lab)
2014 |  | Stuart McKenna (Lab)[9] |  | Andrea McKenna (Lab)  |  | Mark Dobson (Lab)
2015 |  | Stuart McKenna (Lab)  |  | Andrea McKenna (Lab)  |  | Mark Dobson (Lab)
2016 |  | Stuart McKenna (Lab)  |  | Sarah Field (Lab)  |  | Mark Dobson (Lab)
February 2017 |  | Stuart McKenna (Lab)  |  | Sarah Field (GSI)  |  | Mark Dobson (GSI)[e]
2018 |  | Suzanne McCormack (GSI)  |  | Sarah Field (GSI)  |  | Mark Dobson (GSI)
2019 |  | Suzanne McCormack (GSI)  |  | Sarah Field (GSI)  |  | Mark Dobson (GSI)
2021 |  | Suzanne McCormack (GSI)  |  | Sarah Field (GSI)  |  | Mark Dobson (GSI)
2022 |  | Suzanne McCormack (GSI)  |  | Sarah Field (GSI)  |  | Mark Dobson (GSI)
2023 |  | Suzanne McCormack* (GSI)  |  | Sarah Field* (GSI)  |  | Mark Dobson* (GSI)

indicates seat up for re-election.  indicates councillor defection. * indicates incumbent councillor.

## Elections since 2010[edit]

### May 2023[edit]

2023 Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Garforth and Swillington Independents | Suzanne McCormack*  | 3,428  | 54.0  | -9.0
| Labour | Luke Murrow  | 1,257  | 19.8  | +4.3
| Conservative | Peter Bentley  | 912  | 14.4  | -1.5
| Green | Stephen Beer  | 384  | 6.1  | +2.5
| Liberal Democrats | Jake Knox  | 195  | 3.1  | +1.5
| Independent | Tyler Wilson-Kerr  | 152  | 2.4  | N/A
Majority  | 2,171  | 34.2  | -12.9
Turnout | 6,347  | 39.2  | -4.7
| Garforth and Swillington Independents hold | Swing |  |

### May 2022[edit]

2022 Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Garforth and Swillington Independents | Mark Dobson*  | 4,488  | 63.0  | +14.2
| Conservative | Peter Youngs  | 1,133  | 15.9  | -11.3
| Labour | David Nagle  | 1,107  | 15.5  | -1.5
| Green | Stephen Beer  | 258  | 3.6  | -1.9
| Liberal Democrats | Jake Knox  | 117  | 1.6  | +0.6
Majority  | 3,355  | 47.1  | +25.5
Turnout | 7,127  | 43.9%  | -3.6
| Garforth and Swillington Independents hold | Swing |  |

### May 2021[edit]

2021 Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Garforth and Swillington Independents | Sarah Field*  | 3,780  | 48.8  | -14.1
| Conservative | Mark Barratt  | 2,105  | 27.2  | +14.1
| Labour | Michael Bailey  | 1,317  | 17.0  | +0.1
| Green | Steve Beer  | 420  | 5.5  | N/A
| Liberal Democrats | Jake Knox  | 79  | 1.0  | -1.9
Majority  | 1,675  | 21.6  | -24.4
Turnout | 7,749  | 47.5  | +7.8
| Garforth and Swillington Independents hold | Swing |  |

### May 2019[edit]

2019 Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Garforth and Swillington Independents | Suzanne McCormack*  | 4,007  | 62.9  | +0.4
| Labour | Mark Pratt  | 1,077  | 16.9  | -0.7
| Conservative | Linda Richards  | 837  | 13.1  | -2.7
| For Britain | Michael Bolton  | 265  | 4.2  | +2.2
| Liberal Democrats | Mitchell Galdas  | 186  | 2.9  | +0.7
Majority  | 2,930  | 46.0  | +1.1
Turnout | 6,399  | 39.7  | -10
| Garforth and Swillington Independents hold | Swing | +0.6  |

### May 2018[edit]

2018 Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Garforth and Swillington Independents | Mark Dobson*  | 5,377  | 62.5  | N/A
| Garforth and Swillington Independents | Sarah Field*  | 4,738  |  |
| Garforth and Swillington Independents | Suzanne McCormack  | 4,361  |  |
| Labour | Annie Maloney  | 1,512  | 17.6  | -37.6
| Labour | Mark Pratt  | 1,505  |  |
| Conservative | Joseph Blunt  | 1,358  | 15.8  | -10.8
| Labour | Mirelle Midgley  | 1,354  |  |
| Conservative | Linda Richards  | 1,311  |  |
| Conservative | Jordan Young  | 1,181  |  |
| Liberal Democrats | Christine Golton  | 190  | 2.2  | -0.1
| For Britain | Michael Bolton  | 168  | 2.0  | N/A
Majority  | 3,865  | 44.9  | +16.3
Turnout | 16,203  | 49.7  | +9.1
| Garforth and Swillington Independents gain from Labour  |  |  |
| Garforth and Swillington Independents gain from Labour  |  |  |
| Garforth and Swillington Independents gain from Labour  |  |  |

### May 2016[edit]

2016 Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Sarah Field  | 3,582  | 55.2  | -2.0
| Conservative | Daniel Farrell  | 1,726  | 26.6  | -0.1
| UKIP | Terry Harkin  | 862  | 13.3  | +2.3
| Green | Kieran White  | 175  | 2.7  | -0.1
| Liberal Democrats | Mitchell Galdas  | 147  | 2.3  | +0
Majority  | 1,856  | 28.6  | -4.0
Turnout | 6,492  | 40.6  |
| Labour hold | Swing |  |

### May 2015[edit]

2015 Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Mark Dobson*  | 6,737  | 57.2  | -6.9
| Conservative | Daniel Farrell  | 3,137  | 26.7  | -5.7
| UKIP | Mark Maniatt  | 1,297  | 11.0  | +11.0
| Green | Lesley Jeffries  | 327  | 2.8  | +2.8
| Liberal Democrats | Mitch Galdas  | 270  | 2.3  | -1.1
Majority  | 3,600  | 30.6  | -1.1
Turnout | 11,768  | 72.4  |
| Labour hold | Swing | -0.6  |

### May 2014[edit]

2014 Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Stuart McKenna  | 3,172  | 51.7  |
| Conservative | Ryan Stephenson  | 2,027  | 33.0  |
| Green | Yvonne Murray  | 709  | 11.6  |
| Liberal Democrats | Mitch Gladas  | 227  | 3.7  |
Majority  | 1,145  |  |
Turnout | 6,135  | 38.5  |
| Labour hold | Swing |  |

### May 2012[edit]

2012 Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Andrea McKenna*  | 3,499  | 58.0  | -6.2
| Conservative | Louise Turner  | 1,785  | 29.6  | -2.8
| English Democrat | Stephen Elliot  | 544  | 9.0  | +9.0
| Liberal Democrats | Christine Golton  | 208  | 3.4  | +0.0
Majority  | 1,714  | 28.4  | -3.3
Turnout | 6,036  |  |
| Labour hold | Swing | -1.7  |

### May 2011[edit]

2011 Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Mark Dobson*  | 4,906  | 64.1  | +20.4
| Conservative | Ryan Stephenson  | 2,479  | 32.4  | -2.2
| Liberal Democrats | Christine Golton  | 263  | 3.4  | -12.4
Majority  | 2,427  | 31.7  | +22.5
Turnout | 7,648  | 48  |
| Labour hold | Swing | +11.3  |

### May 2010[edit]

2010 Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Thomas Murray*  | 5,007  | 43.8  | +1.2
| Conservative | Ryan Stephenson  | 3,955  | 34.6  | -4.6
| Liberal Democrats | Simon Dowling  | 1,811  | 15.8  | +8.3
| BNP | Graham Misson  | 668  | 5.8  | -4.8
Majority  | 1,052  | 9.2  | +5.9
Turnout | 11,441  | 71.8  | +27.1
| Labour hold | Swing | +2.9  |

## Notes[edit]

1. ^ Moakes had been a Kippax and Swillington ward councillor since 1973.
2. ^ For the next election in 1986, Schofield successfully stood instead as the Conservative candidate for Halton ward and did not re-stand for Garforth and Swillington. He later represented Temple Newsam ward.
3. ^ Groves stood under her new name of Karen Marshall. She lost her re-election bid at the 2004 election and, then Karen Bruce, was later elected for Rothwell ward in 2011.
4. ^ Harrison had married Armley councillor James McKenna and taken his name since her last election.
5. ^ Dobson resigned from the Labour council group to form and lead a new Garforth & Swillington Independents group on the council. He stated he was "increasingly uncomfortable with the direction and leadership of the Leeds Labour group." His ward colleague, Sarah Field, resigned the Labour whip three days later. She cited similar concerns to Dobson having "grown increasingly uneasy with the direction, priorities and manoeuvring of the Labour Group”.[10][11]

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Councillor Mark Dobson". democracy.leeds.gov.uk. Leeds City Council. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
2. ^ "Councillor Sarah Field". democracy.leeds.gov.uk. Leeds City Council. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
3. ^ "Councillor Suzanne McCormack". democracy.leeds.gov.uk. Leeds City Council. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
4. ^ "Councillor David Schofield". democracy.leeds.gov.uk. Leeds City Council. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
5. ^ "Councillor Thomas Murray". democracy.leeds.gov.uk. Leeds City Council. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
6. ^ "Councillor Karen Bruce". democracy.leeds.gov.uk. Leeds City Council. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
7. ^ "Councillor Andrea McKenna". democracy.leeds.gov.uk. Leeds City Council. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
8. ^ "Councillor Mark Phillips". democracy.leeds.gov.uk. Leeds City Council. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
9. ^ "Councillor Stuart McKenna". democracy.leeds.gov.uk. Leeds City Council. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
10. ^ "Ex Leeds council cabinet chief quits ruling Labour group amid claims of stifled debate and poor leadership". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
11. ^ "Leeds council in chaos? Second councillor quits ruling Labour group within three days". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 10 December 2018.