Wakefield Council has seen a second Reform UK councillor resign from the party in less than two months since the party secured a dominant position in the local authority. Steve Lewis, who was elected to represent the Normanton ward, has quit the party. He was elected on May 7, the same election in which Reform UK won 58 out of 63 seats, ending Labour's long-standing control of the council, which had lasted since its formation in 1974.
Despite his resignation from the party, Lewis will continue to serve as an independent member for his ward. The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) confirmed that the council had been informed of his decision. Lewis had been elected for a two-year term after securing the second-highest number of votes in Normanton.
This departure follows that of Rhys Carr, another Reform UK councillor who resigned approximately two weeks prior to represent the Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton ward as an independent. Following the May 7 election, Labour was left with only one councillor on Wakefield Council, underscoring Reform UK's sweeping victory in the local elections.