THE LEEDS BRIEF ⏰ Monday, May 11, 2026

Good morning Leeds - Monday 11 May, and what a few days it has been. Leeds City Council has a new political reality following Thursday's vote. Thousands of people ran through the streets of this city yesterday in memory of a man who became a symbol of everything Leeds stands for. And tonight, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Daniel Farke's side could all but confirm Premier League survival with a good result. Let's go. 👇

🗳️ ELECTION RESULTS - LABOUR LOSES CONTROL OF LEEDS CITY COUNCIL

The votes are counted. Leeds has changed. - Labour has lost overall control of Leeds City Council for the first time in years, falling from 56 seats to 48 — two short of the 50 needed for a majority on the 99-seat council. The night's most dramatic moment came in Headingley and Hyde Park, where council deputy leader Jonathan Pryor was ousted by Green Party candidate Nilesh Chohan by a crushing 3,056 votes — Chohan received 4,334 to Pryor's 1,278. In South Leeds, the Greens gained Beeston and Holbeck from Labour, while the SDP held Middleton Park and the Greens held Hunslet and Riverside. Across the city, the Greens gained a net five seats and Reform UK gained eight. The city-wide turnout was 41.49 per cent.

The new political make-up of Leeds City Council (99 seats total):

Conservative leader Coun Alan Lamb said: "We're into uncharted territory here in Leeds, with Labour out of control. The electorate have told us we've got a duty to work together." Labour council leader James Lewis said: "I'm disappointed that hard-working councillors and candidates have lost." Green councillor Ed Carlisle (Hunslet and Riverside) said: "The political landscape is changing and I think that's a good thing for our communities." Discussions on the formation of a new administration — either a minority Labour council or a cross-party coalition — must conclude before the annual council meeting on 20 May. (Sources: Yorkshire Evening Post · South Leeds Life · West Leeds Dispatch · Leeds City Council)

🏃 SPORT

🥇 George Ravenhall from Guiseley wins the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon - Thousands of runners flooded the streets of Leeds on Sunday for the fourth Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon — and the winner came from right here in the city. George Ravenhall, who lives in Horsforth and has run the event since it launched in 2023, crossed the finish line first in a course-best time of 2 hours, 26 minutes and 33 seconds. He told the Yorkshire Evening Post: "I'm feeling amazing. Really enjoyed today and the run. It's a privilege to run it — it's about much more than racing." Tom Charles finished second in 2:27:09. In the half marathon, Will Tighe won in 1:07:30. Over 13,000 runners took part across the marathon and half marathon, raising funds for MND research and charities including Leeds Hospitals Charity, Candlelighters and St Gemma's Hospice — all in memory of the Leeds Rhinos legend who died in June 2024. (Sources: Yorkshire Evening Post · ITV Calendar · ExaminerLive)

⚽ Leeds United vs Tottenham - TONIGHT, 8pm - can Farke's side seal it? - Leeds United travel to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium tonight (8pm, Sky Sports) needing just a point — or for other results to go their way — to be mathematically safe in the Premier League. Farke's side go into the game in excellent form: six unbeaten in the league, 10 points from their last four. Spurs, under new boss Roberto De Zerbi, have won their last two to drag themselves away from the bottom three, but remain in a precarious position and are missing eight first-team players including Vicario, Romero, Simons, Kudus, Solanke, Kulusevski, Davies and Odobert. Leeds are without Gudmundsson and Gruev. De Zerbi said his players "know they have the quality" to beat Leeds. Farke will be equally aware that Leeds dominated the reverse fixture — expected goals 1.7 to 0.5 in Leeds' favour despite a 2-1 defeat at Elland Road. Leeds are on 43 points with three games remaining. (Sources: WhoScored · FotMob)

🚨 CRIME & COURTS

👶 Shameful: Mum used her children as "cover" to steal parcels from Leeds apartments - A Leeds mother has been sentenced after using her two young children as cover while stealing parcels from apartment blocks across the city. The woman began by taking a parcel from a doorstep on Avenue Crescent in Chapeltown - a £21 gift a father had ordered for his daughter. Days later, she and her partner targeted Skinners Yard and then an apartment block on Clarendon Road at Woodhouse Moor, tailgating inside when another resident left. On the fourth floor, she rifled through residents' mail left outside doors. Her partner failed to appear for sentencing and a warrant was issued for his arrest. The judge described the offences as "shameful" behaviour. (Source: Yorkshire Evening Post)

🔴 Police appeal: help trace Alfie Doyle - connections to Bramley, Armley and Farnley - West Yorkshire Police are appealing for help to trace Alfie Doyle, 21, from Bramley, in connection with an investigation where threats were made to commit damage. Doyle is 5ft 7, slim, with "Fearless" tattooed on his chest and "LUFC" tattooed on his right arm. He is believed to have links to the Morley, Farnley and Armley areas. Contact police on 101, via westyorkshire.police.uk/livechat, quoting 13260172105, or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. (Source: West Leeds Dispatch)

🏗️ PLANNING

🏢 Plans for 246 flats in 24-storey tower near Adelphi pub to go before planners this week - Plans for a significant new tower near Leeds' Aire Park development are heading to the council's City Plans Panel on Thursday 14 May. Developer Glenbrook has submitted a planning application for 246 predominantly one and two-bedroom flats on a vacant plot at Meadow Lane, adjacent to The Adelphi pub — land that Leeds City Council has agreed to sell. The scheme would rise up to 24 storeys and include around 20 per cent affordable housing, rented at 80 per cent of the private market rate. A council planning officer's assessment described the site as "a prominent vacant brownfield site" and said the development presents "a significant opportunity to regenerate" the area while delivering "a substantial number of new homes." (Sources: Leeds Live · South Leeds Life · The Hoot Leeds)

🚌 TRANSPORT

⚠️ King Lane, Alwoodley - CLOSED today and tomorrow due to burst water main - King Lane in Alwoodley is closed all day today (Monday 11 May) and tomorrow (Tuesday 12 May) while Yorkshire Water carries out full repairs to a burst water main. Service 7A towards Alwoodley will terminate at King Lane Park & Ride during works, missing stops at Allerton High, Nursery Lane, Buck Stone Gardens, The Avenue and The Drive. 7A services towards Leeds will start from King Lane Park & Ride. Additionally, Wellington Street remains closed eastbound on Sundays 4pm–4am until 7 June (affecting services 4, 4F, 16, 16A, 33, 34, 42, 60, 60A, 508, 875, 876 and A1). Check all service updates at wymetro.com. (Source: Yorkshire Evening Post)

🚧 Yorkshire Water flood works: Spring Valley Estate access changes this week - Yorkshire Water is starting groundwater testing as enabling work for a major storm water storage project off Ring Road Bramley (A6110), near the Spring Valley Estate junction. The right turn from the A6110 into Spring Valley Crescent will be temporarily closed between 7.30am and 6pm on the following dates: Tuesday 12 May, Wednesday 13 May, Tuesday 18 May and Wednesday 19 May. Residents can still access Spring Valley Estate via the road next to Morrisons. The wider project will add 5,000 cubic metres of sewer storage capacity to improve Pudsey Beck's water quality. Questions: 0344 848 1099 quoting reference YW.203193. (Source: West Leeds Dispatch)

💼 BUSINESS

✈️ £750,000 refurbishment completed at Leeds Bradford Airport Industrial Estate - A major £750,000 refurbishment of a 90,000 sq ft industrial unit at Leeds Bradford Airport Industrial Estate (LBAIE) has been completed, with agents Carter Towler and Knight Frank appointed to market the upgraded space. The works transformed the high-bay unit with full office upgrades, contemporary LED lighting, modernised elevations and a resurfaced yard. The estate — which stretches to approximately 1.25 million sq ft across a 60-acre site — was recently acquired by Leopard Capital UK, marking the London investment firm's entry into the Yorkshire market. (Sources: Insider Media · Business Up North)

🍹 WKD chose Leeds for the launch of its big new national campaign - RTD drinks brand WKD staged a two-venue nightlife takeover in the Hyde Park area of Leeds on 6 May to launch its new 'Got a WKD Side?' campaign — choosing Leeds following research into popular venues among 18-to-24-year-olds. The brand took over Chimaek Oppa and Mythos, splitting guests between a BLUE side (house music, WKD's playful personality) and a VENOM side (UKG and Speed Garage, celebrating new cocktail launches). WKD marketing director Scott Bell said the brand is "back in growth" with 3.1 per cent value growth and 24 per cent volume growth, backed by a £10m+ investment programme. The event was part of a strategy to recruit the next generation of consumers — and the brand's choice of Leeds for its campaign launch is a vote of confidence in the city's nightlife. (Source: Grocery Gazette)

🌱 COMMUNITY

💚 Leeds Baby Bank's pram appeal gets a wonderful response - Leeds Baby Bank — based near Armley Gyratory in New Wortley - launched an urgent appeal last month asking Leeds people to "raid their garages, sheds, hallways and spare rooms" for prams after 32 families were left waiting for pushchairs, including eight whose babies had already arrived. The response from the city has been described as wonderful, with donations pouring in. If you still have a clean, fully working pram to donate, bring it to leedsbabybank.org/donate-items — or if you can't get it there, email admin@leedsbabybank.org. You can also buy a pushchair from their Amazon wishlist for £63. High chairs and Moses baskets are also needed. (Source: Yorkshire Evening Post)

🌿 Incredible Edible Leeds wins £20,000 to expand food growing across West Leeds - Incredible Edible Leeds — a community food growing network operating across nearly 25 local groups and more than 75 sites across the city — has received almost £20,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund to strengthen and expand its work. There are already groups in Bramley, Pudsey and Armley. Founder Dan Robinson said the funding "comes at just the right time" and will go directly to local groups to fund water-saving equipment, restore unloved orchards, and plant fruit trees in parks and green spaces. Anyone in West Leeds wanting to set up a new group is encouraged to get in touch at edibleleeds.org.uk. (Source: West Leeds Dispatch)

🎨 ARTS

👂 Ceramic ears hidden across South Leeds - can you find them? - As part of the Situation Leeds arts festival (running 11–24 May), BasementArtsProject has been hiding ceramic ears made by artist Garry Barker all over 'The Corner' Pocket Sculpture Park in south Leeds and in a nearby street. Hunt them down — but don't take them and don't tell others where they are. Just photograph them and post to Instagram tagging @BasementArtsProject and @southleedslife. On Saturday 16 May, a full programme of events takes place at The Corner — including a chance to chat to Garry, Kate Jennings' painting project, and as darkness falls, an outdoor film screening by the Ad Hoc collective. Everything is free. On Tuesday 19 May, a new exhibition opens by Lane Shipsey: Hard Shoulder Motorway City — an intimate portrait series of South Leeds. (Source: South Leeds Life)

🥊 PEOPLE

🥊 Stanningley lad lost his mum at 16, became homeless — then stepped in the MMA cage for charity - Luke Woodend, 23, from Stanningley, completed his first ever MMA fight at a charity event — and raised £1,190 for Macmillan Nurses, who cared for both his mum and grandma before they died from cancer. Luke, who also overcame homelessness and alcohol struggles before qualifying as a gas engineer and setting up his own business Structo, trained for eight weeks at Bad Company gym in Bramley as part of the Ultra MMA event at Village Hotel Leeds North. He didn't win his fight against Alex Bramwell from York, but said: "After the bout I was buzzing and glowing. I loved everything about it." Thirty-four novice fighters collectively raised £11,700 across the night. Luke plans to take part in the next Ultra MMA event in November. Sign up at ultra-mma.co.uk - training begins at Bramley's Bad Company Gym in September. (Source: West Leeds Dispatch)