THE LEEDS BRIEF ⏰ Monday, May 4, 2026

Good morning, Leeds - and happy Bank Holiday Monday! While most of the country has its feet up, this city is three days out from the biggest local vote in years. Every party has made its final pitch this weekend, a pair of Spice Girls surprised Armley, and hundreds of dads with prams filled Briggate on Saturday. Here's everything you need to know to start your week. 👇

🗳️ ELECTIONS - 3 DAYS TO GO | VOTE THURSDAY 7 MAY

Polls open 7am–10pm. Photo ID required. Results declared Friday, 8 May. 36 seats across 33 wards.

This is the last Leeds Brief before polling day, so here is the full picture of where every party stands - in their own words.

🔴 Labour - James Lewis: "A thriving city for all" - Labour, which currently controls Leeds City Council, is promising safer streets with dedicated local neighbourhood teams, a named police officer per ward to crack down on nuisance e-bikes and scooters, acceleration of the East Leeds Orbital Route, £13m invested in pothole repairs, and new council housing. Group leader James Lewis said the council is committed to "making life better for people across Leeds" and building on existing momentum. (Sources: YEP · West Leeds Dispatch)

🔵 Conservatives - Alan Lamb: "More than a sticking plaster" - The Conservative group is promising to "fix the basics properly," cut waste and direct more resources to frontline services. Group leader Alan Lamb said Leeds is being run as if all communities are the same — "too big, too bossy" — and that residents are paying more and getting less. He is calling for more local control over council decisions and warning voters that protest votes won't solve the city's real problems. Coun Lamb represents Wetherby. (Source: West Leeds Dispatch)

🟡 Liberal Democrats - Stewart Golton: "Change you can trust" - The Lib Dems are promising more PCSOs to tackle crime, action on nuisance parking, potholes and illegal graffiti, improved park lighting, better disabled access, and increased winter gritting - all at no extra cost to taxpayers. Group leader Stewart Golton, who represents Rothwell, said his party offered more budget alternatives to Labour than any other party this year. He said: "Local Lib Dems go looking for solutions, not a fight." (Source: West Leeds Dispatch)

🩵 Reform UK - Ryan Taylor: "Strong opposition" - Reform UK acknowledges it cannot take control of Leeds City Council this election but is aiming to become a visible and effective opposition. Group spokesman Ryan Taylor, who represents Morley South, pledged that Reform councillors will be "visible, accessible and accountable," challenge under-performance, and ensure public funds are spent transparently. The party is also backing investment in grassroots sport and community sports clubs and promoting civic pride. (Source: West Leeds Dispatch)

🌿 Greens - Penny Stables: "Fairness, sustainability, community power" - The Greens are targeting improved public transport - particularly in poorly served areas - along with innovative solutions to the housing crisis that serve residents rather than speculators, cleaner waterways, and a crackdown on fly-tipping. Councillor Penny Stables, who leads the Green Group, said the party's Leeds membership has grown fivefold in the past 12 months. She said Green councillors "put residents before party politics" and promised real scrutiny and practical community-rooted solutions. (Source: West Leeds Dispatch)

✊ TUSC - Richard Chaves-Sanderson: "Jobs, homes and services" - The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition is calling for more council housing, regulation of the private rented sector, expansion of the Crisis and Resilience Fund, and fully publicly-owned buses with fare-free travel. TUSC candidate Richard Chaves-Sanderson for Burmantofts and Richmond Hill said central government austerity has hit Leeds with "service cuts, council tax rises and rent hikes" and pledged to vote against measures that make workers pay while the rich benefit. (Source: West Leeds Dispatch)

🟣 SDP - Wayne Dixon: "Economic fairness, responsible government" - The Social Democratic Party is prioritising ending homelessness, including using more buildings as temporary accommodation, stronger flytipping enforcement, more waste collections, improved public transport, affordable housing, and ensuring vulnerable children are not placed in illegal or unregistered care homes. Group leader Wayne Dixon, who represents Middleton Park, described the SDP as focused on "common-sense policies and accountability" without ideological extremes. (Source: West Leeds Dispatch)

🎶 ARTS, CULTURE & PEOPLE

✨ Mel C played Armley on Saturday - then Mel B walked in and Leeds got its Spice Girls reunion - Melanie Chisholm - Sporty Spice - headlined Project House in Armley on Saturday night to celebrate the release of her new album Sweat, sporting her trademark blue tracksuit. What the crowd didn't expect was Mel B walking in unannounced to watch from the side of the stage. The audience erupted, chanting Mel B's name, and Scary Spice joined her on stage where they performed "Spice Up Your Life" together — their first time singing together since 2019. Mel B has recently moved back to West Yorkshire after years in Los Angeles and previously lived in Burley, attending what is now Leeds West Academy in Bramley. Project House is an independent multi-use events space in a former tile warehouse on Armley Road, opened in July 2023. (Sources: West Leeds Dispatch · Mirror)

📚 Leeds Lit Fest 2026 full programme announced — 50+ events, 6–14 June - Leeds Lit Fest has unveiled its full programme for this year's eighth edition, running across the city from Saturday 6 to Sunday 14 June. The line-up includes Sir Vince Cable discussing the shifting balance of global power, beloved poet John Hegley with New & Selected Potatoes, award-winning poet Kim Moore, spoken word performer Naomi Wood, the high-energy Say Owt Slam, and Rowan McCabe's Hard Knocks. A schools writing competition — 400 Words for Leeds — celebrates the city's 400th Royal Charter anniversary. The festival is run entirely by volunteers as a Community Interest Company with no significant public funding. Tickets and the full programme are at leedslitfest.co.uk. (Sources: Yorkshire Evening Post · T&A)

🏃 SPORT

🏉 Depleted Hunslet beaten 6-38 by Workington Town - Hunslet RLFC suffered a heavy defeat at the South Leeds Stadium on Sunday, going down 6-38 to Workington Town in the Betfred Championship. With a growing injury list — Billy Jowitt and Myles Harrop missing in the backs alongside Eddie Battye absent upfront — the Parksiders were outclassed by an inspired Workington side. Jake Carter ran the game from stand-off, finishing with two tries and 22 points from the boot. Ant Walker got Hunslet's sole try just before half-time, with Dan Abram converting. Head coach Kyle Trout acknowledged the squad's limitations but felt intensity also dropped from recent weeks. Hunslet have a break before their trip to Barrow on 24 May, with time to recover some key players. (Source: South Leeds Life)

🔥 Leeds 3-1 Burnley: Elland Road roars as Farke's side take a massive step toward Premier League survival Leeds United produced arguably their biggest result of the season on Friday night at Elland Road, beating already-relegated Burnley 3-1 to move nine points clear of the relegation zone and to 43 points — a total no side has ever been relegated with in a 20-team Premier League. Anton Stach opened the scoring with a stunning long-range strike in the eighth minute. Noah Okafor doubled the lead early in the second half, sweeping in from Jayden Bogle's cross after Dominic Calvert-Lewin's backheel set the move in motion. Calvert-Lewin then reacted fastest to a parried Ao Tanaka shot to add a third — his 12th league goal of the season. Loum Tchaouna scored a late consolation, but Leeds were never threatened. Manager Daniel Farke said: "To deliver 10 points out of the last four games in a nervy period, as a newly-promoted side, is second to none. The job is not done yet. We will celebrate properly when it's mathematically done. But 43 points is good." (Sources: Leeds United · Sky Sports)

📊 Relegation picture this morning - how it stands - Tottenham's 2-1 win at Aston Villa on Sunday (goals from Conor Gallagher and Richarlison) moved Spurs out of the bottom three and into 17th on 37 points. West Ham, beaten 3-0 by Brentford on Saturday, are now 18th - their fate is no longer in their own hands. Leeds sit on 43 points, seven clear of the drop zone with three games remaining. A win at Tottenham on Monday 11 May would mathematically confirm survival. Burnley and Wolves are already down. (Sources: Premier League · Yorkshire Evening Post)

📅 Next up: Tottenham away - Monday 11 May, 8pm, Sky Sports

👥 COMMUNITY

👨‍👧 Hundreds of dads marched through Leeds on Saturday - calling for six weeks of paternity leave - Hundreds of fathers pushed prams through Leeds city centre on Saturday (2 May) as part of the national Push for Paternity Leave campaign, organised by Leeds Dads' founder Errol Murray. The march set off from Briggate at 11am and ended at Millennium Square outside Civic Hall, where councillors, MPs, healthcare professionals and business leaders addressed the crowd. The marchers are demanding six weeks of paternity leave at 90% pay, compared to the current two-week statutory entitlement. Simultaneous marches took place in London, Manchester and Nottingham. Murray, who founded Leeds Dads 15 years ago, said the UK's current offer tells fathers they are "optional." (Sources: Yorkshire Evening Post · ITV News)

🏟️ Stuart Andrew visits Pudsey grassroots sports facilities ahead of Thursday's vote - Former Pudsey MP Stuart Andrew,now shadow health minister and MP for Daventry, returned to the constituency on Saturday as part of a West Yorkshire Conservative campaign visit. He toured Pudsey Juniors' newly developed Queens Park facilities, which include a new pitch, modular clubhouse, kitchen, storage and fencing, largely funded by the Football Foundation and serving over 300 young players. He then visited the under-construction £9.6m Woodhall Parklife sports hub, where three full-size 3G pitches, a pavilion, café and community space are due to open later this year. Andrew said: "These facilities have been a game changer for Pudsey Juniors." He was joined by Conservative council candidates Simon Seary (Pudsey) and Andrew Carter (Calverley & Farsley). (Source: West Leeds Dispatch)

🏗️ PLANNING

📦 White Rose Cheer submits plans to turn Holbeck warehouse into cheerleading sports centre - White Rose Cheer, a competitive cheerleading club, has submitted a change-of-use planning application to Leeds City Council to convert a vacant warehouse at Royds Farm Road, off Gelderd Road, Holbeck LS12, into an indoor training and community sports centre. The scheme would create a training space, reception area and employment through coaching and administration roles. A planning report says the development "represents a positive reuse" of the building and will promote healthy lifestyles in south Leeds. The consultation runs until 19 May — residents can submit factual comments via the council's planning portal. (Sources: Yorkshire Post · Yorkshire Evening Post)

🚌 TRANSPORT

🚦 Bramley bus route closed for four weeks - Rock Lane shut until 29 May - Rock Lane, Bramley is closed to traffic and buses due to roadworks until Friday 29 May. Affected passengers should check their route with Metro or First Bus for current diversions. Separately, Dawsons Corner in Pudsey remains on amended routing due to highway improvement works, and Kirkgate and Harper Street in the city centre remain closed until further notice — the stabilisation works on the collapsed Kirkgate building (which came down in April 2024) are currently paused, with the council in active discussions with the building's owner to restart the programme. Over a dozen bus services continue to divert from that corridor. (Sources: Yorkshire Evening Post · Metro travel alerts)

🥇 PEOPLE

🏛️ Meet the man championing Leeds' historic buildings and hidden landmarks - The Yorkshire Evening Post has profiled a Leeds resident dedicated to documenting and championing the city's historic built environment and lesser-known landmarks — from Victorian arcades to industrial heritage. The full feature is available at the link below (YEP subscriber access). (Source: Yorkshire Evening Post)