The rise of UKIP did not yield a councillor in Kirklees - though the party pushed others out of line in the voting.
The party, largely the focus of the national media and European elections, polled second in two Kirklees wards and third in three.
Melanie Roberts, second in the Colne Valley ward, had a message for other parties: “Wait and see what happens next year”.
She said: “They probably didn’t expect me to poll second ahead of Labour and the Conservatives, so who knows what can happen once we’re more established.”
Turnout for the local election was just 35%. The European ballots will be counted on Sunday and the turnout for that was 35.28%.
While the make-up of the Kirklees Council chamber has not altered after the local elections there are three new faces - Karen Allison (Green), Bill Armer (Conservative) and Erin Hill (Labour) who were all elected for the first time and held the seats for their parties.
Labour leader Clr David Sheard said he was “pleased” the rise of UKIP did not materialise in Kirklees: “It’s a good thing for politics... I’m pleased UKIP haven’t got in locally, it’s better for the council.”
Clr Sheard said of the Labour Party’s local results: “There’s no change but I think if you look at the numbers we got the votes in.
“The next two years will be difficult, I think if we put out to a referendum all the things we’ll have to do we’d lose it, but difficult decisions have to be made.
“There are three other parties, I know we can sit down and talk and get somewhere, there’s one I doubt we can.”
Asked if that one was the Conservatives, Clr Sheard replied: “Yes, they’ve removed themselves from reality in their campaign, it will be difficult but I’ll work with anyone who understands the job we’ve got to do.”
Conservative leader Clr Robert Light said: “I’m not surprised UKIP didn’t get in, they have nothing to offer Kirklees as a council, its services, the public or the future of the country.”
He said the Tories were pleased to hold onto their seats, adding: “We polled well and when you look at the position of the electoral cycle we got good results. The more we can get the message out there - that we have the ideas to deal with the issues the council faces - the better, I don’t think people understand some of the other parties haven’t got a clue in terms of the future of Kirklees.”
Lib Dem leader Clr Kath Pinnock said: “I didn’t expected UKIP to make any progress and as Kirklees is quite a diverse place it strikes me that they won’t achieve very much here.
“It’s the first time in a long time that no seats have changed hands in Kirklees so Labour now needs to look at how they can make a majority on the council.
“I’ve always said I will have discussions with anybody about trying to implement good ideas and improve things.”
Green Party leader, Clr Andrew Cooper, said; “I think we have secured more votes this time than before and we are more popular than the Lib Dems in some wards.
“We came second in the Greenhead ward which is a great result and we want to build on it from here.”
The new and returning candidates were delighted with their wins.
Greenhead’s Clr Mohan Sokhal said he was relieved to win after celebrating 25 years in Kirklees Council last month: “It was a bit of a low turnout this time but it might have been because of the weather yesterday.
“I still got a very big majority in this area so I’m quite happy.
“During my campaign I kept trying to explain to my constituents that this is the situation and we are trying our best to maintain all the services in my ward.”
Clr Cahal Burke returned to his Lindley seat and said: “It feels fantastic, I was cautiously optimistic that the hard work would pay off and it has.
“I think the Lib Dems have a lot of support in Lindley and it’s been about what we’ve done locally in the last four years. I hope and think people have seen that I’m working hard for them and will continue to.”
Clr Nigel Patrick, Holme Valley South Conservative, said: “Thanks to those who voted, for those who didn’t that’s democracy isn’t it, I’ll do my best for them too.”
Clr Linda Wilkinson returns to Almondbury victorious for the Lib Dems and said: “I feel delighted to be back for a fourth term, it was a hard-fought campaign and I want to thank everyone who voted for me and have shared their confidence in me to represent them for another four years.”
Clr Karen Allison won for the Green Party in Newsome and said: “I feel absolutely delighted, I’ve worked hard for it and can’t take it in that it’s actually happened.
“I think people saw that I and the Green Party know what’s going on in Newsome, are part of it and care about it and that we look out for the area.”
Independent Clr Terry Lyons held on to the Holme Valley North seat and said: “I’m established now and people know what they’re getting and that is someone who doesn’t let national politics get in the way of what we need do to locally and I think people appreciate that.”
Clr Jim Dodds held the Denby Dale seat for the Conservatives and said: “It feels great to stay for another four years, I’ve worked hard but there’s more hard work to come for Denby Dale with difficult decisions that will have to be made.
“I want to get the best for what is the best place in Kirklees.”
Clr Andrew Marchington held onto the Golcar ward for the Lib Dems and said: “I kept the campaign focused on local issues, that’s what we’re about and I think people could see that.”
Clr Bill Armer was newly-elected to the Kirkburton seat, holding it for the Conservatives. He said: “I knew it was going to be tight but we campaigned hard.
“It was very much a team effort, Christine Smith who I’m taking over has really helped. I want to listen to people, it’s not about telling them what I want it’s about listening to what they want and seeing how we can achieve it.”
Clr Viv Kendrick, Labour Heckmondwike, said: “I wish more people had come out to vote and get involved.
“I am pleased to be voted in, it’s important for me to do all I can for Heckmondwike.”
Clr John Lawson held his Cleckheaton seat and said he was “absolutely delighted” adding: “I think people in Cleckheaton still have Liberal values and fairness and know we’ll represent them well.”
Clr David Hall, Conservative for Liversedge and Gomersal said: “I feel absolutely chuffed, I was confident that we’d had a fantastic response in the campaign and hopeful and I feel thankful to everybody who supported me, it’s much appreciated.”
Dewsbury East, West and South Clrs Cathy Scott, Mumtaz Hussain and Masood Ahmed, comfortably held onto their seats.
Clr Scott said: “It’s been a team effort, we’re always campaigning and listening and I think people see that in Dewsbury we all work really hard for our wards and that we work together for our town. I think honesty has paid off, we’ve not polished the difficulties we’ll face and people really appreciate that.”
Kirklees Council election results 2014: Every ward, every candidate, every vote - click here
Recap: Kirklees local election count and results - how it happened - click here to see.
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