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Stephen Place Leads Reform UK Group, Council Lacks Majority

5/17/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Stephen Place, founder of an apprenticeship firm, was named Reform UK’s group leader on Bradford Council.
Reform UK won 29 of 87 seats on May 7 but lacks a majority.
Labour fell to 17 seats, losing leader Susan Hinchcliffe’s seat.
Place removed Councillor Daniel Devaney from Reform after an apology for anti-Muslim posts.
The council’s May 19 meeting will choose a leader, Lord Mayor and Deputy Mayor with Reform lacking a majority.

History

Historical Context

The 1992 Bradford council election on 7 May saw Labour keep control with 53 of 90 seats while the Liberal Democrats held only two, illustrating early fragmentation. Decades later, the 2 May 2024 local election again left Labour with a majority but gave Reform UK a sizable bloc, echoing the persistent split-vote pattern in Bradford politics.

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Story summary

Stephen Place, founder of an apprenticeship firm, was named Reform UK’s group leader on Bradford Council.
Reform UK won 29 of 87 seats on May 7 but lacks a majority.
Labour fell to 17 seats, losing leader Susan Hinchcliffe’s seat.
Place removed Councillor Daniel Devaney from Reform after an apology for anti-Muslim posts.
The council’s May 19 meeting will choose a leader, Lord Mayor and Deputy Mayor with Reform lacking a majority.

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