After a shocking neck-and-neck race, Labour have won the seat of Penistone East in Barnsley from the Conservative Party.
Penistone East had been Conservative since 1998.
Alex Burnett received a standing ovation as he took the seat from the Conservatives, winning 1,603 votes, a 254 majority.
Coun Burnett said: “I am absolutely delighted. This has been a long time coming for Penistone East.
“We just got out there and spoke to the residents. We kept going out even in what I think was later declared as a hurricane.”
With votes still being counted at the Metrodome Leisure Complex, Labour have gained four wards so far.
Coun Burnett said it looked like it could be an indicator for next year’s general election.
‘Two horse race’
In other Barnsley developments, Rockingham has switched to independent, after the deputy leader of the council Chris Lamb stepped down.
Andrew Simon Wray is now the independent councillor for the Rockingham ward after receiving 771 votes.
This comes as a shock to Barnsley after David White, who ran as a Conservative candidate but then switched to Reform, won the seat in 2022.
Coun Wray’s election slogan was “community, community, community”. This is his first time as a councillor.
Coun Wray said: “I always knew it was going to be a two horse race between me and Labour.
“I think what won it for me is that I am so well known in the community, I am always in the pub chatting to people.”
He also delivered 14,000 prescriptions during the Covid pandemic.
In Kingstone, the Liberal Democrats have won the seat from Labour in a very tight race, with the Lib Dem candidate receiving 688 votes and Labour 640 votes.
Phillip Wright, the new councillor for the Kingstone ward, said he was “shell shocked” but “over the moon with the win”.
Coun Wright said: “I live in the ward and the Labour candidates don’t. I think that is a real strength for the Liberal Democrats. It is all about local councillors being there for local residents.”