Votes for UKIP 'mixed up' with Yorkshire Party's at local elections in Wakefield

The error was realised after Labour asked for a recount in the Castleford Central and Glasshoughton ward.

Votes for UKIP and the Yorkshire Party were “mixed up” at the count for this month's local elections in Wakefield, it has emerged.

The error is believed to have been made by volunteers totting up ballot papers for the Castleford Central and Glasshoughton ward, where Labour councillor Tony Wallis was defending his seat.

Following the first count of votes for the seat, UKIP were believed to have defeated Labour by fewer than 10 votes. However, following a second count, Coun Wallis emerged as the clear winner, with a majority of almost 500.

Multiple sources close to the count told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that some Yorkshire Party votes were put together with ballot papers indicating support for UKIP.

Counters worked through the night at Thornes Park Athletics Stadium after votes were cast across Wakefield

One described the mishap as "careless", adding they'd "never seen anything like it" at an election count.

Speaking one week after the polls, Coun Wallis, who has been on Wakefield Council since 2000, confirmed that the error had occurred but insisted he had no hard feelings about it.

He said: “Unfortunately some of the votes got crossed, and UKIP appeared to have got a few more votes than me.

“There’d just been a mix-up with some of the ballot papers.

In the end, long-serving Coun Wallis comfortably retained the seat for Labour

"We queried it and and then it was sorted, as it turned out after the recount that I’d won.