Hull City Council elections

Until 2002, with the exception of the period 1969–71, the council had been led by Labour since 1945. They again led the council as a minority administration between 2003 and 2006. Between the 2006 election and 2011 election Hull City Council was led by a Liberal Democrat administration, originally as a minority administration. The Liberal Democrats first gained overall control of the council after the 2007 election. In the 2011 election Labour regained control of the council following the collapse of the Liberal Democrat vote.^[2] In the 2012 election Labour increased the number of seats they held.^[3] In the 2014 election two Labour councillors formed an "Independent Labour Group" in protest against their own party's budget plans, off-setting the two seats gained by Labour in the election.^[4] In the 2018 election all seats were contested because of boundary changes^[1] and the Liberal Democrat vote rose gaining seats on Labour who held on to control, with their worst result since 2010. The 2019 election saw just 2 seats change hands leaving the composition of the council unchanged.^[5]

Elections in 2020 were postponed for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[6] The 2021 election saw Labour lose a seat, while the Liberal Democrats gained two.^[7] On 3 March 2022, Labour councillor Julia Conner defected to the Liberal Democrats, reducing the Labour majority to one.^[8] Two weeks later, it was announced that another Labour Councillor, Sean Chaytor, would be standing as an independent candidate against Labour in the upcoming 2022 local elections.^[9] The Liberal Democrats won overall control of the City Council in the 2022 local elections to end ten years of Labour rule.^[10] On 23 March 2023, Labour councillor Aneesa Akbar resigned as a councillor for the Central Ward, triggering a by-election that took place on 4 May 2023, the same day as the UK local elections.^[11] The 2023 local elections saw the Liberal Democrats returned with an increased majority.^[12] Sarah Harper was suspended as a councillor on 7 August 2023 after failing to attend a council meeting in 6 months due to health issues and the birth of her first daughter, triggering a by-election in her Bricknell ward.^[13] Labour held the ward in the by-election with Sharon Hofman elected.^[14] On 8 January 2024, Cllr Marjorie Brabazon for the Avenues Ward resigned as a councillor, triggering a by-election,^[15] with University councillor and former Lord Mayor Steve Wilson resigning the Labour whip the next day citing: "It became a toxic environment, but I'm free of it now".^[16][17] He continued to sit as an independent, until 26 March 2024 when he withdrew his accusation and offered his apology. He regained the Labour whip, but stood-down at the May 2024 election for health reasons.^[18]