Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565

Three councils in Yorkshire could slip through Labour’s fingers in May’s local elections, leaked documents revealed, with fears their defeat in December’s national poll could be reflected locally.

Sheffield, Kirklees, and Calderdale councils could be lost by the Labour Party, if internal polling comes to fruition.

The worst-case scenario sees Labour losing 315 seats and the document said “we fully expect to lose hard-working councillors and lose control of some councils”.

It added: “In fact, our predictive modelling [...] points to substantial losses that may constitute one of our worst local election performances in recent history”.

From left to right, Kirklees Council leader Shabir Pandor, Sheffield Council leader Julie Dore, and Calderdale Council leader Tim Swift. Photos: JPI Media | jpimediaresell

The modelling is based on predictions of what would have happened if the General Election last year was held on a ward level rather than a constituency level.

In various models Sheffield, Kirklees, and Calderdale are all identified as potentially being at risk, with Rotherham hanging under a question mark as boundary changes make it impossible to predict.

Labour leader of Kirklees Council, and Batley West councillor Shabir Pandor said the local party would “campaign very hard to win”.

He said: “The past two years have been difficult for all political parties on the backdrop of the democratic decision to leave the EU.

“Now Brexit has been done we can continue to campaign on local issues.

“The Labour budget in Kirklees announced record levels of investment in our towns, villages, roads, tackling crime, addressing climate emergency, investing in our younger generation, looking after our growing elderly population, and how we ensure we address things like fly tipping, grot spots, gang and knife crime.

“Despite the last 10 years of Tory government austerity and cut back - equating to losing 60p in every pound - we are committed to our residents and our local Labour party will always be fighting for them at a local level.”

Leaders of Sheffield Council and Calderdale Council, Julie Dore and Tim Swift, were contacted for comment.

A national Labour Party spokesperson said: "We recognise the scale of the challenge we face on May 7 and we will be fighting for every vote in the local elections."

Leaked Labour document warns three Yorkshire councils under threat in 'worst local election in recent history' predictions