ALTHOUGH major political parties make up the bulk of the 90 members of Bradford Council, independents and smaller parties have had a major impact on the Council in recent years.

And at tomorrow’s elections, where 33 seats are up for grabs, there will be a number of candidates either not aligned to any political party, or acting as sole candidate for their party in the district.

And some standing independent Councillors are hoping to retain their seats.

Running as a candidate for one of the major political parties is the route most prospective Councillors follow, and it gives candidates the support and resources of a national organisation.

However, many instead opt to run as independents, free from the party “whip” that encourages members to vote a certain way.

Other candidates are running on behalf of smaller parties.

Although these smaller parties are only fielding candidates in a handful of wards this year, the impact of the Respect Party will be fresh in the minds of many at Bradford Council.

The party, led by George Galloway, won five seats on the Council in 2012, sending shockwaves through the authority.

Last week the Telegraph & Argus ran pieces on the priorities of each party fielding five candidates or more in the election.

Today we list the candidates that are running either as independents or under the banner of a smaller party.

Robert Douglas Beckwith is running as an independent in the Bingley Rural ward.

Tom Ernest Gibson is running as a candidate for the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition in teh Bolton and Undercliffe ward.

Tahir Zeb is running as an independent in the City ward.

Sitting independent Councillor Adrian Naylor is looking to retain his seat in the Craven ward, going up against Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Green and Yorkshire Party candidates.

Anne Hawksworth is another sitting Independent candidate who is campaigning to retain her Ilkley seat, running against the four main political parties.

Javaid Akhtar is running as an independent in the Keighley Central ward.

In the Keighley East ward Jake Anthony Shoulder is running for the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition.

And in the same ward Alexander Richard Vann is running under the Social Democratic Party banner.

Keighley West is the ward with the most candidates hoping to win the single available seat. Labour, the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, the Green Party and the Yorkshire Party all have candidates standing.

In addition UKIP, a party which once contested numerous seats in every local election, is fielding Ian Bannister in Keighley West.

Jane Lee is running as an independent in the ward.

Leo Alexander Robinson is running in the ward as a candidate of the For Britain Movement.

And Alexander Taylor is running as a Social Democratic Party candidate.

Talat Sawajal, of the Bradford Independent Group, hopes to retain his seat in Little Horton.

As well as the main parties, Richard Michael Hainsworth is running in the Queensbury ward as a Reform UK candidate.

In Royds Colin Victor Duke is running as an independent candidate.

In Tong Ruth Elaine Blackwell is running as a candidate for the Freedom Alliance.

James Graham Lewthwaite is running as a British Democrat candidate in Wyke.

And in the same ward Ian Walker is running for Reform UK.

Full list of candidates for Bradford Council elections announced