Yates, who describes himself as "not a political animal", was voted on to the council as a Tory three years ago and after a spell in the wilderness he joined the Lib-Dems whom he represented at yesterday's poll.
He carried a strong personal following but that did not prove enough to see off Conservative Howard Blagbrough who previously represented Sowerby Bridge. Labour's Ann Martin trailed in third.
The result will be a huge disappointment to Nick Yates who had campaigned hard as a "man of the people".
In Hipperholme and Lightcliffe sitting Councillor Graham Hall swept to a landslide victory for the Conservatives.
Consistently popular with the voters, Hall recorded a massive 2,209 votes, more than 1,600 ahead of his nearest rival, Jim Souper, for the Lib-Dems. Labour's Susan Press came in third. Neither of Hall's rivals could be said to have put up any sort of a contest.
Council leader Coun Ann McAllister retained her seat for the Conservatives in Rastrick with a comfortable majority of 880 over Labour's George Richardson.
The English Democrats candidate, David Stevenson, claimed third place ahead of Liberal Democrat Philip Jeffrey.
Elland's support for the Lib-Dems continued, Coun Pat Allen recording a relatively comfortable success over Conservative Christian Corkish. Labour's Stewart Brown, currently suspended by his party, recorded 312 votes.


Brighouse
Howard Blagbrough (Con) ..... 1,329
Nick Yates (Lib-Dem) ........ 1,250
Ann Martin (Lab) ............ 729
Majority ... 79
Con gain


Rastrick
Ann McAllister (Con) ......... 1,546
George Richardson (Lab) ..... 666
David Stevenson (Eng-Dem) .. 516
Philip Jeffrey (Lib-Dem) .... 425
Majority ... 880
Con hold

Hipperholme/Lightcliffe
Graham Hall(Con) ........... 2,209
Jim Souper (Lib-Dem) ....... 578
Susan Press (Lab) .......... 438
Majority ... 1,631
Con hold

Elland
Pat Allen (Lib-Dem) ......... 1,203
Christian Corkish (Con) ..... 800
** Stewart Brown (Lab) ........ 312
Mick Clarke (Eng-Dems) ...... 262
Susan Thomas (Green) ........ 156
Majority ... 403
Lib-Dem hold
** Stewart Brown currently
suspended by Labour

Town
Megan Swift (Lab) ........... 1,055
Chris Pillai (Con) .......... 649
Anthony Bentley (BNP)........ 403
Robert Reynolds (Ind) ....... 292
Brendan Stubbs (Lib-Dem) ... 273

Majority ... 406
Lab hold


Other results

Greetland and Stainland
Keith Watson (Lib Dem) 1,404
John Ford (Con) 958
Pamela Fellows (Lab) 251
Michael Hall (BNP) 229
Mark Mullany (Green) 170
Johnathan Rogan (English Democrats) 59
Lib Dem hold
Maj: 446

Calder
Janet Battye (Lib Dem) 1,188
Janet Oosthuysen (Lab) 1,135
Beverley Carter (Con) 890
Ruby Berridge (Green) 486
Lib Dem hold
Maj: 53

Illingworth and Mixenden
Tom Bates (BNP) 1,323
Judy Gannon (Lab) 1,014
Jon Shaw (Con) 796
Michael Elder (Lib Dem) 193
Sean Loftus (Ind) 124
BNP gain
Maj: 309

Northowram and Shelf
Graham Reason (Con) 1,745
Gary Rae (Lab) 524
Raymond Pearson (Ind) 387
John Dowson (English Democrats) 343
Chris Godridge (BNP) 322
John Beacroft-Mitchell (Lib Dem) 214
Con hold Maj: 1221

Luddenden Foot
Christine Bampton-Smith (Lib Dem) 1,301
Sarah Jennings (Con) 1,016
James Fearon (Lab) 513
John Gregory (BNP) 316
Lib Dem hold Maj: 285

Ovenden
Danielle Coombs (Lab) 847
Jane Shooter (BNP) 564
John Hardy (Con) 479
Malcolm James (Lib Dem) 248
Labour hold Maj: 283