Battle is under way over referenda due in May for England's 12 largest cities, plus councils including Salford where English Democrats have triggered a poll
After the protests, the city rallies; first at the loss of two local heroes, and then in debate and determination to find local answers to global problems. Local journalist Mark O'Brien concludes his look-back on Leeds' year
In the third part of his take on Leeds in the last year, Mark O'Brien moves from protests and strikes to the strength of communal feeling which buoys up the city
When local councillors met to approve a budget mandating cuts worth £90m, protesters stormed the chamber. Leeds freelance journalist Mark O'Brien starts a four-part take on his city's year
In the second of our series of pieces from MPs across the north giving a personal reflection of 2011, Rachel Reeves, Labour MP for Leeds West and Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury writes for the Guardian Northerner.
We've a new guest blogger: Janice Gwilliam who combines two very different interests in her volunteering work: conservation work in the North York Moors national park and helping asylum seekers in Leeds.
Guest blogger Janice Gwilliam kicks off with a market stall, Leeds lunch and helping her asylum seeker friend get ready for a meeting with the Borders Agency