Local Election Results - Tyne and Wear

Local election results are in for three of Tyne and Wear’s five councils.

Voters went to the polls on Thursday to elect councillors in Newcastle, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, and Sunderland – with a third of each council’s seats up for grabs.

Labour is looking to convert its substantial poll lead into gains across the country, but is already a dominant force in Tyne and Wear.

So far, the results coming through have produced something of a mixed bag for the party – as well as celebrations for Lib Dems, Greens, and independents.

In Sunderland, there were a couple of Tory losses amid “huge drops” in their voter turnout.

Here is a snapshot of what has happened so far:

Sunderland City Council

Both Labour and the Lib Dems were in triumphant mood once the rapidly-counted votes were tallied in Sunderland.

Having suffered significant losses over recent elections, Labour gained three seats and maintained its majority on the city council.

Meanwhile, the Lib Dems have now become the largest opposition party in Sunderland – thanks to a critical gain in Fulwell.

The Conservative group will be reduced by two, with Tory leader Antony Mullen saying the issue was “not that Conservative voters have turned Labour, it is that they haven’t turned out at all and we have seen huge drops in our support”.

Newcastle City Council

Four seats lost for Labour and another one gained. There were notable gains for the Liberal Democrats, who were thrilled with victories in both North Jesmond and West Fenham.

And there was a shakeup in the outer west of the city too, as the Newcastle Independents party made gains from Labour in both the Lemington ward and in Denton and Westerhope.

However, Labour did win one back from the Newcastle Independents in Callerton and Throckley and maintained a strong majority.

City council leader Nick Kemp, who faces a leadership challenge next week, called the night a “mixed bag”.

Meanwhile, the Conservatives are without an election win in Newcastle since 1992 – a barren run that Gosforth hopeful Doc Anand could not put an end to.

South Tyneside Council

The Greens were the big winners in South Tyneside, winning three seats from Labour in Biddick and All Saints, Cleadon and East Boldon, and West Park.

That takes the Greens onto nine seats to become the main opposition party in the borough. Party leader David Francis said he was “relieved but also really excited about the growth of the Green group”.

Despite the defeats, Labour remains in commanding control of the council – with 38 of its 54 seats. Council leader Tracey Dixon insisted it had been a “good night” as her party held 11 wards, but said she was a “little disappointed”.

Still to come

Gateshead and North Tyneside councils are both holding their counts on Friday morning. Both will start at 10am and are due to be completed around 1pm.