2023 Sunderland City Council election

Last updated
2023 Sunderland City Council election
Coat of arms of Sunderland City Council.png
  2022 4 May 2023 2024  

25 of 75 seats on Sunderland City Council
38 seats needed for a majority
 First partySecond partyThird party
  No image wide.svg No image wide.svg No image wide.svg
LeaderGraeme MillerNiall HodsonAntony Mullen
Party Labour Liberal Democrats Conservative
Seats before431415
Seats won1653
Seats after451513
Seat changeIncrease2.svg2Increase2.svg1Decrease2.svg2
Popular vote28,79610,88214,358

 Fourth partyFifth party
  No image wide.svg No image wide.svg
Party Reform UK Independent
Seats before12
Seats won00
Seats after10
Seat change-Decrease2.svg2
Popular vote4,2301,719

Sunderland2023ElectionResult.png
2023 Sunderland City Council Election Map

Leader before election

Graeme Miller
Labour

Leader after election

Graeme Miller
Labour

The 2023 Sunderland City Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of Sunderland City Council. There were 25 of the 75 seats of the council up for election, being the usual third of the council. The election took place at the same time as other local elections across England.

Contents

Labour retained its majority on the council. [1] [2] The Liberal Democrats overtook the Conservatives to become the largest opposition party. The Liberal Democrats were led into the election by Niall Hodson, but he was replaced as party leader after the election by Paul Edgeworth. [3]

Background

25 of the 75 seats will be up for election [4]

Since the first election in 1973, Sunderland has been a strongly Labour council, which consistently achieves over 60% control of the council. [5] However, in recent years they have lost seats to the Conservatives, UKIP and Liberal Democrats. The seats up for election this year were last elected in 2019. In that election, Labour lost 10 seats, The Conservatives gained 4 and Liberal Democrats gained 3.

In 2022, Labour defied speculation they would continue to haemorrhage, Leader Graeme Miller commented that "It was a good night" for his party because they "stopped the rot".

Since the last election, three councillors have defected from the Conservatives, one to Labour, one to Reform UK, and one who currently sits as an Independent and is not standing for re-election. In the last election the Conservatives were outperformed by the Liberal Democrats, who gained one more seat. There was speculation that the Liberal Democrats could take over from the Conservatives as the main opposition party on the council.

Results summary

2023 Sunderland City Council election
PartyThis electionFull councilThis election
SeatsNetSeats %OtherTotalTotal %VotesVotes %+/−
  Labour 16Increase2.svg266.7294560.028,79645.3Increase2.svg0.7
  Liberal Democrats 5Increase2.svg120.8101520.010,88217.1Increase2.svg1.6
  Conservative 3Decrease2.svg24.0101317.314,35822.6Decrease2.svg8.3
  Reform UK 0-0.0112.74,2306.7Increase2.svg6.7
  Green 0-0.0000.03,5335.6Decrease2.svg1.0
  Independent 0-0.0000.01,7192.7Increase2.svg0.6
  Monster Raving Loony 0-0.0000.0400.1-
  Communist 0-0.0000.0270.1-

Council composition

In the last council, the composition of the council was:

43151412
LabourConservativeLib
Dem
Reform UKIndependent

After the election, the composition of the council was:

4515131
LabourLib
Dem
ConservativeReform UK

Ward results

An asterisk next to a candidate’s name denotes an incumbent councillor. All changes shown below are in relation to the 2019 local election.

Barnes

Barnes [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Co-op Abul Bakkar Haque 1,272 40.3 +1.7
Conservative Kevin Leonard1,13035.8−11.8
Reform UK Alan Douglas Bilton2969.4New
Liberal Democrats Tim Ellis-Dale2487.9+0.2
Green Mark Tyers2126.7+0.5
Majority 142
Turnout
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

Castle

Castle [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Stephen Foster* 1,235 65.0 +0.8
Conservative Paul Burke25813.6−11.2
Reform UK Peter Middleton19610.3New
Liberal Democrats Mia Coupland1256.6New
Green Gary Ogle874.6−6.4
Majority
Turnout
Labour hold Swing

Copt Hill

Copt Hill [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Melanie Thornton* 1,273 50.8 +6.5
Independent Phillip John Dowell56422.5New
Conservative Pat Francis36414.5−3.1
Green Andrew Robertson1224.9−2.3
Reform UK Sheila Samme983.9New
Liberal Democrats Nana Boddy833.3+0.5
Majority
Turnout
Labour hold Swing

Doxford

Doxford [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Heather Fagan* 1,788 59.2 +9.5
Labour Co-op Andrew John Rowntree71923.8−4.2
Conservative John Scott Wiper30110.0−8.6
Reform UK Dawn Hurst1464.8New
Green Auburn Langley672.2−1.6
Majority
Turnout
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Fulwell

Fulwell [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Peter Walton 1,879 48.1 −4.3
Conservative David Sinclair1,03626.5−3.4
Labour Andy Stafford71818.4+2.9
Reform UK Lisa Hilton1263.2New
Green Liam Dufferwiel1082.8+0.6
Monster Raving Loony Jumping Jack Flash401.0New
Majority 843
Turnout 3,91243.9Decrease2.svg3.4
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing

Hendon

Hendon (countermanded) [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Lynda Scanlan* 878 43.6 −2.1
Liberal Democrats Steve Donkin86543.0+4.8
Conservative Georgina Young1045.2−6.6
Reform UK Ian Jones874.3New
Green Helmut Izaks793.9−0.5
Majority 13
Turnout
Labour hold Swing

The election in Hendon was countermanded due to the death of the Conservative candidate, Syed Ali. It was held on 15 June.

Hetton

Hetton [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Co-op Iain Scott* 1,117 44.9 −0.2
Independent David Geddis81232.7−3.6
Conservative Connor Sinclair2108.4−4.0
Reform UK Sam Wood-Brass1576.3New
Green Rachel Lowe1014.1New
Liberal Democrats Ian David Ellis893.6−2.6
Majority
Turnout
Labour hold Swing

Iain Scott was elected in a by-election on 30 September 2021 due to the death of the incumbent Labour councillor Doris Turner.

Houghton

Houghton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Juliana Herron* 1,625 60.1 +4.4
Conservative Craig Morrison36313.4−9.5
Independent Donna Thomas2699.9−5.8
Reform UK Steve Holt2067.6New
Liberal Democrats Sharon Boddy1284.7New
Green Alyson Kordbarlag1134.2−1.5
Majority 46.7
Turnout 27.0−5.3
Labour hold Swing

Millfield

Millfield
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Julia Potts* 1,497 56.3 +7.3
Labour Kingsley Osahon Okojie87232.8−4.1
Conservative Hardip Barad1345.0−5.0
Green Richard Peter Bradley712.7+0.1
Reform UK David Craig592.2New
Communist Julio Romero Johnson271.0−0.2
Majority
Turnout
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Pallion

Pallion
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Martin Haswell* 1,659 64.3 +6.4
Labour Karren Noble71527.7−0.8
Conservative Gwennyth Gibson933.6−6.9
Reform UK Raymond Lathan752.9New
Green Dorothy Lynch391.5−1.6
Majority
Turnout
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Redhill

Redhill
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Co-op John Usher* 1,015 59.3 +3.0
Reform UK Neil Farrer26215.3New
Conservative Sue Leishman21512.6−4.6
Liberal Democrats Steven Dale1337.8−13.9
Green Justine Merton-Scott875.1+0.4
Majority
Turnout 1,71221.9
Labour gain from UKIP Swing

John Usher was elected in a by-election on 3 March 2022 due to the resignation of the incumbent Independent councillor Keith Jenkins.

Ryhope

Ryhope
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Co-op Lindsey Leonard 1,348 51.5 +5.8
Conservative Lorraine Douglas59622.7−22.0
Reform UK Tony Thompson36814.0New
Green Micheal Harker1666.3−3.3
Liberal Democrats Janice Ellis1425.4New
Majority
Turnout
Labour gain from UKIP Swing

Sandhill

Sandhill
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Stephen O'Brien* 1,457 64.0 +10.8
Labour Keith Lakeman55724.5−8.9
Conservative Christine Reed1044.6−5.8
Reform UK Ciera Hudspith1004.4New
Green Martha Bradley602.6−0.4
Majority
Turnout
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Shiney Row

Shiney Row
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Co-op David Snowdon* 1,501 53.8 −1.4
Conservative Richard Vardy59221.2+0.8
Green Thomas Mower31011.1−0.4
Reform UK Morgon Proud1776.3New
Liberal Democrats Michael Peacock1374.9New
Independent Lynsey Gibson742.7New
Majority
Turnout
Labour hold Swing

Silksworth

Silksworth
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Joanne Laverick 1,459 56.2 ±0.0
Conservative Owen Snaith49319.0−13.1
Green Chrisphoer Crozier34613.3+1.6
Reform UK Michael Ellis2188.4New
Liberal Democrats Mauro Amatosi783.0New
Majority
Turnout
Labour hold Swing

Southwick

Southwick
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Michael Butler* 1,256 60.2 +1.6
Conservative Liam Ritchie35917.2−10.7
Reform UK Paul Watt25012.0New
Green Emma Cutting1366.5−6.0
Liberal Democrats Helder Costa844.0New
Majority
Turnout
Labour hold Swing

St Anne's

St Anne's
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Co-op Catherine Hunter 981 48.5 −0.3
Conservative Pam Mann*69434.3−4.3
Liberal Democrats Elaine Rumfitt21610.7New
Green Simon Hughes1316.5−6.1
Majority
Turnout
Labour gain from UKIP Swing

Pam Mann won this seat in 2019 as a UKIP candidate.

St Chad's

St Chad's
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Dominic McDonough* 1,296 50.2 +0.7
Labour Martin Old88834.4+0.7
Reform UK Graham Hurst1646.3New
Green Scott Burrows1244.8−3.1
Liberal Democrats Anthony Usher1124.3−4.1
Majority 408
Turnout
Conservative hold Swing

St Michael's

St Michael's
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Adele Graham-King 1,432 42.2 −11.6
Labour Chris Smith1,37840.6+5.3
Reform UK Chris Eynon2738.0New
Green John Appleton2015.9−0.9
Liberal Democrats Colin Wilson1103.2−0.9
Majority
Turnout
Conservative hold Swing

St Peter's

St Peter's
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Josh McKeith* 1,348 43.4 +9.8
Labour Co-op David Newey1,16037.3−12.1
Liberal Democrats John Lennox2548.2−0.6
Green Rachel Featherstone1936.2−1.7
Reform UK Keith Samme1524.9New
Majority 188
Turnout 3,11139.3
Conservative hold Swing

Washington Central

Washington Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Co-op Beth Jones 1,806 66.6 +7.5
Conservative Audrey Jaitay50518.6−12.4
Reform UK Dean Hilton1585.8New
Green Raymond Moore1455.3−4.1
Liberal Democrats Linda Wood993.6New
Majority 1,301
Turnout 2,72032.7
Labour hold Swing

Washington East

Washington East
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Co-op Fiona Miller* 1,651 56.4 +3.1
Conservative Hiliary Johnson78026.6−12.1
Reform UK Lynda Alexander2107.2New
Green Michal Chantokowski1665.7−1.9
Liberal Democrats Richard Bond1224.2New
Majority 871
Turnout 2,93633.1
Labour hold Swing

Washington North

Washington North
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Peter Walker* 1,455 68.2 +7.0
Conservative Svetlana Rakhimova27512.9−12.1
Reform UK Elizabeth Anne Brown1637.6New
Green Kevin Lynch1316.1−7.4
Liberal Democrats Graeme Arnott1085.1New
Majority 1,180
Turnout 2,13826.9
Labour hold Swing

Washington South

Washington South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Co-op Joanne Chapman 1,311 43.6 −3.8
Conservative Peter Noble1,21040.3−2.4
Reform UK Deborah Lorraine2297.6New
Green Robert Welsh1424.7New
Liberal Democrats Sean Terry1143.8−6.1
Majority 101
Turnout 3,01239.5
Labour gain from Green Swing

Washington West

Washington West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Harry Trueman* 1,534 56.8 −1.6
Conservative Samantha Cosgrove57021.1−10.1
Green Paul Leonard2288.4−1.6
Liberal Democrats Andrew Bex2208.2New
Reform UK Kathryn Brown1475.4New
Majority 964
Turnout 2,70531.5
Labour hold Swing

References

  1. "Local elections 2023: Labour hold Sunderland, Newcastle, South Tyneside and Gateshead". BBC News. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  2. Binding, Chris (5 May 2023). "Sunderland City Council election results 2023 in full". Sunderland Echo. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  3. Gillan, Tony (18 May 2023). "Sunderland City Council has new main opposition leader after Lib Dems announce change at the top". Sunderland Echo. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  4. "Election timetable in England". GOV.UK. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  5. "Sunderland City Council Election Results 1973-2012" (PDF). Elections Centre. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Sunderland City Council" (PDF).