2018 Sunderland City Council election

The 2018 Sunderland City Council election took place on 3 May 2018 to elect members of Sunderland City Council in England.[1] The election took place on the same day as other local elections.

2018 Sunderland City Council election

← 2016 3 May 2018 2019 →

One third of 75 seats on Sunderland City Council
38 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Party Labour Conservative Liberal Democrats
Seats before 65 6 3
Seats won 17 5 3
Seats after 61 8 6
Seat change Decrease4 Increase2 Increase3

  Fourth party
 
Party Independent
Seats before 1
Seats won 0
Seats after 0
Seat change Decrease1

Map of the 2018 Sunderland City Council election results. Labour in red, Conservatives in blue, and Liberal Democrats in yellow.

Majority party before election

Labour

Majority party after election

Labour

Background

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In the period since the previous local elections in 2016, the Liberal Democrats had won two seats from Labour in by-elections: in January 2017 in Sandhill ward, and February 2018 in Pallion ward.[2]

The Labour, Conservative and Green Parties all fielded 25 candidates in the election. The Liberal Democrats fielded 22 candidates, and there were 4 Independent candidates. UKIP did not field any candidates, despite taking 11% of the vote at the previous election.[3] The election saw a debut for the Populist Party and For Britain, fielding one candidate each.

Election results

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The election saw Labour defend 16 seats and gain one seat, winning the Copt Hill ward from an Independent councillor. The Liberal Democrats took seats from Labour in Millfield, Pallion, and Sandhill. The Conservatives held the seats they were defending in Fulwell, St Michael's, and St Peter's, and gained from Labour in St Chad's and Barnes.[4]

The election result was the worst for the Labour Party in Sunderland since 2012. It was the Conservatives' best result since 2008, and the best result for the Liberal Democrats since 1982 (when they stood as the SDP/Liberal Alliance).[5]

The overall turnout was 32.9%

Sunderland Local Election Result 2018[6]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Labour 17 1 5  4 68 47 32,344  7
  Conservative 5 2 0  2 20 29.3 20,195  7.2
  Liberal Democrats 3 3 0  3 16 12.1 8,342  5.1
  Green 0 0 0  0 0 6.1 4,196  2.1
  Independent 0 0 1  1 0 4.1 2,820  3
  Populist Party 0 0 0  0 0 0.6 414  0.6
  North East 0 0 0  0 0 0.5 342  0.5
  For Britain 0 0 0  0 0 0.2 156  0.2

This resulted in the following composition of the council:

Party Previous Council New Council
Labour 65 61
Conservatives 6 8
Liberal Democrats 3 6
Independent 1 0
Total 75 75
Working majority  55   47 

Ward by ward results

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Asterisk denotes incumbent councillor.

Barnes Ward

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Barnes Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Antony Mullen† 1,560 45.1  8.1
Labour Zaf Iqbal 1,238 35.8  5
Liberal Democrats Timothy Ellis 432 12.5  8.6
Green Caroline Robinson 220 6.4  6.4
Rejected ballots 6 0.2  0.6
Majority 322 9.3  5.5
Turnout 3,456 40.7  1.3
Registered electors 8,484
Conservative gain from Labour Swing  6.6

†Antony Mullen was suspended by the Conservative Party during the election, and was under investigation due to a series of offensive social media posts he has made about Sunderland and Labour MP Diane Abbott. He remained on the ballot as a Conservative candidate, and was reinstated after being elected. The investigation showed no wrong whatsoever and he was fully reinstated.[7][8]

Castle Ward

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Castle Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Doris MacKnight* 1,358 63.0  7.1
Conservative James Doyle 439 20.1  12.6
Green Rebecca Lapping 178 8.3  8.3
Liberal Democrats Jack Stoker 174 8.1  5.7
Rejected ballots 6 0.3  0.5
Majority 919 42.6  23.2
Turnout 2,155 25.7  2
Registered electors 8,387
Labour hold Swing  17.4†

†Swing to the Labour candidate from UKIP, who had stood last time this seat was contested.

Copt Hill Ward

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Copt Hill Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jack Cunningham 1,400 48.6  4.4
Independent Anthony Allen* 940 32.6  13.8
Conservative Patricia Francis 428 14.8  6.8
Green Esme Featherstone 108 3.7  3.7
Rejected ballots 7 0.2  1.2
Majority 460 16  13.8
Turnout 2,883 32.4  2.4
Registered electors 8,889
Labour gain from Independent Swing  9.1

Doxford Ward

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Doxford Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Elizabeth Gibson* 1,258 44.4  11.4
Conservative George Brown 1,199 42.3  35
Green Alan Robinson 208 7.3  3.1
Liberal Democrats Peter Walton 170 6.0  7.9
Rejected ballots 6 0.3  0.4
Majority 59 2.1  19.8
Turnout 2,155 25.7  9.6
Registered electors 8,387
Labour hold Swing  18.2†

†Swing to the Labour candidate from UKIP, who had stood last time this seat was contested.

Fulwell Ward

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Fulwell Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Howe* 1,816 46.6  3.3
Labour Christopher Harding 1,289 33.1  1.2
Liberal Democrats Malcolm Bond 631 16.2  13.4
Green Steven Murray 159 4.1  0.3
Rejected ballots 19 0.5  0.1
Majority 527 13.5  2.1
Turnout 3,914 43.7  3.2
Registered electors 8,949
Conservative hold Swing  10.3†

†Swing to the Conservative candidate from UKIP, who had stood last time this seat was contested.

Hendon Ward

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Hendon Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Barbara McClennan* 1,029 47.4  2.7
Conservative Syed Ali 421 19.4  6.9
North East Party Kris Brown 342 15.7  15.7
Green Richard Bradley 239 11  4.2
Liberal Democrats Anthony Usher 134 6.2  6.2
Rejected ballots 8 0.4  0.5
Majority 608 28  5.6
Turnout 2,173 27.6  0.3
Registered electors 7,870
Labour hold Swing  4.8

Hetton Ward

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Hetton Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Claire Rowntree 1,480 53.3  5.6
Independent David Geddis 799 28.8  28.8
Conservative Douglas Middlemiss 358 12.9  6.8
Green Rachel Lowe 74 2.7  2.7
Liberal Democrats Diana Matthew 54 1.9  0.5
Rejected ballots 12 0.4  0.5
Majority 681 24.5  20.7
Turnout 2,777 30.8  4.2
Registered electors 9,029
Labour hold Swing  24.7†

†Swing to the Labour candidate from UKIP, who had stood last time this seat was contested.

Houghton Ward

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Houghton Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Neil MacKnight 1,630 54.2  11.6
Independent Linda Wood 737 24.5  24.5
Conservative Craig Morrison 460 15.3  10.4
Liberal Democrats Susan Sterling 97 3.2  3.2
Green Graham Martin 79 2.6  2.6
Rejected ballots 4 0.1  0.4
Majority 893 29.7  20.5
Turnout 3,007 32  3.5
Registered electors 9,409
Labour hold Swing  22.5†

†Swing to Labour from an Independent candidate, who had stood last time this seat was contested.

Millfield Ward

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Millfield Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Andrew Wood 1,522 58  25.4
Labour Iain Kay* 871 33.2  3.1
Conservative Gwennyth Gibson 155 5.9  0.7
Green Billy Howells 73 2.8  1
Rejected ballots 4 0.2  0.1
Majority 651 24.8  21
Turnout 2,625 36.7  4.8
Registered electors 7,156
Liberal Democrats gain from Labour Swing  14.3

Pallion Ward

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Pallion Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats George Smith 1,461 60.1  57
Labour Elise Thompson 714 29.4  18.4
Conservative Grant Shearer 178 7.3  7
Green Craig Hardy 76 3.1  1.7
Rejected ballots 3 0.1  0.8
Majority 747 30.7  13.2
Turnout 2,432 32.7  2.6
Registered electors 7,445
Liberal Democrats gain from Labour Swing  37.7

A by-election had been held in one of the other seats in Pallion Ward in February 2018 following the death of the incumbent Labour councillor. The by-election was won by the Liberal Democrats.[9]

Redhill Ward

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Redhill Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Paul Stewart* 1,168 60.1  1.4
Independent Heather Fagan 344 17.7  11.8
Conservative Neville Chamberlin 343 17.6  11.7
Green Rafal Marzec 85 4.4  4.4
Rejected ballots 5 0.6  0.4
Majority 824 42.4  11.8
Turnout 1,945 24.2  1.7
Registered electors 8,039
Labour hold Swing  14.7†

†Swing to the Labour candidate from UKIP, who had stood last time this seat was contested.

Ryhope Ward

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Ryhope Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Michael Essl 1,286 50.7  3.7
Conservative Paula Wilkinson 797 31.4  17.5
Green Emma Robson 290 11.4  8
Liberal Democrats Keith Townsend 149 5.9  3.1
Rejected ballots 13 0.5  0.2
Majority 489 19.3  5.3
Turnout 2,535 31  3.1
Registered electors 8,169
Labour hold Swing  18.3†

†Swing to the Labour candidate from UKIP, who had stood last time this seat was contested.

Sandhill Ward

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Sandhill Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Lynn Appleby 1,025 45.1  34.9
Labour Dave Allan* 820 36  29.6
Conservative Michael Leadbitter 317 13.9  10.3
Green John Appleton 110 4.8  4.8
Rejected ballots 3 0.1  2.9
Majority 205 9  31.1
Turnout 2,275 29  1.1
Registered electors 7,858
Liberal Democrats gain from Labour Swing  32.3

A by-election had been held in one of the other seats in Sandhill Ward in January 2017 following the disqualification of the incumbent Labour councillor for non-attendance. The by-election was won by the Liberal Democrats.[10]

Shiney Row Ward

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Shiney Row Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Mel Speding* 1,704 54.4  2.2
Conservative Sally Oliver 742 23.7  8.7
Populist Party Tony Morrow 414 13.2  13.2
Green Neil Shaplin 147 4.7  4.7
Liberal Democrats Nana Boddy 128 4.1  0.8
Rejected ballots 7 0.2  0.4
Majority 962 30.6  7.9
Turnout 3,142 32.2  0.1
Registered electors 9,747
Labour hold Swing  15.8†

†Swing to the Labour candidate from UKIP, who had stood last time this seat was contested.

Silksworth Ward

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Silksworth Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Phil Tye* 1,417 52.4  0.2
Conservative Bryan Reynolds 880 32.6  16.3
Liberal Democrats Thomas Crawford 203 7.5  7.5
Green Chris Crozier 202 7.5  7.5
Rejected ballots 7 0.3  0.7
Majority 537 19.8  1.5
Turnout 2,709 33.5  0.2
Registered electors 8,090
Labour hold Swing  8.3

Southwick Ward

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Southwick Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alex Samuels 1,307 54.6  3.1
Conservative Clair Hall 627 26.2  13
Liberal Democrats Bill Meeks 315 13.2  10.6
Green Anna Debska 139 5.8  5.8
Rejected ballots 7 0.3  0.5
Majority 680 28.4  8.8
Turnout 2,395 29.7  0.4
Registered electors 8,071
Labour hold Swing  17.4†

†Swing to the Labour candidate from UKIP, who had stood last time this seat was contested.

St Anne's Ward

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St Anne's Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Karen Wood 1,062 51.2  3.2
Conservative Gavin Wilson 620 29.9  15.8
Liberal Democrats Emma Neale 260 12.5  12.5
Green Gary Ogle 122 5.9  1.6
Rejected ballots 10 0.5  0.1
Majority 442 21.3  12.7
Turnout 2,074 26.2  1.2
Registered electors 7,926
Labour hold Swing  18.1†

†Swing to the Labour candidate from UKIP, who had stood last time this seat was contested.

St Chad's Ward

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St Chad's Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Blackett 1,268 44.9  10
Labour Gillian Galbraith* 1,203 42.6  2
Liberal Democrats Margaret Crosby 261 9.3  6.2
Green Helmut Izaks 89 3.2  3.2
Rejected ballots 0 0  0.5
Majority 65 2.3  3.4
Turnout 2,821 37.6  0.7
Registered electors 7,506
Conservative gain from Labour Swing  6

St Michael's Ward

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St Michael's Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Dixon* 1,958 58.3  13.7
Labour Steve Hansom 990 29.5  3.8
Green Robert Welsh 220 6.6  0.8
Liberal Democrats Julia Potts 184 5.5  1.6
Rejected ballots 4 0.1  0.2
Majority 968 28.8  9.9
Turnout 3,356 40  1.2
Registered electors 8,395
Conservative hold Swing  15.9†

†Swing to the Conservative candidate from UKIP, who had stood last time this seat was contested.

St Peter's Ward

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St Peter's Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Shirley Leadbitter* 1,457 43.3  6.9
Labour Ken Richardson 1,256 37.3  3.9
Liberal Democrats John Lennox 418 12.4  12.4
Green Rachel Featherstone 236 7.6  3.1
Rejected ballots 7 0.2  0.8
Majority 201 6  3
Turnout 3,374 41.6  6.8
Registered electors 8,111
Conservative hold Swing  14.4†

†Swing to the Conservative candidate from UKIP, who had stood last time this seat was contested.

Washington Central Ward

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Washington Central Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Linda Williams* 1,800 60.6  7.2
Conservative Anna Snell 907 30.5  19.2
Green Michal Chantkowski 251 8.5  8.5
Rejected ballots 11 0.4  0.1
Majority 893 30.1  7.7
Turnout 2,969 34.6  0.2
Registered electors 8,578
Labour hold Swing  19.1†

†Swing to the Labour candidate from UKIP, who had stood last time this seat was contested.

Washington East Ward

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Washington East Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Tony Taylor* 1,561 50.1  8.8
Conservative Hilary Johnson 1,123 36  10.1
Liberal Democrats Siobhán Kelleher 233 7.5  2.7
Green Josh Flynn 188 6  6
Rejected ballots 12 0.4  0.4
Majority 438 14.1  1
Turnout 3,117 34.4  0.1
Registered electors 9,063
Labour hold Swing  17.5†

†Swing to the Labour candidate from UKIP, who had stood last time this seat was contested.

Washington North Ward

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Washington North Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jill Fletcher* 1,514 62.9  4.2
Conservative Carol Groombridge 443 18.4  10.7
Green June Bradley 170 7.1  7.1
For Britain Andrew Cox 156 6.5  6.5
Liberal Democrats Carlton West 120 5  2.5
Rejected ballots 5 0.2  0.7
Majority 1,071 44.5  17
Turnout 2,408 29.7  0.9
Registered electors 8,106
Labour hold Swing  17.6†

†Swing to the Labour candidate from UKIP, who had stood last time this seat was contested.

Washington South Ward

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Washington South Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Graeme Miller* 1,292 47.2  2.3
Conservative Martin Talbot 978 35.7  14.4
Green Dominic Armstrong 254 9.3  9.3
Liberal Democrats Sean Terry 206 7.5  2.4
Rejected ballots 8 0.3  0.3
Majority 314 11.5  6.5
Turnout 2,738 35.1  1
Registered electors 7,794
Labour hold Swing  15.6†

†Swing to the Labour candidate from UKIP, who had stood last time this seat was contested.

Washington West Ward

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Washington West Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Dorothy Trueman* 1,697 59.2  2.2
Conservative Olwyn Bird 721 25.2  10.5
Green Paul Leonard 274 9.5  9.5
Liberal Democrats Kevin Morris 165 5.8  1.4
Rejected ballots 9 0.3  0.3
Majority 976 25.2  7.7
Turnout 2,866 32.1  0.3
Registered electors 8,924
Labour hold Swing  13.1†

†Swing to the Labour candidate from UKIP, who had stood last time this seat was contested.

References

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  1. ^ "Current Elections: List of Candidates for the Local Government Election". sunderland.gov.uk. Sunderland City Council. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  2. ^ "Lib Dems GAIN another Council seat in Sunderland". Liberal Democrat Voice. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  3. ^ "Candidates for Sunderland local elections in May revealed". Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  4. ^ Lindsay, Kali (3 May 2018). "Sunderland City Council elections - results in full". nechronicle. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  5. ^ "Tyne and Wear: Ward Voting Summaries, 1973-2015". Tyne and Wear Elects. 10 December 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  6. ^ "Local Elections Results 2018". Sunderland City Council. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  7. ^ "Tory council candidate suspended over string of 'disgraceful' tweets". 26 April 2018.
  8. ^ "Sunderland candidate suspended over Abbott tweet reinstated". BBC News. 4 May 2018.
  9. ^ "Lib Dems claim surprise council by-election win over Labour in Sunderland". Sunderland Echo. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  10. ^ Seddon, Sean (13 January 2017). "Lib Dems snatch second Sunderland council seat in by-election". nechronicle. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
Preceded by
2016 Sunderland City Council election
Sunderland City Council elections Succeeded by
2019 Sunderland City Council election