2012 Sunderland City Council election

The 2012 Sunderland Council election took place on 3 May 2012 to elect members of Sunderland City Council in England. It was held on the same day as other 2012 United Kingdom local elections.[1]

2012 Sunderland City Council election

← 2011 3 May 2012 2014 →

One third of 75 seats on Sunderland City Council
38 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Party Labour Conservative Independent
Seats before 56 15 3
Seats won 22 2 2
Seats after 64 8 3
Seat change Increase8 Decrease7 Steady0

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

Map of the 2012 Sunderland City Council election results. Labour in red, Independents in grey and Conservatives in blue.

Majority party before election

Labour

Majority party after election

Labour

Election results

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Following the election, the Labour Party remained in control of the council with its majority increased by eight. Labour took seats from the Conservatives in Washington East, Washington South, St Peter's, St Chad's, Ryhope, Doxford and Barnes. The Liberal Democrats also lost out to Labour in Millfield.

The Conservatives held two wards – Fulwell and St Michael's. Independents in Copt Hill and Houghton also held their seats.

Sunderland Local Election Result 2012[2]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Labour 22 8 0  8 88 61.3 43,485  1.6%
  Conservative 2 0 7  7 8 19.4 14,783  6.4
  Liberal Democrats 0 0 1  1 0 5.6 3,958  0.2%
  UKIP 0 0 0  0 0 5 3,548  3%
  Independent 2 0 0  0 8 4.8 3,376  0.1%
  Green 0 0 0  0 0 2.3 1,620  0.1%
  National Front 0 0 0  0 0 0.2 122  0.2%

This resulted in the following composition of the council:

Party Previous Council New Council
Labour 56 64
Conservatives 15 8
Independent 3 3
Liberal Democrats 1 0
Total 75 75
Working majority  37   53 

Ward by ward results

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An asterisk denotes an incumbent.

Barnes ward

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Barnes
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Rebecca Atkinson 2,041 55.5  31.1
Conservative Anthony Morrissey* 1,486 40.4  11.2
Liberal Democrats Gouilnara Dixon 150 4.1  10.7
Majority 555 15.1  12.1
Turnout 3,692 40.8  2.8
Labour gain from Conservative Swing  21.2

Castle ward

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Castle
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Denny Wilson 1,978 86.1  33.3
Conservative Paula Wilkinson 215 9.4  3.8
Liberal Democrats Paul Hillman 104 4.5  2.5
Majority 1,763 76.8  37.4
Turnout 2,319 26.7  3.4
Labour hold Swing  18.6

Copt Hill ward

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Copt Hill
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Derrick Smith* 1,679 55.2  9.6
Labour Ann Owen 1,250 41.1  6.7
Liberal Democrats Sue Sterling 111 3.7  3.7
Majority 429 14.1  2.9
Turnout 3,052 33.6  3.2
Independent hold Swing  11.7†

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

Doxford ward

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Doxford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Christine Marshall 1,863 67.1  32.1
Conservative Richard Vardy* 590 21.3  20.3
Green Caroline Robinson 246 8.9  8.9
Liberal Democrats Matt MacDonald 76 2.7  10.4
Majority 1,273 45.9  39.3
Turnout 2,789 35.1  0.6
Labour gain from Conservative Swing  26.2

Fulwell ward

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Fulwell
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Bob Francis* 1,758 48.1  5
Labour Margaret Beck 1,657 45.4  19.1
Liberal Democrats Geoff Pryke 238 6.5  5.2
Majority 101 2.8  24.1
Turnout 3,670 40  3.5
Conservative hold Swing  12.1

Hendon ward

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Hendon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Michael Mordey* 1,518 66.6  30.2
Conservative Debbie Lorraine 360 15.8  5.8
UKIP Pauline Featonby-Warren 244 10.7  10.7
Green Samuel May 159 7  7
Majority 1,158 50.8  37.6
Turnout 2,297 25.6  3.9
Labour Co-op hold Swing  17.9

Hetton ward

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Hetton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour James Blackburn* 1,628 51.8  17.4
UKIP John Defty 1,363 43.3  43.3
Liberal Democrats Philip Dowell 154 4.9  4.9
Majority 265 8.4  30
Turnout 3,166 35.1  4.5
Labour hold Swing  30.4

Houghton ward

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Houghton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Sheila Ellis* 1,697 51.9  7.1
Labour Gemma Taylor 1,496 45.8  8.8
Liberal Democrats Louise Smith 74 2.3  2.3
Majority 201 6.2  1.6
Turnout 3,278 35.8  0
Independent hold Swing  9.2†

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

Millfield ward

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Millfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Bob Price 1,058 45.5  21.2
Liberal Democrats Paul Dixon* 888 38.2  7.9
Conservative Keith O'Brien 164 7.1  8
National Front Paul Birleson 122 5.3  5.3
Green Helmut Izaks 94 4  4
Majority 170 7.3  14.5
Turnout 2,339 28.8  3.5
Labour Co-op gain from Liberal Democrats Swing  14.6

Pallion ward

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Pallion
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Amy Wilson* 1,541 66.7  22.4
Conservative Peter O'Connor 365 15.8  11.3
Green David Campbell 304 13.2  13.2
Liberal Democrats Sylvia Doward 101 4.4  8.4
Majority 1,176 50.9  33.7
Turnout 2,321 30.4  1.2
Labour hold Swing  16.9

Redhill ward

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Redhill
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ronny Davison 1,887 78.6  29.1
UKIP Lynn Kelly 388 16.2  16.2
Conservative Gwennyth Gibson 125 5.2  5.3
Majority 1,499 62.46  32.4
Turnout 2,415 28  3
Labour hold Swing  24.3†

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

Ryhope ward

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Ryhope
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Anthony Farr 1,887 72.8  40.1
Conservative Shaun Cudworth 706 27.2  6.5
Majority 1,181 45.6  44.6
Turnout 2,620 31.9  5.4
Labour Co-op gain from Conservative Swing  23.3

St Anne's ward

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St Anne's
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Susan Watson* 1,743 72.1  26.7
Conservative Norman Oliver 339 14  8
Green Emily Blyth 268 11.1  11.1
Liberal Democrats Kathy Walker 69 2.9  12.6
Majority 1,404 58  34.7
Turnout 2,426 28  1.5
Labour hold Swing  17.4

St Chad's ward

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St Chad's
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Darryl Dixon 1,755 55.3  18.8
Conservative Alan Wright* 1,312 41.4  8.9
Liberal Democrats Sue Wilson 105 3.3  2.3
Majority 443 14  0.2
Turnout 3,188 40  1.7
Labour gain from Conservative Swing  13.9

St Michael's ward

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St Michael's
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Margaret Forbes* 1,649 51.3  8.9
Labour Chris Johnson 1,161 36.1  12.7
Green Rachel Featherstone 265 8.2  8.2
Liberal Democrats Andrew Wood 140 4.4  5.7
Majority 488 15.2  21.5
Turnout 3,242 35.4  5.5
Conservative hold Swing  10.8

St Peter's ward

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St Peter's
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Julia Jackson 1,595 52.5  25.7
Conservative Graham Hall 1,221 40.2  7.6
Liberal Democrats Chris Henry 224 7.4  6.7
Majority 374 12.3  8.7
Turnout 3,065 35.2  2.6
Labour gain from Conservative Swing  16.7

Sandhill ward

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Sandhill
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Debra Waller 1,830 90.4  43.4
Labour Mary Turton 1,424 70.4  23.3
Conservative Paul Tweddle 459 22.7  3.4
Liberal Democrats Anthony Usher 335 16.6  3.7
Majority 965 47.7  26.7
Turnout 2,035 23.8  6.9
Labour hold Swing  40
Labour hold Swing  19.9

There was a double vacancy in Sandhill ward in 2012, due to the retirement of Labour councillor Jim Scott, and the death of Labour councillor John Gallagher.[3] Two seats were up for election, and each voter could cast two votes.

Shiney Row ward

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Shiney Row
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Anne Hall* 2,286 73.6  25.1
Conservative Malcolm Vardy 635 20.4  7.3
Liberal Democrats Carol Attewell 187 6  7.1
Majority 1,651 53.1  32.4
Turnout 3,129 30.8  2.6
Labour hold Swing  16.2

Silksworth ward

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Silksworth
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Patricia Smith* 1,960 67.2  18
Conservative Dominic McDonough 451 15.5  12.9
UKIP Derek Horsley 376 12.9  12.9
Green Joella Lynch 128 4.4  4.4
Majority 1,509 51.8  30.9
Turnout 2,919 34.3  2.4
Labour hold Swing  15.5

Southwick ward

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Southwick
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Rosalind Copeland* 1,582 66.4  22.9
Conservative Terence Docherty 394 16.5  10
UKIP Michael Leadbitter 325 13.6  13.6
Liberal Democrats Ann Hollern 81 3.4  3.4
Majority 1,188 49.9  32.9
Turnout 2,394 28.6  4.1
Labour hold Swing  16.5

Washington Central ward

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Washington Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Dianne Snowdon* 1,999 65.7  25.5
UKIP Erland Polden 536 17.6  17.6
Conservative Pat Francis 327 10.8  15.4
Liberal Democrats Chris Ashford 179 5.9  17.4
Majority 1,463 48.1  34
Turnout 3,058 33.9  2.3
Labour Co-op hold Swing  20.5

Washington East ward

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Washington East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Snowdon 1,721 56.5  16.2
Conservative Hilary Johnson 735 24.1  19.1
UKIP Linda Hudson 316 10.4  10.4
Green Tony Murphy 156 5.1  5.1
Liberal Democrats Malcolm Bannister 119 3.9  8.6
Majority 986 32.4  29.5
Turnout 3,055 34.6  2.5
Labour gain from Conservative Swing  17.7

Washington North ward

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Washington North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Kelly* 2,047 80.1  27
Conservative Kathleen Irvine 349 13.7  8.6
Liberal Democrats Kevin Morris 160 6.3  6.7
Majority 1,698 66.4  35.6
Turnout 2,577 29  3.3
Labour hold Swing  17.8

Washington South ward

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Washington South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Louise Farthing 1,802 65.1  27.5
Conservative Martin Talbot 757 27.4  15.2
Liberal Democrats David Griffin 209 7.6  5
Majority 1,045 37.8  32.9
Turnout 2,797 33.9  3.6
Labour gain from Conservative Swing  21.4

Washington West ward

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Washington West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Bernard Scaplehorn* 2,200 77.5  31.4
Conservative Olwyn Bird 386 13.6  11.7
Liberal Democrats Irene Bannister 254 8.9  8.9
Majority 1,814 63.9  43.1
Turnout 2,869 31.5  2.5
Labour hold Swing  21.6

References

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  1. ^ "Local elections 2012". BBC News. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  2. ^ 2012 Results
  3. ^ "Tributes paid to "gentleman" Sunderland councillor who died of lung cancer". Sunderland Echo. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
Preceded by
2011 Sunderland City Council election
Sunderland City Council elections Succeeded by
2014 Sunderland City Council election