RECAP: How Sunderland City Council local elections 2021 unfolded as Labour took a battering in Wearside

The final results for the Sunderland City Council local elections are now in.
It was a tough night for Labour in SunderlandIt was a tough night for Labour in Sunderland
It was a tough night for Labour in Sunderland

The Echo team worked through the night to keep readers up-to-date with the results as they came in. Here’s how the count unfolded:

Sunderland City Council elections 2021

Key Events

  • Labour suffered heavy damage from the Lib Dems and Tories
  • Cabinet member Rebecca Atkinson and former deputy council leader Michael Mordey are among Labour councillors to lose seats
  • The new breakdown of seats on Sunderland City Council is Labour 42, Conservatives 18, Lib Dems 12 and UKIP 3

We’re now into the last hour of voting. Polling stations close at 10pm - so make a dash for it if you’re still planning to vote.

The count in Sunderland is usually a frenzied sea of activity, but social-distancing and other covid-secure measures mean things are quite different this year. There is certainly no rush to be first.

Pictures show some of the covid-secure measures in use at the count