Labour ‘in danger’ of losing control of Sunderland and Durham councils reports claim ahead of local elections

Sources within the Labour Party have reportedly told The Guardian that the political party was in danger of losing control of Sunderland City Council and Durham County Council for the first time in 50 years.

The revelation comes just one day before voters head to the polls in this year’s local election on Thursday, May 6.

Throughout the campaign, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer acknowledged that the party had a “mountain to climb”.

He said: “The task I took on as leader of the Labour Party was to rebuild, out of the worst general election result since 1935, and put the Labour Party back in a position to win the next general election.

“And that’s a mountain to climb. We’re climbing that mountain, it has taken difficult decisions and I’m absolutely up for any further difficult decisions there will be.”

Polling stations will open across Wearside from 7am on Thursday, with at least one seat in each of Sunderland City Council’s 25 wards is being contested, with three holding double contests, meaning a total of 28 seats are up for grabs.

Of these, Labour is defending 21 of them, with four vacant, two held by the Conservatives and one by the Liberal Democrats.

A flurry of campaigning is expected across the country today (Wednesday) ahead of what is being dubbed as “super Thursday” after the coronavirus pandemic delaying a host of elections by 12 months, meaning there will be two years’ worth of polls taking place on May 6.

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