RECAP: How election night unfolded in Sunderland as Labour claimed victories, Lib Dems became majority opposition and Conservatives took a hit
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Labour strengthened its control of the council, gaining seats, and the Liberal Democracts became the majority opposition group, with the Tories suffering at the polls - and from defections in the run-up to the election.
A total of 24 seats were decided - one in each ward of the city, bar Hendon, where the election was postponed due to the sad death of one of the candidates.
RECAP: Sunderland City Council elections 2023
Key Events
- Labour strengthened its control of the council on election night
- The Lib Dems have become the majority opposition party
- Sunderland Conservatives suffered losses from defections and election defeats
Labour claim St Anne’s from the Tories
The first result of election night is a key gain for Labour from the Tories.
The Sunderland Conservatives last victory in the ward was in 2021, with a majority of just three votes over Labour.
Sunderland Labour went on to win in the ward in 2022.
Councillor Pam Mann, who was elected as a UKIP councillor in 2019 before defecting to the Conservatives in 2021, was looking to defend her seat this year, but has failed to hold out.
St Anne’s was the only ward in the city where Reform UK did not stand a candidate, thus leaving a four-way contest between Labour, Liberal Democrats, Conservatives and the Green Party.
Catherine Hunter, who was elected in St Anne’s, welcomed the result.
She said: “We have worked tirelessly to speak with every voter with a clear message, that this Government has been hammering areas like ours with their cost of living crisis, only Labour can make that change”
Labour wins the first three seats of the night
With three results declared so far, Labour are sitting pretty, having gained St Anne’s from the Tories, and holding their seats in Redhill and Shiney Row.
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