# Sunderland City Council elections

Sunderland City Council elections are generally held three years out of every four, with a third of the council being elected each time. Sunderland City Council is the local authority for the metropolitan borough of the City of Sunderland in Tyne and Wear, England. Since the last boundary changes in 2004, 75 councillors have been elected from 25 wards.

## Council composition

Whilst under Labour control solidly since 1973, the political composition of Sunderland City Council has fluctuated over the years as the Conservatives, SDP-Liberal Alliance, and Independents gained seats from the Labour Party. Until 2019, only Labour, Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Independents (including Independent Labour) had ever won seats on Sunderland City Council. When UKIP and Green Party councillors were elected in 2019, Sunderland became one of the few British councils with all five parties represented. The table below gives an impression of the council's composition based on local election results.
| Election | Conservative | Labour | Liberal Democrat | Independent | UKIP | Green | Reform UK | Total |
| 1973 | 21 | 56 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78 |
| 1975 | 23 | 52 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78 |
| 1976 | 26 | 49 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78 |
| 1978 | 27 | 49 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78 |
| 1979 | 24 | 53 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78 |
| 1980 | 18 | 58 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78 |
| 1982 | 15 | 49 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75 |
| 1983 | 14 | 52 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75 |
| 1984 | 13 | 53 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75 |
| 1986 | 11 | 59 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75 |
| 1987 | 10 | 61 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75 |
| 1988 | 9 | 63 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75 |
| 1990 | 8 | 64 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75 |
| 1991 | 8 | 64 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75 |
| 1992 | 8 | 64 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75 |
| 1994 | 8 | 64 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75 |
| 1995 | 5 | 67 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75 |
| 1996 | 4 | 68 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75 |
| 1998 | 4 | 68 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75 |
| 1999 | 8 | 64 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75 |
| 2000 | 10 | 62 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75 |
| 2002 | 11 | 62 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75 |
| 2003 | 9 | 63 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75 |
| 2004 | 12 | 61 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75 |
| 2006 | 13 | 59 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75 |
| 2007 | 17 | 53 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75 |
| 2008 | 22 | 48 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75 |
| 2010 | 18 | 52 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75 |
| 2011 | 14 | 56 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75 |
| 2012 | 8 | 64 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75 |
| 2014 | 8 | 63 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75 |
| 2015 | 6 | 66 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75 |
| 2016 | 6 | 67 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75 |
| 2018 | 8 | 61 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75 |
| 2019 | 12 | 51 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 75 |
| 2021 | 18 | 42 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 75 |
| 2022 | 18 | 41 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75 |
| 2023 | 13 | 45 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 75 |

## Council elections

Sunderland's Council area comprises 25 wards, each electing three councillors. Elections are held in thirds, in three years out of every four. Between 1974 and 1986, elections were held in every fourth year to Tyne and Wear County Council, until the County Council was abolished. In 1982 and 2004, all seats on Sunderland Council were up for election following boundary changes.

### Elections under 1973-1980 boundaries

* Sunderland Metropolitan Borough Council election, 1973 (whole council elected)
* Sunderland Metropolitan Borough Council election, 1975
* Sunderland Metropolitan Borough Council election, 1976
* Sunderland Metropolitan Borough Council election, 1978
* Sunderland Metropolitan Borough Council election, 1979
* Sunderland Metropolitan Borough Council election, 1980

### Elections under 1982-2003 boundaries

* Sunderland Metropolitan Borough Council election, 1982 (whole council elected after boundary changes)
* Sunderland Metropolitan Borough Council election, 1983
* Sunderland Metropolitan Borough Council election, 1984
* Sunderland Metropolitan Borough Council election, 1986
* Sunderland Metropolitan Borough Council election, 1987
* Sunderland Metropolitan Borough Council election, 1988
* Sunderland Metropolitan Borough Council election, 1990
* Sunderland Metropolitan Borough Council election, 1991
* 1992 Sunderland City Council election
* 1994 Sunderland City Council election
* 1995 Sunderland City Council election
* 1996 Sunderland City Council election
* 1998 Sunderland City Council election
* 1999 Sunderland City Council election
* 2000 Sunderland City Council election
* 2002 Sunderland City Council election
* 2003 Sunderland City Council election

### Elections under 2004 boundaries

* 2004 Sunderland City Council election (whole council elected after boundary changes)
* 2006 Sunderland City Council election
* 2007 Sunderland City Council election
* 2008 Sunderland City Council election
* 2010 Sunderland City Council election
* 2011 Sunderland City Council election
* 2012 Sunderland City Council election
* 2014 Sunderland City Council election
* 2015 Sunderland City Council election
* 2016 Sunderland City Council election
* 2018 Sunderland City Council election
* 2019 Sunderland City Council election
* 2021 Sunderland City Council election
* 2022 Sunderland City Council election
* 2023 Sunderland City Council election
* 2024 Sunderland City Council election

## Election results maps

* 2004 results map
* 2006 results map
* 2007 results map
* 2008 results map
* 2010 results map
* 2011 results map
* 2012 results map
* 2014 results map
* 2015 results map
* 2016 results map
* 2018 results map
* 2019 results map
* 2021 results map
* 2022 results map
* 2023 results map
* 2024 results map

## By-election results
### 1994-1998

South Hylton By-Election 18 September 1997 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | | 636 | 71.1 | −10.3 |
| | Conservative | | 178 | 19.9 | +1.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 80 | 9.0 | +9.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 458 | 51.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 894 | 11.4 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### 1998-2002

Colliery By-Election 23 July 1998 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | | 646 | 46.7 | −18.7 |
| | Conservative | | 394 | 28.5 | +9.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 343 | 24.8 | +8.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 252 | 18.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,383 | 18.0 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Town End Farm By-Election 6 July 2000 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | | 509 | 63.4 |
| | Conservative | | 155 | 19.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 139 | 17.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 354 | 44.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 803 | 11.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
Eppleton By-Election 7 June 2001 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | | 3,074 | 65.9 | +2.2 |
| | Conservative | | 860 | 18.4 | −17.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 731 | 15.7 | +15.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,214 | 47.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,665 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### 2004-2006

Barnes by-election, 24 November 2005 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Anthony Morrissey | 1,139 | 50.8 | 15.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Taylor | 547 | 24.4 | 4.7 |
| | Labour | Ian Galbraith | 489 | 21.8 | 4.5 |
| | BNP | Ian Leadbitter | 67 | 3.0 | 6.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 592 | 26.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,242 | 25.5 | 23 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 10.3 | |
Millfield by-election, 23 March 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Dixon | 566 | 43.5 | 10.2 |
| | Labour | Shirley Waldron | 397 | 30.5 | 1.1 |
| | Conservative | Leslie Dobson | 260 | 20.0 | 1.6 |
| | BNP | James Davison | 79 | 6.0 | 7.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 169 | 13.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,302 | 18.2 | 17.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 5.7 | |

### 2006-2010

Washington East by-election, 27 September 2007 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Angela Cuthbert | 1,196 | 49.9 | 9.8 |
| | Labour | Dianne Snowdon | 994 | 41.5 | 2.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Snowball | 206 | 8.6 | 5.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 202 | 8.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,396 | 27.6 | 8.3 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | 6 | |

### 2010-2014

Houghton by-election, 2 May 2013 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Gemma Taylor | 1,418 | 47.1 | 1.3 |
| | Independent | John Ellis | 1,124 | 37.3 | 37.3 |
| | UKIP | Edward Coleman-Hughes | 302 | 10 | |
| | Conservative | George Brown | 111 | 3.7 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sue Sterling | 55 | 1.8 | 0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 294 | 9.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,010 | 33.3 | 2.5 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 19.3 | |

### 2014-2018

St Anne's by-election, 27 March 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jacqui Gallagher | 945 | 48.1 | 24 |
| | UKIP | Aileen Casey | 555 | 28.2 | 28.2 |
| | Conservative | Tony Morrissey | 345 | 17.6 | 3.6 |
| | Green | Emily Blyth | 120 | 6.1 | 5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 390 | 19.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,965 | 23.2 | 4.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 26.1 | |
Washington East by-election, 11 December 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tony Taylor | 775 | 38.3 | 3 |
| | Conservative | Hilary Johnson | 595 | 29.4 | 4.1 |
| | UKIP | Alistair Baxter | 506 | 25 | 1.1 |
| | Green | Tony Murphy | 93 | 4.6 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stephen O'Brien | 52 | 2.6 | 2.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 180 | 8.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,021 | 23.4 | 10.9 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 3.6 | |
Sandhill by-election, 12 January 2017 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stephen O'Brien | 824 | 45.0 | 41.5 |
| | Labour | Gary Waller | 458 | 25.0 | 29.9 |
| | UKIP | Bryan Foster | 343 | 18.7 | 7.2 |
| | Conservative | Gavin Wilson | 184 | 10.0 | 5.7 |
| | Green | Helmut Izaks | 23 | 1.3 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 366 | 20.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,832 | 23.8 | 4.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Swing | 35.7 | |
Pallion by-election, 1 February 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Martin Haswell | 1,251 | 53.8 | 49.5 |
| | Labour | Gordon Chalk | 807 | 31.7 | 25.9 |
| | Conservative | Grant Shearer | 126 | 5.4 | 4.2 |
| | UKIP | Steven Bewick | 97 | 4.2 | 24.7 |
| | Green | Craig Hardy | 39 | 1.7 | 1.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 444 | 19.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,324 | 31.7 | 2.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Swing | 37.7 | |

### 2018-2022

Hetton by-election, 30 September 2021 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Iain Scott | 661 | 31.6 | 1.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Lennox | 634 | 30.3 | 30.3 |
| | Independent | David Geddis | 386 | 18.5 | 3.1 |
| | Conservative | Adelle Burnicle | 303 | 14.5 | 8.8 |
| | Independent | Maurice Allen | 67 | 3.2 | 3.2 |
| | Green | Justine Merton-Scott | 41 | 2 | 1.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 27 | 1.3 | 3.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,092 | 22.5 | 10.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 16 | |
Redhill by-election, 3 March 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Usher | 709 | 46.9 | 9.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Steven Donkin | 386 | 25.5 | 25.5 |
| | Conservative | Sue Leishman | 296 | 19.6 | 5.5 |
| | UKIP | Ian Lines | 85 | 5.6 | 35.4 |
| | Green | Helmut Izaks | 35 | 2.3 | 5.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 323 | 21.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,511 | | |
| | Labour gain from UKIP | Labour gain from UKIP | Swing | | |
At the time of resignation, incumbent Keith Jenkins was an independent.