# 2022 Sunderland City Council election

The 2022 Sunderland City Council election took place on 5 May 2022 to elect members of Sunderland City Council. This is on the same day as other elections across the United Kingdom.

## Background

24 of the 75 seats will be up for election All 25 wards were originally due to elect councillors, however the election in Copt Hill ward was postponed following the death of the city's only UKIP candidate.
Since the first election in 1973, Sunderland has been a strongly Labour council, which consistently achieves over 60% control of the council. 2021 represented the worst year for Labour in terms of seats; the party lost 9 with 39.2% of the vote. The Conservatives gained 6 with 34.8%, the Liberal Democrats gained 4 with 15.4%, UKIP did not make any further gains with 4.5%, and the Green Party lost representation on the council with 5.2%.
There had been speculation ahead of the election that the Labour Party could lose overall control of Sunderland City Council for the first time in its history.
The seats up for election this year were last elected in 2018. In that election, Labour won 61 seats (a net loss of 4 seats). The Conservatives gained 2 seats while the Liberal Democrats gained 3 seats on the Council. 1 independent councillor lost their seat.

## Election results

After the election, the Labour Party maintained control of the Council. Labour's majority was reduced to 4, having lost 1 seat to the Liberal Democrats in Doxford Ward. In Fulwell, the Conservatives also lost a seat to the Liberal Democrats with a swing of 15%
The results defied media speculation that Labour would continue to haemorrhage seats like in 2021 and 2019. Labour leader Graeme Miller commented that "It was a good night" for his party because they "stopped the rot". Conservative Group leader Anthony Mullen, blamed his party's poor performance on the Partygate Scandal, after the Conservatives failed to gain seats in Washington South, Rhyope, St Anne's or Silksworth. Liberal Democrat leader Niall Hodson said his party's gains from both Labour and the Conservatives were a result of “good candidates working hard for a long period of time”.
2022 Sunderland City Council election :
| Party | Party | This election | This election | This election | Full council | Full council | Full council | This election | This election | This election |
| Party | Party | Seats | Net | Seats % | Other | Total | Total % | Votes | Votes % | +/− |
| | Labour | 16 | 1 | 62.5 | 26 | 42 | 54.7 | 29,718 | 44.6 | +5.4 |
| | Conservative | 4 | 1 | 16.7 | 14 | 18 | 24.0 | 20,602 | 30.9 | -3.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 5 | 2 | 20.8 | 9 | 14 | 18.7 | 10,294 | 15.5 | +0.1 |
| | Independent | 0 | | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1.3 | 1,437 | 2.2 | +1.4 |
| | Green | 0 | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4,410 | 6.6 | +1.4 |
| | Freedom Alliance | 0 | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 120 | 0.2 | +0.2 |
| | Communist | 0 | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | <0.1 | -0.1 |
| | UKIP | 0 | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -4.5 |

## Council composition

In the last council, the composition of the council was:
| 43 | 19 | 12 | 1 |
| Labour | Conservative | Lib Dem | INDY |
After the election, the composition of the council was:
| 42 | 18 | 14 | 1 |
| Labour | Conservative | Lib Dem | INDY |

## Results by ward

An asterisk indicates an incumbent councillor.

### Barnes

Barnes :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Antony Mullen* | 1,637 | 47.6 | 0.7 |
| | Labour | Abul Haque | 1,329 | 38.6 | 2.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tim Ellis | 264 | 7.7 | 1.7 |
| | Green | Rachel Featherstone | 212 | 6.2 | 1.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 308 | 9.0 | 1.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,453 | 41.9 | 1.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 0.9 | |

### Castle

Castle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Allison Chisnall | 1,308 | 64.2 | 6.1 |
| | Conservative | Paul Burke | 505 | 24.8 | 2.5 |
| | Green | Alison Ogle | 223 | 11.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 803 | 39.4 | 9.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,050 | 25.2 | 1.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 4.3 | |

### Copt Hill (countermanded)

Copt Hill :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tracy Dodds* | 969 | 44.3 | 4.3 |
| | Independent | Kathleen Pearson | 606 | 27.7 | New |
| | Conservative | Patricia Ann Francis | 384 | 17.6 | 2.8 |
| | Green | Andrew Robertson | 158 | 7.2 | 3.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mary Ann Boddy | 61 | 2.8 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 363 | 16.6 | 0.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,188 | 24.3 | 8.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 16% | |
Note: This ward election took place on Thursday 16 June 2022. Copt Hill ward election was rescheduled due to the death of UKIP candidate Reg Coulson.

### Doxford

Doxford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Allen Curtis | 1,511 | 49.7 | 1.0 |
| | Labour | Steven Hansom | 851 | 28.0 | 2.3 |
| | Conservative | Tom Cuthbertson | 565 | 18.6 | 3.5 |
| | Green | Richard Bradley | 115 | 3.8 | 0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 660 | 21.7 | 1.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,048 | 38.4 | 1.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Swing | 0.7 | |

### Fulwell

Fulwell :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Malcolm Bond | 2,193 | 52.4 | 15.9 |
| | Conservative | Sandra Boyers | 1,254 | 29.9 | 12.5 |
| | Labour | Iain Kay | 648 | 15.5 | 1.4 |
| | Green | Liam Dufferwiel | 93 | 2.2 | 2.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 939 | 22.5 | 16.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,188 | 47.3 | 1.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | 14.2 | |

### Hendon

Hendon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Michael Mordey | 1,087 | 45.7 | 10.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tom Livingstone | 909 | 38.2 | 4.0 |
| | Conservative | Syed Ali | 281 | 11.8 | 3.7 |
| | Green | Helmut Izaks | 104 | 4.4 | 0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 178 | 7.5 | 0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,390 | 29.3 | 1.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 7.5 | |

### Hetton

Hetton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Claire Rowntree* | 1,320 | 45.1 | 0.4 |
| | Independent | David Geddis | 991 | 36.3 | 16.6 |
| | Conservative | Adelle Burnicle | 339 | 12.4 | 7.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Lennox | 168 | 6.2 | 4.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 239 | 8.8 | 16.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,735 | 29.6 | 1.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 8.5 | |

### Houghton

Houghton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Mark Burrell | 1,655 | 55.7 | 8.7 |
| | Conservative | Craig Morrison | 681 | 22.9 | 8.8 |
| | Independent | Donna Thomas | 446 | 15.7 | new |
| | Green | Emma Robson | 169 | 5.7 | 0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 974 | 32.8 | 16.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,964 | 29.3 | 0.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 8.3 | |

### Millfield

Millfield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andrew Wood* | 1,227 | 49.0 | 16.8 |
| | Labour | Kingsley Okojie | 923 | 36.9 | 13.3 |
| | Conservative | Gwennyth Gibson | 250 | 10.0 | 2.6 |
| | Green | Gary Ogle | 64 | 2.6 | 0.7 |
| | Communist | Julio Johnson | 30 | 1.2 | 0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 304 | 12.9 | 29.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,503 | 33.3 | 1.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 15.1 | |

### Pallion

Pallion :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | George Smith* | 1,470 | 57.9 | 1.5 |
| | Labour | Karen Noble | 723 | 28.5 | 8.7 |
| | Conservative | Judith Porter | 266 | 10.5 | 6.4 |
| | Green | Dorothy Lynch | 79 | 3.1 | 0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 747 | 29.4 | 10.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,543 | 32.8 | 0.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 5.1 | |

### Redhill

Redhill :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Paul Stewart* | 1,065 | 56.3 | 5.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Steven Donkin | 411 | 21.7 | new |
| | Conservative | Sue Leishman | 326 | 17.2 | 13.5 |
| | Green | Billy Howells | 89 | 4.7 | new |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 654 | 34.6 | 14.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,901 | 24.1 | 0.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 8.0 | |

### Ryhope

Ryhope :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Martyn Herron | 1,311 | 45.7 | 2.9 |
| | Conservative | Kevin Leonard | 1,283 | 44.7 | 4.4 |
| | Green | Robert Welsh | 277 | 9.6 | new |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 28 | 1.0 | 5.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,811 | 33.4 | 2.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 3.7 | |

### Sandhill

Sandhill :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Margaret Crosby* | 1,274 | 53.2 | 2.4 |
| | Labour | Debra Waller | 800 | 33.4 | 1.0 |
| | Conservative | Christine Reed | 249 | 10.4 | 2.3 |
| | Green | Laura Hind | 71 | 3.0 | new |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 474 | 19.8 | 3.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,404 | 31.2 | 2.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 1.7 | |

### Shiney Row

Shiney Row :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Mel Speding* | 1,658 | 55.2 | 5.5 |
| | Conservative | Richard Vardy | 882 | 20.4 | 12.0 |
| | Green | Thomas Mower | 345 | 11.5 | 2.2 |
| | Freedom Alliance | Michael Kennedy | 120 | 4.0 | new |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 776 | 25.8 | 8.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,016 | 31.6 | 0.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 4.1 | |

### Silksworth

Silksworth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Phil Tye* | 1,618 | 56.2 | 13.6 |
| | Conservative | Jack Simm | 923 | 32.1 | 8.7 |
| | Green | Christopher Crozier | 337 | 11.7 | 4.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 695 | 24.1 | 22.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,885 | 36.5 | 3.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 11.2 | |

### Southwick

Southwick :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Alex Samuels* | 1,309 | 58.6 | 7.8 |
| | Conservative | John Wiper | 623 | 27.9 | 3.8 |
| | Green | Morgan Seed | 280 | 12.5 | 8.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 686 | 30.7 | 11.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,232 | 28.3 | 1.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 5.7 | |

### St. Anne's

St. Anne's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Susan Watson | 1,061 | 48.8 | 6.9 |
| | Conservative | Bryan Foster | 840 | 38.6 | 3.3 |
| | Green | Raymond Moore | 273 | 12.6 | new |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 221 | 10.2 | 10.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,183 | 28.0 | 1.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 5.1 | |

### St. Chad's

St. Chad's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Simon Ayre | 1,453 | 49.5 | 10.4 |
| | Labour | Martin Old | 974 | 33.7 | 1.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Anthony Usher | 145 | 8.8 | 1.2 |
| | Green | Alyson Kordbarlag | 114 | 7.9 | new |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 479 | 15.8 | 11.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,697 | 36.8 | 0.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 5.8 | |

### St. Michael's

St. Michael's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Michael Dixon* | 1,832 | 53.8 | 3.3 |
| | Labour | Chris Smith | 1,201 | 35.3 | 9.0 |
| | Green | John Appleton | 231 | 6.8 | 6.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Colin Wilson | 139 | 4.1 | 0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 631 | 18.5 | 12.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,408 | 40.7 | 3.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 6.2 | |

### St. Peter's

St. Peter's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Lynn Vera* | 1,567 | 49.4 | 4.4 |
| | Labour | Tom Newton | 1,068 | 33.6 | 2.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Walton | 280 | 8.8 | 3.4 |
| | Green | Auburn Langley | 250 | 7.9 | 1.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 499 | 15.8 | 6.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,175 | 40.2 | 1.4 |

### Washington Central

Washington Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Linda Williams* | 1,683 | 59.1 | 4.0 |
| | Conservative | Derek Dunn | 883 | 31.0 | 0.3 |
| | Green | Emma Cutting | 267 | 9.4 | 2.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 800 | 28.1 | 4.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,846 | 34.1 | 0.5 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 2.2 | |

### Washington East

Washington East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Logan Guy | 1,682 | 53.3 | 5.4 |
| | Conservative | Chris Eynon | 1,223 | 38.7 | 4.4 |
| | Green | Michal Chantkowski | 239 | 7.6 | 1.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 459 | 14.5 | 9.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,158 | 35.2 | 0.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 4.9 | |

### Washington North

Washington North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jill Fletcher* | 1,349 | 61.2 | 8.4 |
| | Conservative | Hilary Johnson | 552 | 25.0 | 6.7 |
| | Green | Scott Burrows | 298 | 13.5 | 7.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 797 | 36.2 | 15.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,203 | 27.8 | 1.9 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 7.6 | |

### Washington South

Washington South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Graeme Miller* | 1,454 | 47.4 | 10.9 |
| | Conservative | Peter Noble | 1,310 | 42.7 | 5.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sean Terry | 303 | 9.9 | 2.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 144 | 4.7 | 4.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,078 | 40.1 | 5.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 2.6 | |

### Washington West

Washington West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Dorothy Trueman* | 1,641 | 58.4 | 6.4 |
| | Conservative | Sam Cosgrove | 878 | 31.2 | 1.4 |
| | Green | Paul Leonard | 280 | 10.0 | 1.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 763 | 27.1 | 7.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,812 | 32.4 | 0.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 3.9 | |