# 2024 Sunderland City Council election

The 2024 Sunderland City Council election took place on 2 May 2024 to elect members of Sunderland City Council. 25 of the 75 seats of the council were up for election. The election took place at the same time as other local elections across England.
The Labour Party remained in control of the council and the Liberal Democrats returned as the largest opposition party. After the election Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC) appointed Michael Mordey as group leader, replacing Gramme Miller who had led the council since 2018. The Lib Dem group leader Paul Edgeworth said it was "bad news" for Sunderland, adding: "Labour’s London and Newcastle HQs have clearly imposed a yes man for Keir Starmer and a yes man for Kim McGuinness." Michael Mordey was formally confirmed as leader of the council at a council meeting on 20 May 2024.

## Background

25 of the 75 seats were up for election, the last time councillors would be elected using the boundaries set in 2004.
Since the first election in 1973, Sunderland has been a strongly Labour council, which consistently achieves over 60% control of the council. However, in recent years they have lost seats to the Conservatives, UKIP and the Liberal Democrats. The seats up for election this year were last elected in 2021. In that election, Labour lost 9 seats, the Conservatives gained 6 and the Liberal Democrats gained 4.
Since the last election, three councillors defected from the Liberal Democrats, two to Labour and one became an independent. A Labour councillor (elected as a Conservative) now sits as an independent councillor after being accused of forcing a woman to marry.

## Result summary

2024 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 | 18 | 6 | 72.0 | 35 | 53 | 70.7 | 29,446 | 45.4 | +0.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 4 | 1 | 16.0 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 9,950 | 15.3 | -1.8 |
| | Conservative | 3 | 5 | 4.0 | 7 | 10 | 13.3 | 11,773 | 18.2 | -4.4 |
| | Reform UK | 0 | - | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 9,377 | 14.5 | +7.8 |
| | Green | 0 | - | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 3,355 | 5.2 | -0.4 |
| | Independent | 0 | - | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 957 | 1.5 | -1.3 |

## Results by ward

An asterisk next to a candidate's name denotes an incumbent councillor.

### Barnes

Barnes :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Fiona Tobin | 1,191 | 39.8 | −0.5 |
| | Conservative | Richard Dunn* | 1,019 | 34.1 | −1.7 |
| | Reform UK | Alan Bilton | 415 | 13.9 | +4.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tim Ellis-Dale | 203 | 6.8 | −1.1 |
| | Green | Mark Tyers | 162 | 5.4 | −1.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 172 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,990 | | |
| | Labour Co-op gain from Conservative | Labour Co-op gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Castle

Castle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Denny Wilson* | 1,130 | 62.9 | −2.1 |
| | Reform UK | Keith Samme | 346 | 19.3 | +9.0 |
| | Conservative | Christopher Rose | 160 | 8.9 | −4.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mia Coupland | 98 | 5.5 | −1.1 |
| | Green | Dawn Jackson | 62 | 3.5 | −1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 784 | 43.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,796 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Copt Hill

Copt Hill :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Kevin Johnston* | 1,432 | 57.4 | +6.6 |
| | Reform UK | Michael John Lorraine | 395 | 15.8 | +11.9 |
| | Conservative | Benjamin Davies-Scott | 316 | 12.7 | −1.8 |
| | Green | Andrew Robertson | 245 | 9.8 | +4.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nana Boddy | 105 | 4.2 | +0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,037 | 41.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,493 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Doxford

Doxford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Gibson* | 1,441 | 49.3 | −9.9 |
| | Labour | Liz Highmore | 831 | 28.4 | +4.6 |
| | Reform UK | Susan Lathan | 359 | 12.3 | +7.5 |
| | Conservative | George Brown | 200 | 6.8 | −3.2 |
| | Green | Martha Bradly | 94 | 3.2 | +1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 610 | 20.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,925 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### Fulwell

Fulwell :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Michael Hartnack* | 1,379 | 35.8 | +9.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Miguel Smith | 1,234 | 32.0 | −16.1 |
| | Labour | Andy Stafford | 791 | 20.6 | +2.2 |
| | Reform UK | Lisa Marie Hilton | 303 | 7.9 | +4.7 |
| | Green | Kevin Lynch | 127 | 3.3 | +0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 145 | 3.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,848 | 43.3 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Hendon

Hendon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Stephen Lewis Elms | 976 | 39.6 | −4.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ciarán Morrissey* | 948 | 38.4 | −4.6 |
| | Reform UK | Lynda Andrews | 258 | 10.5 | +6.2 |
| | Conservative | Georgina Gould | 144 | 5.8 | +0.6 |
| | Green | Helmut Izaks | 125 | 5.0 | +1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 28 | 1.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,466 | 27.5 | |
| | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |

### Hetton

Hetton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | James Blackburn* | 1,153 | 46.6 | +1.7 |
| | Independent | David Geddis | 721 | 29.2 | −3.5 |
| | Reform UK | Stephen Holt | 269 | 10.9 | +4.6 |
| | Conservative | Connor Sinclair | 145 | 5.9 | −2.5 |
| | Green | Rachel Lowe | 123 | 5.0 | +1.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ian Ellis | 62 | 2.5 | −1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 432 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,473 | | |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | | |

### Houghton

Houghton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Price* | 1,692 | 61.4 | +1.3 |
| | Reform UK | Lynda Alexander | 379 | 13.8 | +6.2 |
| | Conservative | Craig Morrison | 249 | 9.0 | −4.4 |
| | Independent | Donna Thomas | 236 | 8.6 | −1.3 |
| | Green | Alyson Kordbarlag | 106 | 3.8 | −0.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sharon Boddy | 93 | 3.4 | −1.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,313 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,755 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Millfield

Millfield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Niall Hodson* | 1,450 | 56.0 | −0.3 |
| | Labour | Syed Ali | 742 | 28.6 | −4.2 |
| | Reform UK | Kathryn Brown | 156 | 6.0 | +3.8 |
| | Green | Richard Bradley | 118 | 4.6 | +1.9 |
| | Conservative | Hardipsinh Barad | 110 | 4.2 | −0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 708 | 27.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,590 | 32.1 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### Pallion

Pallion :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Steven Donkin | 1,147 | 48.2 | −16.1 |
| | Labour | Karen Noble | 869 | 36.5 | +8.8 |
| | Reform UK | Raymond Lathan | 255 | 10.7 | +7.8 |
| | Conservative | Gwennyth Gibson | 73 | 3.1 | −0.5 |
| | Green | Dorothy Lynch | 38 | 1.6 | +0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 278 | 11.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,382 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### Redhill

Redhill :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Alison Smith* | 931 | 51.9 | −7.4 |
| | Reform UK | Chris Eynon | 579 | 32.3 | +17.0 |
| | Conservative | Susan Leishman | 156 | 8.7 | −3.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Steve Dale | 128 | 7.1 | −0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 352 | 19.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,794 | | |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | | |

### Ryhope

Ryhope :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Helen Glancy | 1,356 | 53.7 | +2.2 |
| | Reform UK | Tony Thompson | 656 | 26.0 | +12.0 |
| | Conservative | Kevin Leonard | 345 | 13.7 | −9.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Janice Ellis | 167 | 6.6 | +1.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 700 | 27.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,524 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Sandhill

Sandhill :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Edgeworth* | 1,318 | 60.5 | −3.5 |
| | Labour | Dennis Carroll | 543 | 24.9 | +0.4 |
| | Reform UK | Brain Alexander | 215 | 9.9 | +5.5 |
| | Conservative | Adam Aiston | 60 | 2.8 | −1.8 |
| | Green | Welsh Robert | 42 | 1.9 | −0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 775 | 35.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,178 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### Shiney Row

Shiney Row :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Katherine Mason-Gage* | 1,605 | 57.9 | +4.1 |
| | Reform UK | Robert Snowdon | 466 | 16.8 | +10.5 |
| | Conservative | Christine Reed | 358 | 12.9 | −8.3 |
| | Green | Thomas Mower | 252 | 9.1 | −2.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michael Peacock | 89 | 3.2 | −1.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,139 | 41.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,770 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Silksworth

Silksworth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Sophie Clinton | 1,322 | 51.9 | −4.3 |
| | Green | Rachel Featherstone | 551 | 21.6 | +8.3 |
| | Reform UK | Michael Ellis | 380 | 14.9 | +6.5 |
| | Conservative | Owen Snaith | 243 | 9.5 | −9.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mauro Amatosi | 50 | 2.0 | −1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 771 | 30.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,546 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Southwick

Southwick :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Kelly Chequer* | 1,141 | 55.0 | −5.2 |
| | Reform UK | James Wilson | 453 | 21.8 | +9.8 |
| | Conservative | Bryan Reynolds | 227 | 10.9 | −6.3 |
| | Green | Christopher Crozier | 139 | 6.7 | +0.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michael Dagg | 115 | 5.5 | +1.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 688 | 33.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,075 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### St Anne's

St Anne's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Lynne Dagg | 869 | 38.9 | −9.6 |
| | Conservative | Greg Peacock* | 429 | 19.2 | −15.1 |
| | Reform UK | Sam Wood-Brass | 420 | 18.8 | N/A |
| | Green | Simon Hughes | 419 | 18.8 | +12.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Audrey Smith | 96 | 4.3 | −6.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 440 | 19.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,233 | | |
| | Labour Co-op gain from Conservative | Labour Co-op gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### St Chad's

St Chad's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Christopher Burnicle* | 1,102 | 45.8 | −4.4 |
| | Labour Co-op | Andrew Rowntree | 833 | 34.6 | +0.2 |
| | Reform UK | Shelia Samme | 254 | 10.5 | +4.2 |
| | Green | Scott Burrows | 113 | 4.7 | −0.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Anthony Usher | 106 | 4.4 | +0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 269 | 11.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,408 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### St Michael's

St Michael's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Lyall Reed* | 1,525 | 45.7 | +3.5 |
| | Labour | Jo Cooper | 1,201 | 36.0 | −4.6 |
| | Reform UK | Neil Farrer | 270 | 8.1 | +0.1 |
| | Green | John Appleton | 242 | 7.2 | +1.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Colin Wilson | 102 | 3.1 | −0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 324 | 9.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,340 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### St Peter's

St Peter's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | David Newey | 1,167 | 38.3 | +1.0 |
| | Conservative | Sam 'The Big' Johnston* | 1,074 | 35.2 | −8.2 |
| | Reform UK | David Craig | 411 | 13.5 | +8.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Lennox | 255 | 8.4 | +0.2 |
| | Green | Liam Dufferwiel | 143 | 4.7 | −1.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 93 | 3.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,050 | | |
| | Labour Co-op gain from Conservative | Labour Co-op gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Washington Central

Washington Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Dianne Elizabeth Snowdon* | 1,673 | 62.9 | −3.7 |
| | Conservative | Audrey Jaitay | 445 | 16.7 | −1.9 |
| | Reform UK | Aimee Trow | 320 | 12.0 | +6.2 |
| | Green | Raymond Moore | 133 | 5.0 | −0.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Linda Wood | 90 | 3.4 | −0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,228 | 46.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,661 | | |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | | |

### Washington East

Washington East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Sean Laws* | 1,632 | 56.6 | +0.2 |
| | Conservative | Hilary Johnson | 550 | 19.1 | −7.5 |
| | Reform UK | Ashton Muncaster | 466 | 16.2 | +9.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Crispin Welby | 233 | 8.1 | +3.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,082 | 37.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,881 | | |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | | |

### Washington North

Washington North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Michael Walker* | 1,398 | 64.2 | −4.0 |
| | Reform UK | Elizabeth Brown | 478 | 21.9 | +14.3 |
| | Conservative | Svetlana Rakhimova | 179 | 8.2 | −4.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Carlton West | 123 | 5.6 | +0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 920 | 42.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,178 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Washington South

Washington South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Brandon Mark Feeley | 1,555 | 51.7 | +8.1 |
| | Conservative | Peter Noble | 890 | 29.6 | −10.7 |
| | Reform UK | Paul Donaghy* | 382 | 12.7 | +5.1 |
| | Green | Michal Chantowski | 96 | 3.2 | −1.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sean Terry | 82 | 2.7 | −1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 665 | 22.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,005 | | |
| | Labour Co-op gain from Reform UK | Labour Co-op gain from Reform UK | Swing | | |

### Washington West

Washington West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Jimmy Warne* | 1,412 | 51.6 | −5.2 |
| | Reform UK | Deborah Lorraine | 492 | 18.0 | +12.6 |
| | Conservative | Samantha Cosgrove | 395 | 14.4 | −6.7 |
| | Green | Paul Andrew Leonard | 225 | 8.2 | −0.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andy Bex | 215 | 7.8 | −0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 920 | 33.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,739 | | |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | | |