# 2008 Sunderland City Council election

The 2008 Sunderland Council election took place on 1 May 2008 to elect members of Sunderland Metropolitan Borough Council in Tyne and Wear, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Labour Party stayed in overall control of the council.

## Background

Before the election the council had 53 Labour, 17 Conservative, 4 independents and 1 Liberal Democrat councillors. 25 seats were contested in the election with a record 70,828 voters being registered to vote by post, a third of all registered voters.
In the period since the previous local elections, the Conservatives had won a seat from Labour in a by-election in September 2007 in Washington East. Two Labour councillors who had left the party in November 2006 to sit as Independents, George Blyth in Doxford and Bryn Sidaway in Hendon, retired at this election.

## Election result

The results saw Labour remain in control of the council, but with a reduced majority after the Conservative Party gained 5 seats, including 4 from Labour. The Conservatives gained 2 seats from Labour in Washington and a seat each in Ryhope and St Chads, while also taking a seat from an independent, formerly Labour, councillor in Doxford. The Conservative gains took the party to 22 seats, compared to 48 for Labour. Labour also lost 2 seats to independents in Copt Hill and Houghton wards, but did take one seat back in Hendon which had been held by an independent. This meant there were 4 independents on the council, while the Liberal Democrats remained on 1 seat. Overall turnout in the election was 34.9%.
The leader of the Conservatives on the council, Lee Martin, put the Labour losses partly down to national issues such as the abolition of the 10 pence income tax rate and partly down to local issues. The Labour leader of the council described the results as "mid-term blues", while the defeat of the Labour cabinet member Joseph Lawson in Houghton ward to an independent was put down to plans to shut a quarry in the area.
Sunderland Local Election Result 2008 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Labour | 13 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 52 | 39.6 | 29,109 | 3.7 |
| Conservative | 9 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 36 | 32 | 23,547 | 3.9 |
| Liberal Democrats | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 11.6 | 8,543 | 2.9 |
| BNP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10.2 | 7,540 | 0.4 |
| Independent | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 6.4 | 4,710 | 1.9 |
| The Left Party | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 90 | 0.1 |
| UKIP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 40 | 0 |
This resulted in the following composition of the council:
| Party | Party | Previous Council | New Council |
| | Labour | 53 | 48 |
| | Conservatives | 17 | 22 |
| | Independent | 4 | 4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 1 | 1 |
| Total | Total | 75 | 75 |
| Working majority | Working majority | 31 | 21 |

## Ward results

Barnes :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Anthony Morrissey | 1,712 | 51.6 | −2.1 |
| | Labour | Philip Routledge | 809 | 24.4 | +1.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gulya Dixon | 489 | 14.7 | −0.2 |
| | BNP | Robert Fletcher | 308 | 9.3 | +0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 903 | 27.2 | −3.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,318 | 38.0 | +0.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Castle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tommy Foster | 1,376 | 52.8 | −13.2 |
| | BNP | John Humble | 350 | 13.4 | −2.2 |
| | Conservative | Clair Hall | 343 | 13.2 | +5.7 |
| | Independent | Ronald McQuillan | 264 | 10.1 | −0.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jon Dewart | 182 | 7.0 | +7.0 |
| | The Left Party | Gary Duncan | 90 | 3.5 | +3.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,026 | 39.4 | −11.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,605 | 30.5 | +0.5 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Copt Hill :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Derrick Smith | 1,487 | 45.6 | +2.7 |
| | Labour | Joan Carthy | 1,123 | 34.5 | −1.1 |
| | Conservative | George Brown | 451 | 13.8 | +2.7 |
| | BNP | Terence Woolford | 197 | 6.0 | +0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 364 | 11.2 | +3.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,258 | 36.7 | +0.7 |
| | Independent gain from Labour | Independent gain from Labour | Swing | | |
Doxford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Vardy | 1,178 | 41.6 | +17.5 |
| | Labour | Linda Mitchell | 991 | 35.0 | −0.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Lewis Green | 371 | 13.1 | +13.1 |
| | BNP | Peter Swain | 292 | 10.3 | +1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 187 | 6.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,832 | 35.7 | −0.5 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |
The incumbent Labour councillor, George Blyth, had been elected in 2004 as a Labour candidate, but subsequently left the party to sit as an Independent councillor, and retired at this election.
Fulwell :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Bob Francis | 2,092 | 53.2 | −0.7 |
| | Labour | Bob Price | 1,032 | 26.2 | +1.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Geoffrey Pryke | 459 | 11.7 | −1.4 |
| | BNP | Frederick Donkin | 352 | 8.9 | +1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,060 | 26.9 | −1.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,935 | 43.5 | +0.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Hendon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Michael Mordey | 874 | 36.4 | −6.6 |
| | Independent | Sammy Doran | 557 | 23.2 | +4.6 |
| | Conservative | Deborah Lorraine | 517 | 21.5 | +3.3 |
| | BNP | Ian Sayers | 234 | 9.7 | −5.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nathan Hazlett | 219 | 9.1 | +9.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 317 | 13.2 | −11.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,401 | 29.5 | −0.7 |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing | | |
The incumbent Labour councillor, Bryn Sidaway, had been elected in 2004 as a Labour candidate, but subsequently left the party to sit as an Independent councillor, and retired at this election.
Hetton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jim Blackburn | 1,843 | 69.2 | +13.9 |
| | Conservative | Douglas Middlemiss | 821 | 30.8 | +18.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,022 | 38.4 | +1.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,664 | 30.6 | −0.7 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Houghton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Sheila Ellis | 1,415 | 44.8 | +26.4 |
| | Labour | Joe Lawson | 1,168 | 37.0 | −13.7 |
| | Conservative | Edward Allen | 355 | 11.2 | −0.3 |
| | BNP | Kevin Robe | 219 | 6.9 | −1.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 247 | 7.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,157 | 35.8 | +2.0 |
| | Independent gain from Labour | Independent gain from Labour | Swing | | |
Millfield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Dixon | 1,059 | 46.0 | +15.5 |
| | Labour | Bob Bowman | 558 | 24.3 | −8.6 |
| | Conservative | Gwennyth Gibson | 346 | 15.0 | +1.6 |
| | BNP | Christopher Lathan | 179 | 7.8 | −0.9 |
| | Independent | Margaret Snaith | 84 | 3.7 | −3.6 |
| | UKIP | Pauline Featonby-Warren | 40 | 1.7 | −1.4 |
| | Independent | Gary Hollern | 35 | 1.5 | +1.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 501 | 21.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,301 | 32.3 | +0.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Pallion :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Amy Wilson | 1,055 | 44.3 | −0.4 |
| | Conservative | Michael Leadbitter | 645 | 27.1 | +8.4 |
| | BNP | Paul Humble | 377 | 15.8 | +4.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sham Vedhara | 305 | 12.8 | +1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 410 | 17.2 | −8.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,382 | 31.6 | +1.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Redhill :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Bryan Charlton | 1,315 | 49.5 | −6.6 |
| | BNP | John Martin | 517 | 19.5 | −3.5 |
| | Independent | Ian Leadbitter | 359 | 13.5 | +6.6 |
| | Conservative | Martin Anderson | 279 | 10.5 | −0.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Rob Boyce | 185 | 7.0 | +7.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 798 | 30.1 | −3.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,655 | 31.0 | +1.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Ryhope :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Christopher Fairs | 1,012 | 33.7 | +3.5 |
| | Labour | Ronald Bainbridge | 983 | 32.7 | −8.6 |
| | Independent | Patrick Lavelle | 509 | 16.9 | +1.6 |
| | BNP | Wayne Watts | 291 | 9.7 | −3.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Slone | 209 | 7.0 | +7.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 29 | 1.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,004 | 37.3 | +1.2 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |
Sandhill :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jim Scott | 1,196 | 47.0 | −9.8 |
| | Conservative | Paula Wilkinson | 662 | 26.0 | −0.9 |
| | BNP | Carl Donkin | 358 | 14.1 | −2.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Robert Peel | 327 | 12.9 | +12.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 534 | 21.0 | −8.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,543 | 30.7 | +0.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Shiney Row :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Anne Hall | 1,571 | 48.4 | −5.8 |
| | Conservative | Joyce Wake | 900 | 27.7 | +3.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Carol Attewell | 424 | 13.1 | +13.1 |
| | BNP | Ian Baillie | 350 | 10.8 | +0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 671 | 20.7 | −9.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,245 | 33.4 | +1.7 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Silksworth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Pat Smith | 1,503 | 49.3 | −6.0 |
| | Conservative | Patricia Francis | 866 | 28.4 | −3.0 |
| | BNP | Anthony James | 406 | 13.3 | +0.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alf Fowler | 275 | 9.0 | +9.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 637 | 20.9 | −3.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,050 | 36.7 | +1.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Southwick :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Rosalind Copeland | 1,151 | 43.5 | −1.3 |
| | Conservative | Terence Docherty | 702 | 26.5 | +6.2 |
| | BNP | Alan Brettwood | 530 | 20.0 | +2.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Anne Griffin | 263 | 9.9 | −0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 449 | 17.0 | −7.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,646 | 32.7 | −0.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
St Annes :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Susan Watson | 1,089 | 45.3 | −5.1 |
| | Conservative | Shaun Cudworth | 528 | 22.0 | +4.8 |
| | BNP | Julie Potter | 415 | 17.3 | +6.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Simon Dawes | 371 | 15.4 | +5.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 561 | 23.3 | −9.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,403 | 29.5 | +0.5 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
St Chads :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Alan Wright | 1,660 | 50.3 | +3.4 |
| | Labour | Darryl Dixon | 1,206 | 36.5 | −3.9 |
| | BNP | Lynne Hudson | 249 | 7.5 | +0.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Diana Lambton | 185 | 5.6 | +5.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 454 | 13.8 | +7.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,300 | 41.7 | −0.9 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |
St Michaels :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Margaret Forbes | 2,046 | 60.2 | +0.8 |
| | Labour | Lewis Atkinson | 797 | 23.4 | −2.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Les Wascoe | 342 | 10.1 | +10.1 |
| | BNP | Joanne Cruickshanks | 216 | 6.4 | +0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,249 | 36.7 | +2.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,401 | 40.8 | +1.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
St Peters :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Lilian Walton | 1,501 | 47.8 | +4.0 |
| | Labour | Stephen Bonallie | 840 | 26.7 | −4.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Diana Matthew | 443 | 14.1 | +0.7 |
| | BNP | Derek Wright | 358 | 11.4 | +2.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 661 | 21.0 | +8.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,142 | 37.8 | +0.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Washington Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Dianne Snowdon | 1,283 | 40.3 | −8.3 |
| | Conservative | Hilary Johnson | 833 | 26.2 | +3.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Mclelland | 741 | 23.3 | +5.6 |
| | BNP | Clive Thompson | 328 | 10.3 | −0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 450 | 14.1 | −11.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,185 | 36.3 | +0.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Washington East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ivan Richardson | 1,384 | 43.2 | +3.1 |
| | Labour | Neville Padgett | 1,291 | 40.3 | +1.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Malcolm Bannister | 401 | 12.5 | −1.7 |
| | BNP | Paul Masters | 130 | 4.1 | −2.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 93 | 2.9 | +2.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,206 | 37.1 | +1.2 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |
Washington North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Kelly | 1,490 | 53.0 | −5.0 |
| | Conservative | Kathleen Irvine | 625 | 22.2 | +5.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Steve Thomas | 365 | 13.0 | −3.3 |
| | BNP | Lynne Baillie | 329 | 11.7 | +2.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 865 | 30.8 | −10.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,809 | 32.3 | +1.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Washington South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Eddie Wake | 1,326 | 42.5 | +5.4 |
| | Labour | Linda Williams | 1,173 | 37.6 | +2.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Griffin | 390 | 12.5 | −2.9 |
| | BNP | Mildred Smart | 229 | 7.3 | −0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 153 | 4.9 | +3.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,118 | 37.5 | +2.7 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |
Washington West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Bernard Scaplehorn | 1,392 | 46.1 | −6.8 |
| | Conservative | Olwyn Bird | 763 | 25.3 | +7.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Irene Bannister | 538 | 17.8 | −0.4 |
| | BNP | Doreen Smart | 326 | 10.8 | +2.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 629 | 20.8 | −13.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,019 | 33.9 | +0.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |