# 2012 Sunderland City Council election

The 2012 Sunderland Council election took place on 3 May 2012 to elect members of Sunderland City Council in England. It was held on the same day as other 2012 United Kingdom local elections.

## Election results

Following the election, the Labour Party remained in control of the council with its majority increased by eight. Labour took seats from the Conservatives in Washington East, Washington South, St Peter's, St Chad's, Ryhope, Doxford and Barnes. The Liberal Democrats also lost out to Labour in Millfield.
The Conservatives held two wards – Fulwell and St Michael's. Independents in Copt Hill and Houghton also held their seats.
Sunderland Local Election Result 2012 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Labour | 22 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 88 | 61.3 | 43,485 | 1.6% |
| Conservative | 2 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 19.4 | 14,783 | 6.4 |
| Liberal Democrats | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5.6 | 3,958 | 0.2% |
| UKIP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3,548 | 3% |
| Independent | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 4.8 | 3,376 | 0.1% |
| Green | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.3 | 1,620 | 0.1% |
| National Front | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.2 | 122 | 0.2% |
This resulted in the following composition of the council:
| Party | Party | Previous Council | New Council |
| | Labour | 56 | 64 |
| | Conservatives | 15 | 8 |
| | Independent | 3 | 3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 1 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 75 | 75 |
| Working majority | Working majority | 37 | 53 |

## Ward by ward results

An asterisk denotes an incumbent.

### Barnes ward

Barnes :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Rebecca Atkinson | 2,041 | 55.5 | 31.1 |
| | Conservative | Anthony Morrissey* | 1,486 | 40.4 | 11.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gouilnara Dixon | 150 | 4.1 | 10.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 555 | 15.1 | 12.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,692 | 40.8 | 2.8 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 21.2 | |

### Castle ward

Castle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Denny Wilson | 1,978 | 86.1 | 33.3 |
| | Conservative | Paula Wilkinson | 215 | 9.4 | 3.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Hillman | 104 | 4.5 | 2.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,763 | 76.8 | 37.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,319 | 26.7 | 3.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 18.6 | |

### Copt Hill ward

Copt Hill :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Derrick Smith* | 1,679 | 55.2 | 9.6 |
| | Labour | Ann Owen | 1,250 | 41.1 | 6.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sue Sterling | 111 | 3.7 | 3.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 429 | 14.1 | 2.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,052 | 33.6 | 3.2 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | 11.7† | |
†Swing to the Independent candidate from the Conservatives, who had stood last time this seat was contested.

### Doxford ward

Doxford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Christine Marshall | 1,863 | 67.1 | 32.1 |
| | Conservative | Richard Vardy* | 590 | 21.3 | 20.3 |
| | Green | Caroline Robinson | 246 | 8.9 | 8.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Matt MacDonald | 76 | 2.7 | 10.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,273 | 45.9 | 39.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,789 | 35.1 | 0.6 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 26.2 | |

### Fulwell ward

Fulwell :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Bob Francis* | 1,758 | 48.1 | 5 |
| | Labour | Margaret Beck | 1,657 | 45.4 | 19.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Geoff Pryke | 238 | 6.5 | 5.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 101 | 2.8 | 24.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,670 | 40 | 3.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 12.1 | |

### Hendon ward

Hendon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Michael Mordey* | 1,518 | 66.6 | 30.2 |
| | Conservative | Debbie Lorraine | 360 | 15.8 | 5.8 |
| | UKIP | Pauline Featonby-Warren | 244 | 10.7 | 10.7 |
| | Green | Samuel May | 159 | 7 | 7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,158 | 50.8 | 37.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,297 | 25.6 | 3.9 |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | 17.9 | |

### Hetton ward

Hetton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | James Blackburn* | 1,628 | 51.8 | 17.4 |
| | UKIP | John Defty | 1,363 | 43.3 | 43.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Philip Dowell | 154 | 4.9 | 4.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 265 | 8.4 | 30 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,166 | 35.1 | 4.5 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 30.4 | |

### Houghton ward

Houghton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Sheila Ellis* | 1,697 | 51.9 | 7.1 |
| | Labour | Gemma Taylor | 1,496 | 45.8 | 8.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Louise Smith | 74 | 2.3 | 2.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 201 | 6.2 | 1.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,278 | 35.8 | 0 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | 9.2† | |
†Swing to the Independent candidate from the Conservatives, who had stood last time this seat was contested.

### Millfield ward

Millfield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Bob Price | 1,058 | 45.5 | 21.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Dixon* | 888 | 38.2 | 7.9 |
| | Conservative | Keith O'Brien | 164 | 7.1 | 8 |
| | National Front | Paul Birleson | 122 | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| | Green | Helmut Izaks | 94 | 4 | 4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 170 | 7.3 | 14.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,339 | 28.8 | 3.5 |
| | Labour Co-op gain from Liberal Democrats | Labour Co-op gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 14.6 | |

### Pallion ward

Pallion :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Amy Wilson* | 1,541 | 66.7 | 22.4 |
| | Conservative | Peter O'Connor | 365 | 15.8 | 11.3 |
| | Green | David Campbell | 304 | 13.2 | 13.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sylvia Doward | 101 | 4.4 | 8.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,176 | 50.9 | 33.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,321 | 30.4 | 1.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 16.9 | |

### Redhill ward

Redhill :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Ronny Davison | 1,887 | 78.6 | 29.1 |
| | UKIP | Lynn Kelly | 388 | 16.2 | 16.2 |
| | Conservative | Gwennyth Gibson | 125 | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,499 | 62.46 | 32.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,415 | 28 | 3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 24.3† | |
†Swing to Labour from the BNP, who had stood last time this seat was contested.

### Ryhope ward

Ryhope :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Anthony Farr | 1,887 | 72.8 | 40.1 |
| | Conservative | Shaun Cudworth | 706 | 27.2 | 6.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,181 | 45.6 | 44.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,620 | 31.9 | 5.4 |
| | Labour Co-op gain from Conservative | Labour Co-op gain from Conservative | Swing | 23.3 | |

### St Anne's ward

St Anne's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Susan Watson* | 1,743 | 72.1 | 26.7 |
| | Conservative | Norman Oliver | 339 | 14 | 8 |
| | Green | Emily Blyth | 268 | 11.1 | 11.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Kathy Walker | 69 | 2.9 | 12.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,404 | 58 | 34.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,426 | 28 | 1.5 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 17.4 | |

### St Chad's ward

St Chad's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Darryl Dixon | 1,755 | 55.3 | 18.8 |
| | Conservative | Alan Wright* | 1,312 | 41.4 | 8.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sue Wilson | 105 | 3.3 | 2.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 443 | 14 | 0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,188 | 40 | 1.7 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 13.9 | |

### St Michael's ward

St Michael's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Margaret Forbes* | 1,649 | 51.3 | 8.9 |
| | Labour | Chris Johnson | 1,161 | 36.1 | 12.7 |
| | Green | Rachel Featherstone | 265 | 8.2 | 8.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andrew Wood | 140 | 4.4 | 5.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 488 | 15.2 | 21.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,242 | 35.4 | 5.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 10.8 | |

### St Peter's ward

St Peter's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Julia Jackson | 1,595 | 52.5 | 25.7 |
| | Conservative | Graham Hall | 1,221 | 40.2 | 7.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Chris Henry | 224 | 7.4 | 6.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 374 | 12.3 | 8.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,065 | 35.2 | 2.6 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 16.7 | |

### Sandhill ward

Sandhill :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Debra Waller | 1,830 | 90.4 | 43.4 |
| | Labour | Mary Turton | 1,424 | 70.4 | 23.3 |
| | Conservative | Paul Tweddle | 459 | 22.7 | 3.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Anthony Usher | 335 | 16.6 | 3.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 965 | 47.7 | 26.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,035 | 23.8 | 6.9 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 40 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 19.9 | |
There was a double vacancy in Sandhill ward in 2012, due to the retirement of Labour councillor Jim Scott, and the death of Labour councillor John Gallagher. Two seats were up for election, and each voter could cast two votes.

### Shiney Row ward

Shiney Row :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Anne Hall* | 2,286 | 73.6 | 25.1 |
| | Conservative | Malcolm Vardy | 635 | 20.4 | 7.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Carol Attewell | 187 | 6 | 7.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,651 | 53.1 | 32.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,129 | 30.8 | 2.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 16.2 | |

### Silksworth ward

Silksworth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Patricia Smith* | 1,960 | 67.2 | 18 |
| | Conservative | Dominic McDonough | 451 | 15.5 | 12.9 |
| | UKIP | Derek Horsley | 376 | 12.9 | 12.9 |
| | Green | Joella Lynch | 128 | 4.4 | 4.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,509 | 51.8 | 30.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,919 | 34.3 | 2.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 15.5 | |

### Southwick ward

Southwick :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Rosalind Copeland* | 1,582 | 66.4 | 22.9 |
| | Conservative | Terence Docherty | 394 | 16.5 | 10 |
| | UKIP | Michael Leadbitter | 325 | 13.6 | 13.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ann Hollern | 81 | 3.4 | 3.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,188 | 49.9 | 32.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,394 | 28.6 | 4.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 16.5 | |

### Washington Central ward

Washington Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Dianne Snowdon* | 1,999 | 65.7 | 25.5 |
| | UKIP | Erland Polden | 536 | 17.6 | 17.6 |
| | Conservative | Pat Francis | 327 | 10.8 | 15.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Chris Ashford | 179 | 5.9 | 17.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,463 | 48.1 | 34 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,058 | 33.9 | 2.3 |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | 20.5 | |

### Washington East ward

Washington East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Snowdon | 1,721 | 56.5 | 16.2 |
| | Conservative | Hilary Johnson | 735 | 24.1 | 19.1 |
| | UKIP | Linda Hudson | 316 | 10.4 | 10.4 |
| | Green | Tony Murphy | 156 | 5.1 | 5.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Malcolm Bannister | 119 | 3.9 | 8.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 986 | 32.4 | 29.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,055 | 34.6 | 2.5 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 17.7 | |

### Washington North ward

Washington North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Kelly* | 2,047 | 80.1 | 27 |
| | Conservative | Kathleen Irvine | 349 | 13.7 | 8.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Kevin Morris | 160 | 6.3 | 6.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,698 | 66.4 | 35.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,577 | 29 | 3.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 17.8 | |

### Washington South ward

Washington South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Louise Farthing | 1,802 | 65.1 | 27.5 |
| | Conservative | Martin Talbot | 757 | 27.4 | 15.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Griffin | 209 | 7.6 | 5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,045 | 37.8 | 32.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,797 | 33.9 | 3.6 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 21.4 | |

### Washington West ward

Washington West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Bernard Scaplehorn* | 2,200 | 77.5 | 31.4 |
| | Conservative | Olwyn Bird | 386 | 13.6 | 11.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Irene Bannister | 254 | 8.9 | 8.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,814 | 63.9 | 43.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,869 | 31.5 | 2.5 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 21.6 | |