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Reform UK takes control of Sunderland City Council

Jonny ManningNorth East and Cumbria
News imagePA Media A group of Reform UK members at the election count in Sunderland. They are cheering and holding a blue banner that reads, Let's Make Britain Great.PA Media
Reform UK now holds a majority of seats at Sunderland City Council

Reform UK has gained control of Sunderland City Council - ending more than 50 years of Labour control.

Reform needed to win 38 seats to take control of the council and has now secured 58.

Among the Labour casualties to lose their seat was outgoing council leader Michael Mordey.

Newly elected Reform councillor for Washington North Paul Donaghy said the results showed a clear message in Sunderland but he also believed his party received votes because people were "unhappy with the national picture".

"We need to make sure we do not betray that trust and we need to deliver for the people of Sunderland and for Washington and Houghton," he said.

The former Conservative politician said it would be a "learning curve" for many of his new colleagues who had never been councillors before.

News imageReform UK councillor Paul Donaghy. He is wearing a grey suit with a Union Jack flag on the lapel. He has brown hair and a beard, both of which are graying.
Reform UK councillor Paul Donaghy said his party would have to make sure it did not betray the trust of voters

"We are under no illusion that we have a big task ahead of us," he said.

"But we are ready, we are equipped. We have a lot of experienced candidates who will hopefully become councillors and their background is exactly what we need."

Donaghy said Reform had broken the two-party system.

Voter turnout was 40.5% in Sunderland, which is considerably higher than the 30% turnout recorded during the area's last election in 2024.

News imageLabour's Sunderland Central MP Lewis Atkinson. He has grey hair and is wearing a red tie.
Labour's Sunderland Central MP Lewis Atkinson said voters were fed up with the cost of living crisis

Labour's Sunderland Central MP Lewis Atkinson said the party's losses in the city were down to unhappiness with national politics, not the local Labour leadership.

He said people were "fed up" that the cost of living had not improved over the last seven years, which was "really, really tough for any party that is in power".

"I am really sad we have lost some really good Labour councillors in Sunderland tonight," he said.

"I think people recognise Sunderland is a city on the up and there has been some really good work done by the Labour Council working together with the Labour government but ultimately national factors were the determining factor here."

There were a total of 75 seats up for grabs at Sunderland City Council. The full results are:

  • Reform UK - 58
  • Liberal Democrat - 12
  • Labour - 5

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