Reform surge shatters Labour strongholds across North East
Nigel Farage’s party has redrawn the political map of the North East after a string of historic local election victories that saw Labour lose control of several long-held councils for the first time in decades.
The elections, dubbed ‘Mega May’, took place across 136 local authorities in England as well as nationwide contests in Scotland and Wales, with the North East emerging as one of the clearest indicators of Reform’s growing political momentum.
Sunderland fell to Reform after 52 years of Labour control, with the party winning 58 of the council’s 75 seats from a standing start of zero. Labour was reduced to just five councillors after losing 49 seats, while the Conservatives lost all representation on the authority.
Among the most significant defeats was that of council leader Michael Mordey, who lost his seat as Labour’s dominance in the city collapsed.
In neighbouring Gateshead, Reform also ended Labour’s 52-year hold on the council after winning 38 seats. Labour collapsed to 12 councillors after losing 36 seats, with former council leader Martin Gannon, a councillor since 1984 who led the authority for a decade, among the party’s highest-profile casualties.
South Tyneside saw Labour lose control for the first time since 1979, with Reform taking 41 of the council’s 54 seats. Labour was reduced to a single councillor after losing 27 seats.
Newcastle was left under no overall control after Labour suffered a dramatic collapse, falling from majority control to just two councillors after losing 44 seats. The Liberal Democrats became the largest party with 25 seats, while Reform and the Greens each secured 24.
Former Labour leader Karen Kilgour also lost her Blakelaw and Cowgate seat to Reform.
Elsewhere, Reform won all 12 seats contested in Hartlepool, wiping out Labour’s majority and leaving both parties tied on 15 councillors each overall. The Conservatives lost all four of their remaining seats on the authority.
North Tyneside proved one of the few areas where Labour retained control, although the party still lost 12 seats as Reform secured its first 10 councillors on the authority.
The results represent one of Labour’s worst electoral performances in the North East in modern political history, and alongside Durham, means that the traditionally Red region is now decidedly Turquoise.
