2012 UK local government 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.[1]
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[2] 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 | Previous Council | New Council |
| Labour | 56 | 64 |
| Conservatives | 15 | 8 |
| Independent | 3 | 3 |
| Liberal Democrats | 1 | 0 |
Total | 75 | 75 |
Working majority | 37 | 53 |
Ward by ward results
An asterisk denotes an incumbent.
Barnes ward
Barnes 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 | 555 | 15.1 | 12.1 |
Turnout | 3,692 | 40.8 | 2.8 |
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 21.2 | |
Castle ward
Castle 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 | 1,763 | 76.8 | 37.4 |
Turnout | 2,319 | 26.7 | 3.4 |
| Labour hold | Swing | 18.6 | |
Copt Hill ward
Copt Hill 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 | 429 | 14.1 | 2.9 |
Turnout | 3,052 | 33.6 | 3.2 |
| 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 | 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 | 1,273 | 45.9 | 39.3 |
Turnout | 2,789 | 35.1 | 0.6 |
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 26.2 | |
Fulwell ward
Fulwell 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 | 101 | 2.8 | 24.1 |
Turnout | 3,670 | 40 | 3.5 |
| Conservative hold | Swing | 12.1 | |
Hendon ward
Hendon 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 | 1,158 | 50.8 | 37.6 |
Turnout | 2,297 | 25.6 | 3.9 |
| Labour Co-op hold | Swing | 17.9 | |
Hetton ward
Hetton 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 | 265 | 8.4 | 30 |
Turnout | 3,166 | 35.1 | 4.5 |
| Labour hold | Swing | 30.4 | |
Houghton ward
Houghton 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 | 201 | 6.2 | 1.6 |
Turnout | 3,278 | 35.8 | 0 |
| 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 | 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 | 170 | 7.3 | 14.5 |
Turnout | 2,339 | 28.8 | 3.5 |
| Labour Co-op gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 14.6 | |
Pallion ward
Pallion 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 | 1,176 | 50.9 | 33.7 |
Turnout | 2,321 | 30.4 | 1.2 |
| Labour hold | Swing | 16.9 | |
Redhill ward
Redhill 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 | 1,499 | 62.46 | 32.4 |
Turnout | 2,415 | 28 | 3 |
| Labour hold | Swing | 24.3† | |
†Swing to Labour from the BNP, who had stood last time this seat was contested.
Ryhope ward
Ryhope Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour Co-op | Anthony Farr | 1,887 | 72.8 | 40.1 |
| Conservative | Shaun Cudworth | 706 | 27.2 | 6.5 |
Majority | 1,181 | 45.6 | 44.6 |
Turnout | 2,620 | 31.9 | 5.4 |
| Labour Co-op gain from Conservative | Swing | 23.3 | |
St Anne's ward
St Anne's 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 | 1,404 | 58 | 34.7 |
Turnout | 2,426 | 28 | 1.5 |
| Labour hold | Swing | 17.4 | |
St Chad's ward
St Chad's 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 | 443 | 14 | 0.2 |
Turnout | 3,188 | 40 | 1.7 |
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 13.9 | |
St Michael's ward
St Michael's 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 | 488 | 15.2 | 21.5 |
Turnout | 3,242 | 35.4 | 5.5 |
| Conservative hold | Swing | 10.8 | |
St Peter's ward
St Peter's 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 | 374 | 12.3 | 8.7 |
Turnout | 3,065 | 35.2 | 2.6 |
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 16.7 | |
Sandhill ward
Sandhill 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 | 965 | 47.7 | 26.7 |
Turnout | 2,035 | 23.8 | 6.9 |
| Labour hold | Swing | 40 | |
| 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.[3] Two seats were up for election, and each voter could cast two votes.
Shiney Row ward
Shiney Row 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 | 1,651 | 53.1 | 32.4 |
Turnout | 3,129 | 30.8 | 2.6 |
| Labour hold | Swing | 16.2 | |
Silksworth ward
Silksworth 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 | 1,509 | 51.8 | 30.9 |
Turnout | 2,919 | 34.3 | 2.4 |
| Labour hold | Swing | 15.5 | |
Southwick ward
Southwick 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 | 1,188 | 49.9 | 32.9 |
Turnout | 2,394 | 28.6 | 4.1 |
| Labour hold | Swing | 16.5 | |
Washington Central ward
Washington Central 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 | 1,463 | 48.1 | 34 |
Turnout | 3,058 | 33.9 | 2.3 |
| Labour Co-op hold | Swing | 20.5 | |
Washington East ward
Washington East 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 | 986 | 32.4 | 29.5 |
Turnout | 3,055 | 34.6 | 2.5 |
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 17.7 | |
Washington North ward
Washington North 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 | 1,698 | 66.4 | 35.6 |
Turnout | 2,577 | 29 | 3.3 |
| Labour hold | Swing | 17.8 | |
Washington South ward
Washington South 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 | 1,045 | 37.8 | 32.9 |
Turnout | 2,797 | 33.9 | 3.6 |
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 21.4 | |
Washington West ward
Washington West 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 | 1,814 | 63.9 | 43.1 |
Turnout | 2,869 | 31.5 | 2.5 |
| Labour hold | Swing | 21.6 | |
References
- ^ "Local elections 2012". BBC News. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
- ^ 2012 Results
- ^ "Tributes paid to "gentleman" Sunderland councillor who died of lung cancer". Sunderland Echo. Retrieved 1 July 2018.