'Can't take public for granted' - Reform UK reveal first South Tyneside Council group leader

The leader of South Tyneside Council's first Reform UK group of councillors has been announced.

Paul Mackings, newly elected Whiteleas councillor, is expected to become council leader on the local authority after he was elected leader of the Reform UK Group this week.

The Whitburn-born businessman was one of 41 Reform UK candidates who emerged victorious in the historic May 7 local elections, which saw Reform take control of the council and the ruling Labour Group reduced to just one councillor.

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Reform UK said the newly elected group met this week to formally elect leadership roles.

Cllr Mackings was elected Reform UK Group leader on the council and will be joined by Hebburn North ward councillor Susan Sybenga, who was elected deputy leader of the group.

The council leader position, along with the deputy leader position, cabinet and committee positions and the Mayor of South Tyneside role, are expected to be formally agreed at the council's annual meeting next week.

Reform UK described Cllr Mackings as "born and bred in Whitburn" and a successful local businessman with a "lifelong passion for the borough."

Subject to being ratified at full council, the Whiteleas Reform UK councillor would serve as council leader leading the 41-strong Reform UK Group on the local authority.

Cllr Mackings said: “I am looking forward to working with the group to deliver what our constituents asked us to deliver whilst canvassing on the doorstep.

"Each resident of South Tyneside has the highest debt per capita of all the local authorities in the North East.

"It is my mission to guide our group of councillors to reduce the debt, antisocial behaviour, and put faith back in the community.”

Reform UK's landslide victory in the May 7 2026 local elections marked a seismic political shift in South Tyneside.

It meant that for the first time since 1979, Labour was not in control of the council, with council leader Tracey Dixon among those losing their seats to Reform.

Paul Mackings, speaking as the results were announced on May 8, said Reform had to “deliver” for residents in South Tyneside and added priorities included looking at the council's finances, potholes and antisocial behaviour.

“I was born and bred into Labour but this is historic," he said.

“To look at it [Labour] now, I don’t take any joy from it but I think they have to understand that you can’t take the public for granted.

“When the public ask for answers, you’ve got to give them and I know we are going to have to work extremely hard to build the confidence up of our constituents in the borough.”

Next week's annual meeting of South Tyneside Council is scheduled for Tuesday, May 19, at South Shields Town Hall and will start at 6pm.

Members of the public are welcome to attend and the meeting is also expected to be broadcast live via the borough council's YouTube channel.