Labour loses South Tyneside Council majority for the first time since 1979 as Reform UK surges
Labour is no longer the majority party on South Tyneside Council.
The Labour Party has lost its majority on South Tyneside Council for the first time in 47 years.
Voters in South Tyneside went to the polls on Thursday, May 7, with polling stations closing at 10pm.
Due to ward boundaries changing since the last election in 2024, all 54 seats were up for grabs at South Tyneside Council for this year’s local elections.
Rather than the ballots being counted when the polls closed, the count was instead held on Friday, May 8, at the Temple Park Leisure Centre, in South Shields.
At the time of writing, the full make-up of South Tyneside Council is still unknown but given the already called results, Labour cannot hold a majority on the Council.
Friday morning saw Reform UK being the big winners across the country overnight and that trend continued here in South Tyneside.
During the morning counting session, Reform UK picked up 18 seats, the Green Party secured seven - with Labour and an Independent candidate also winning one seat each.
‘People want change’
Paul Mackings, a spokesperson for Reform UK in South Tyneside, has reflected on the party’s success and what they will bring to the borough.
He said: “I think people want change as they are sick of the two party system, although they’ve had one party in South Tyneside.
“What we are hearing on the doorstep is ‘we want change’ and ‘we’re sick of people not listening’ - that’s why people have voted they way they have voted.
“The biggest message for us as Reform is to look at the finances of the borough so we can analysis what has gone on.
“I think people deserve some answers.
“The biggest thing people have asked us about is potholes, people are sick to death of potholes.
“These are some of the things we’ll be addressing immediately should be take control of South Tyneside Council.”
Green Party also finds success
Rachael Taylor, leader of the South Tyneside Green Party, was the first Green Party councillor to secure her seat on South Tyneside Council this year.
She commented: “We’ve had a great Green team behind us helping us through the campaign and it is a huge reason why I’ve been re-elected.
“It’s really exciting to be given the opportunity again to be a councillor for Biddick and All Saints because I’ve really enjoyed my last three years.
“The results were really close but I’m pleased that residents have given me the opportunity to be their voice again in the council chamber.
“It means that I can carry on the work that I’ve been doing and I will continue to do that.
“Hopefully more Green councillors will be elected throughout the day.”
Calls for the Prime Minister to resign
The disastrous local elections in South Tyneside and across the wider country have prompted both Emma Lewell MP and Kate Osborne MP to call for change.
For full coverage of the 2026 local elections in South Tyneside, then head over to our website at: https://www.shieldsgazette.com/.