'A vital moment for local democracy': Everything you need to know about unprecedented South Tyneside elections
A “landmark” round of local elections which will reset South Tyneside’s political map with 54 councillors elected are due to take place later this year.
South Tyneside Council will be holding “all-out” elections in May, 2026, following a major review of the borough’s electoral wards.
The review from the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) recently took place as part of a process which aims to update electoral wards to account for several factors, including changes in population, with the new boundaries then elected via a full council election.
It has been more than 20 years since an all-out election in South Tyneside and the latest boundary review process included public consultation and final recommendations which were presented to Parliament, with the new arrangements confirmed earlier this year (2025).
There were no changes to the number of councillors in South Tyneside as part of the latest review, which will remain at 54 councillors, with three councillors elected to serve each of the council’s 18 wards.
An infographics report on the Local Government Boundary Commission for England’s website states that proposals aimed to “make sure South Tyneside councillors represent a similar number of electors” and that South Tyneside will move to wards where “each councillor represents an average of 2,231 electors.”
Compared to local authority neighbour Sunderland City Council, which has also seen a local boundary review, the majority of wards in South Tyneside have kept the same names.
The ward names that have continued under the new political map include Hebburn North and Hebburn South, Monkton, Primrose, Fellgate and Hedworth, Bede, Boldon Colliery, Simonside and Rekendye, Biddick and All Saints, West Park, Westoe, Beacon and Bents, Harton, Whitburn and Marsden and Whiteleas.
New ward names include Cleadon Village & East Boldon, Cleadon Park & Harton Moor and Horsley Hill & Westoe Crown.
South Tyneside Council normally elects councillors ‘by thirds’ with one councillor in each of the borough’s 18 wards elected to a council seat in a normal round of local elections.
As part of the all-out elections, under revised ward boundaries, all 54 seats will be contested marking a major political event for the borough.
Hundreds of candidates are expected to throw their hat in the ring to contest South Tyneside Council’s new wards, with the final result set to determine the future political make-up and political leadership of the local authority.
Jonathan Tew, returning officer and chief executive officer at South Tyneside Council, said the 2026 local elections “represent a landmark moment for South Tyneside”.
“For the first time in 22 years, every single council seat, 54 in total, will be contested on the same day,” the council chief added.
“This follows an electoral review of local ward boundaries which concluded in 2024.
“This ‘all-out’ election is a major logistical operation, requiring months of meticulous planning and coordination across the council.
“The scale of this event is unprecedented in our recent history. Organising an all-out election is much more demanding than a typical election year.
“It means processing hundreds of candidate nominations, recruiting and training extra staff, and ensuring every polling station is ready to serve our residents.
“The count itself will be more complex and time-consuming, as we manage a mixture of voting methods and ensure every vote is accurately recorded.
“This is a huge undertaking for our staff and partners, but it’s also a vital moment for local democracy.
“Local elections give residents a direct say in how their community is run.
“I urge everyone to check their voter registration and postal vote status, where appropriate, and to make sure they are ready to take part in this important democratic process.”
For more information on the local boundary changes in South Tyneside, visit: https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/south-tyneside