‘This is democracy’ - Leader’s response as Labour loses control of South Tyneside Council
South Tyneside Council’s outgoing leader says that residents have sent a “very strong message” to Labour.
The outgoing leader of South Tyneside Council has stated that “democracy has told us a tale” as Labour lose control in the borough for the first time since 1979.
Voters in South Tyneside headed to the polls on Thursday, May 7, with the ballot count taking place at the Temple Park Leisure Centre, in South Shields, on Friday, May 8.
Tracey Dixon was one of the Labour Party candidates to not be re-elected, with Reform UK taking all three seats in her Whitburn and Marsden ward.
‘Democracy has told us a tale’
The Council leader has stated that the residents of South Tyneside have sent a “very strong message” to the Labour Party at the 2026 local elections.
She said: “I’m devastated but this is democracy and the residents have spoken as they wanted a change in the administration.
“I need to say that we need to be proud as a Labour-led council about what we’ve done and our achievements in South Tyneside.
“We support our children, our adults, regeneration, the green agenda and the voluntary sector so I’m asking that Reform does continue the great work that we’ve been doing.
“We knew Reform were coming and the residents in South Tyneside have given us a very strong message.
“But it isn’t just South Tyneside, it is across the region.
“We’ll keep an eye on the administration and what they’re doing and we will ensure that they continue to deliver for the residents of South Tyneside.
“For me, democracy has told us a tale today.”
Calls for Labour to regroup in the North East
Tracey has called on the Labour Party to work together on all levels of government to ensure that the messaging on what they are doing for the public is better going forward.
She added: “As South Tyneside Labour, we need to have some really strong conversations - we’ll work with our MPs and we’ve got to the get the message across to the government to understand the importance of local government.
“We’ve lost four leaders in the region, I’m one of them, so we need to get together to get the message out there that we are doing great things but unfortunately it hasn’t come across.”