'We will come back' - Labour's only surviving South Tyneside councillor makes party vow

South Tyneside's last remaining Labour councillor is confident the party will "come back from this" following historic local elections which saw Reform UK sweep to power.

The May 7 local elections saw a major political shift at South Tyneside Council, with Reform UK taking 41 out of 54 seats available, leaving 10 Greens and two independents and almost wiping out Labour.

South Tyneside's Labour Group, which had controlled the council for decades, had 27 seats going into the election but was reduced to just one seat.

Councillor Geraldine Kilgour, the last Labour councillor standing, was re-elected to one of three seats in the Fellgate and Hedworth ward, with the remaining seats won by Reform UK candidates.

The May local elections were not the first election for Cllr Kilgour, who went on to successfully defend her position as a Fellgate and Hedworth councillor for the fourth time.

In recent years, the councillor has supported the Save the Fellgate Green Belt group raising concerns about huge housing plans in her ward, and made representations at a formal inquiry into the borough's local plan.

‘A fight we could not win’

Although it "felt very strange" to be the last Labour member post-election, Cllr Kilgour said she was "immensely grateful to my amazing community for electing me" and noted it was "the second time when we've bucked the trend as happened in 2014 against the rise of UKIP".

The Labour councillor, who grew up in the Fellgate and Hedworth ward, believes she kept her seat due to her "longstanding promise to vote against any development on our precious Fellgate Green Belt", as well as community work.

Despite a Labour council administration bringing about "real constructive change" through the delivery of developments such as Jarrow Focus and The Word, flood defence schemes and more, Cllr Kilgour said the council had faced issues.

This included the lack of "adequate funding" for adults and children's social care, in line with other councils across the country, as well as South Tyneside's emerging local plan causing "serious division".

"I do believe that we fought local elections on national issues. A fight we could not win," Cllr Kilgour added.

On the new Reform UK council administration, the Labour councillor said "any change of this magnitude is very unsettling" but described the new council leader, Cllr Paul Mackings, as a "very capable gentleman".

While respecting the electorate's support for Reform UK, Cllr Kilgour raised concerns about the "wave of exceptionally inexperienced councillors" entering the town hall and said that, as a Labour councillor with socialist values, she does not share Reform UK's politics.

"We will see very quickly if the role of a councillor, which is essentially a community champion, is what was expected," Cllr Kilgour added.

"We all have to learn and I eagerly await this administration unfolding."

The Labour councillor said she would continue representing her community on key issues, including working to "save Fellgate Green Belt from unwanted development as long as my residents seek that of me".

Other plans include "refreshing our Labour movement alongside the amazing community champions that I work with, but also to recruit up and coming champions of the future".

‘We need to galvanise’

In terms of building back Labour support in South Tyneside, Cllr Kilgour stressed the "national picture needs settlement urgently".

"Our community are our best asset and we need to galvanise them in unity to progress," she added.

"The core Labour vote tells us that there is Labour support and not the 'sheep' following that some accuse us of.

"Labour values must be at the core of everything we do. We must be selfless and demonstrate humility in everything that we do.

"We must hold those in administration to account and I intend to do that constructively.

"We will come back from this. I have every faith in our community. They are hurting and have demonstrated that.

"What we must not tolerate is divisive and dangerous behaviour from anyone.

"I acknowledge that we must deliver the right information at the right time and to do that we must speak openly to our community."

Cllr Kilgour also acknowledged the election results were "painful" for Labour councillors and activists, but urged them to have faith in the Labour movement, adding hard work was needed to win back residents' support.

"Despite significant work to engage with our residents it wasn't enough to overcome the national trend," she added.

"Activists will always be activists and for those we should be extremely grateful. I wish the many who stood down the very best.

"I thank those who stood in a very difficult election. It takes some bravery to do so.

"Moreover I urge them to have faith and hope in the work that we do and to change and flex with the community to win them back soon."