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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Election 2016: Labour retains control in heartland | Election 2016: Labour retains control in heartland |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Labour has retained control of Sunderland, Newcastle, Gateshead and South Tyneside councils. | |
| The area is traditionally a Labour heartland, and the party gained a seat in Sunderland, and two in Newcastle. In South Tyneside it won all seats, including the only Conservative one. | The area is traditionally a Labour heartland, and the party gained a seat in Sunderland, and two in Newcastle. In South Tyneside it won all seats, including the only Conservative one. |
| There were mixed fortunes for the Lib Dems, with a gain in Sunderland and Gateshead but two losses in Newcastle. | |
| Although it did not win any seats, UKIP polled well. | Although it did not win any seats, UKIP polled well. |
| On North Tyneside, residents voted to keep rather than scrap the system of a directly elected mayor, by 32,546 to 23,730 votes. | On North Tyneside, residents voted to keep rather than scrap the system of a directly elected mayor, by 32,546 to 23,730 votes. |
| 'Real democracy' | 'Real democracy' |
| The current mayor, Norma Redfearn (Labour), who was elected for a four-year term in May 2013, said: "Before I was elected, I promised residents I would hold a referendum to let them decide on how their council would be run in the future. | |
| "I am pleased to say that this result is the people's decision, this is real democracy." | "I am pleased to say that this result is the people's decision, this is real democracy." |
| Referring to the council elections, Chi Onwurah, Labour MP for Newcastle, said: "People are realising that a Labour council is protecting them from the impact on services of years of disproportionate funding." | Referring to the council elections, Chi Onwurah, Labour MP for Newcastle, said: "People are realising that a Labour council is protecting them from the impact on services of years of disproportionate funding." |
| Lib Dem councillor Gregg Stone described the results for his party as "a mixed bag". | Lib Dem councillor Gregg Stone described the results for his party as "a mixed bag". |
| He said: "We are clearly heartened by the Sunderland result, and also hopeful of good news from Gateshead." | He said: "We are clearly heartened by the Sunderland result, and also hopeful of good news from Gateshead." |
| Conservative Lord Callanan described the South Tyneside result as "disappointing" and said: "It would have been nice to make gains, but we generally held our own." | Conservative Lord Callanan described the South Tyneside result as "disappointing" and said: "It would have been nice to make gains, but we generally held our own." |
| Douglas Carswell, UKIP's sole MP, tweeted: "Early signs are very encouraging for #UKIP 2020 strategy". | Douglas Carswell, UKIP's sole MP, tweeted: "Early signs are very encouraging for #UKIP 2020 strategy". |
| In North Tyneside Council's elections, Labour gained Cullercoats and Tynemouth from the Conservatives while the Liberal Democrats lost a seat to an Independent. | |
| Elections have also taken place for Durham and Northumbria forces' PCCs, and North Tyneside Council held a referendum on whether it should continue to have an elected mayor. | Elections have also taken place for Durham and Northumbria forces' PCCs, and North Tyneside Council held a referendum on whether it should continue to have an elected mayor. |