Reform UK upends North East map, taking Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland after Hartlepool sweep

Reform UK has dramatically redrawn the North East’s political landscape, sweeping all 12 seats contested in Hartlepool and taking control of Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland in local elections held on 7 May. The results triggered calls from Hartlepool’s Labour MP for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to resign and marked a bruising setback for Labour across Tyne and Wear.

Senior Labour figures were among those unseated. Council leaders Karen Kilgour, Martin Gannon, Michael Mordey, Tracey Dixon and Pamela Hargreaves lost their seats in Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, South Tyneside and Hartlepool respectively.

Going into polling day, Labour controlled all five Tyne and Wear authorities; it now holds only North Tyneside — and only because a third of seats were up for election there, making it impossible to lose the authority this year. Reform made major gains in the borough and are now in opposition.

Newcastle fell to no overall control. The Liberal Democrats took 25 seats, the Greens 24 and Reform 24, while Labour won only two seats in the city. Former North of Tyne mayor Jamie Driscoll returned to elected politics as one of the Green winners in Monument ward.

Across the five Tyne and Wear councils, Reform won 171 seats, compared with 50 for the Liberal Democrats, 39 for the Greens, 25 for Labour, six for independents and two for the Conservatives. National reaction reflected the scale of the shift. Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said he was “buzzing” after the party gained six additional seats in Scotland, bringing their total there to 10.

He argued it was critical to stop the SNP from securing a majority, adding that, in his view, but for Liberal Democrat gains, the SNP would have been celebrating a majority and discussing another referendum. Sir Keir Starmer said he would set out the path forward in the coming days, including “the convictions and values that drive me”, as he continued to defy calls to quit.

The Prime Minister reiterated he would not “walk away”, saying resignation would “plunge the country into chaos”, but added that Labour must respond and rebuild. He said the party needs to set out arguments about hope and the future, and appeal to young people, admitting “the hope wasn’t there enough in the first two years of this government”.

Speaking during a visit to AFC Wimbledon in south London, he said he would set out those arguments and the values that guide him. Dozens of Labour backbenchers have publicly suggested Sir Keir should either resign or set a timetable for his departure.

He defended bringing back Labour veterans Baroness Harriet Harman and Gordon Brown as a “future-looking” move, with Mr Brown appointed special envoy on global finance and Lady Harman made an adviser on women and girls. He said he wants women to have the opportunities they deserve and to tackle misogyny.

Further statements from party leaders and formal council control confirmations are expected as counts are finalised and administrations begin to take shape in the coming days.