Labour decimated across North East councils, Reform make gains
Reform has taken control of Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland councils, after decades of Labour control across the region
Last updated 8th May 2026
It's being called a "historic shift in British Politics" - as Labour have been decimated in local elections across the Country.
Both Sunderland City Council and Gateshead, which have been Labour controlled for decades, are now under majority control of Reform UK.
They both saw "all-out" elections, with every council seat up for grabs.
The same is true in Newcastle and South Tyneside, which have also seen Labour slip from popularity, turning into battlegrounds between the Green Party and Reform in South Tyneside, and the Greens, Liberal Democrats and Reform in Newcastle.
The Greens also won 3 seats in Gateshead, pictured here:
Newcastle has fallen to No Overall Control, with 25 seats for the Lib Dems, 24 for the Green Party and Reform, 2 seats for Labour, and 3 for the Independents.
Counting has also finished in South Tyneside now as well, with Reform taking control there.
The results in South Tyneside were; Reform 41, Green 10, Independent two, Labour one.
Labour managed to hold on to North Tyneside council - with only a third of seats up for election there - but Reform is now the official opposition.