| Election Name: | 2012 Sunderland City Council election |
| Country: | England |
| Type: | Parliamentary |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Party Colour: | yes |
| Previous Election: | 2011 Sunderland City Council election |
| Previous Year: | 2011 |
| Election Date: | 3 May 2012 |
| Next Election: | 2014 Sunderland City Council election |
| Next Year: | 2014 |
| Seats For Election: | One third of 75 seats on Sunderland City Council |
| Majority Seats: | 38 |
| Party1: | Labour Party (UK) |
| Seats Before1: | 56 |
| Seats1: | 22 |
| Seats After1: | 64 |
| Seat Change1: | 8 |
| Map Size: | 300px |
| Majority party | |
| Before Election: | Labour |
| Posttitle: | Majority party after election |
| After Election: | Labour |
| Party2: | Conservative Party (UK) |
| Seats2: | 2 |
| Seat Change2: | 7 |
| Party3: | Independent (politician) |
| Seats3: | 2 |
| Seat Change3: | 0 |
| Seats Before2: | 15 |
| Seats After2: | 8 |
| Seats Before3: | 3 |
| Seats After3: | 3 |
| Party4: | Liberal Democrats (UK) |
| Seat Change4: | 1 |
| Seats4: | 0 |
| Seats After4: | 0 |
| Seats Before4: | 1 |
The 2012 Sunderland Council election took place on 3 May 2012 to elect members of Sunderland City Council in England. It was held on the same day as other 2012 United Kingdom local elections.[1]
Following the election, the Labour Party remained in control of the council with its majority increased by eight. Labour took seats from the Conservatives in Washington East, Washington South, St Peter's, St Chad's, Ryhope, Doxford and Barnes. The Liberal Democrats also lost out to Labour in Millfield.
The Conservatives held two wards – Fulwell and St Michael's. Independents in Copt Hill and Houghton also held their seats.
This resulted in the following composition of the council:
| Party | Previous Council | New Council | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | 56 | 64 | ||
| Conservatives | 15 | 8 | ||
| Independent | 3 | 3 | ||
| Liberal Democrats | 1 | 0 | ||
| Total | 75 | 75 | ||
| Working majority | ||||
An asterisk denotes an incumbent.
†Swing to the Independent candidate from the Conservatives, who had stood last time this seat was contested.
†Swing to the Independent candidate from the Conservatives, who had stood last time this seat was contested.
†Swing to Labour from the BNP, who had stood last time this seat was contested.
There was a double vacancy in Sandhill ward in 2012, due to the retirement of Labour councillor Jim Scott, and the death of Labour councillor John Gallagher.[2] Two seats were up for election, and each voter could cast two votes.