2022 South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council election explained

The 2022 South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on 5 May 2022 to elect members of South Tyneside Council. This was on the same day as other local elections. 19 of the 54 seats were up for election, with 1 ward (Harton) electing 2 councillors.^[1]

Background

Since the first election in 1973, South Tyneside has always been under Labour control, aside from a brief period of no overall control from 1978 to 1979.^[2] In the 2021 election, Labour lost 4 seats with a vote share of 43.3%, independents gained 1 with 20.2%, the Green Party gained 2 with 13.8%, and the Conservatives gained their first seat since 2018 with 21.5% of the vote.^[3]

The seats up for election this year were last elected in 2018. In that election, Labour gained 1 seat with 57.3%, the Conservatives gained 1 seat with 22.9% of the vote, and the Green Party failed to make any further gains with 13.5%.^[4]

Previous council composition

After 2021 election			Before 2022 election^[5]
Party		Seats	Party		Seats
	44		44
	1		2
	3		3
	6		4

Changes:

• June 2021: John Robertson (independent) resigns from council^[6]
• July 2021: Jay Potts wins by-election for Labour from independent,^[7] Jeff Milburn (independent) disqualified from council^[8]
• September 2021: Stan Wildhirt wins by-election for Conservatives from independent^[9]
• February 2022: Rob Dix (Labour) dies; seat left vacant until May election^[10]

Results by ward

An asterisk indicates an incumbent councillor.

Whiteleas

Notes and References

1. Web site: Election timetable in England . GOV.UK . 9 April 2022 . en.
2. Web site: South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council Election Results 1973-2012 . Elections Centre . 10 April 2022.
3. Web site: Election results - 06 May 2021 Local Government Election. South Tyneside Council. 7 May 2021.
4. Web site: Local Elections Archive Project - 2018 - South Tyneside . www.andrewteale.me.uk . 10 April 2022.
5. Web site: List of councillors by party . Southtyneside.gov . 9 April 2022 . en . 8 April 2022.
6. News: Robertson . Ross . Independent councillor quits in dramatic resignation - but says he'll stand again in by-election to fill the vacancy . 10 April 2022 . Shields Gazette . 11 June 2021 . en.
7. News: Binding . Chris . Labour wins Fellgate and Hedworth by-election as John Robertson fails to reclaim seat after resignation . 10 April 2022 . Shields Gazette . 29 July 2021 . en.
8. News: Binding . Chris . Councillor who carried knife to court is 'disqualified' . 10 April 2022 . ChronicleLive . 23 July 2021 . en.
9. News: Robertson . Ross . Conservatives win the Cleadon and East Boldon by-election - these are the full results . 10 April 2022 . Shields Gazette . 9 September 2021 . en.
10. News: Brownson . Sophie . Tributes to South Shields Labour councillor Rob Dix after sudden death . 10 April 2022 . ChronicleLive . 9 February 2022 . en.