Labour maintained its grip on Sunderland City Council as the Liberal Democrats celebrated gains on Wearside.
The Labour Party has been steadily losing seats in the historically red authority over recent years, shedding a total of nine seats in 2021 and 10 in 2019. The 2022 local elections saw that trend slow significantly, with Labour handing over only one seat, Doxford, to the Liberal Democrats.
It was a good result for Labour as they held on to overall power, now controlling 41 of the authority's 75 seats. And there was plenty to celebrate for the Liberal Democrats, who picked up the only two gains of the night, also taking Fulwell from the Conservatives.
