With council elections due to take place on 7 May, we’re shining the spotlight on the main parties standing in the run-up to polling day. South Tyneside Council normally holds its elections by ‘thirds’ for its 54 councillors, with one council seat in each of the borough’s 18 wards up for grabs each election cycle. However, a landmark round of local elections is taking place this year following changes to ward boundaries by the Local Government Boundary Commission, with 54 councillors due to be elected.
Electors can vote for no more than three candidates in their ward and anyone wanting to vote must be on the electoral register.
More than 200 people are throwing their hats into the ring, including candidates from established parties Labour, the Green Party, Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Reform UK, along with dozens of independents.
There are currently two formal independent groups on the council, the South Tyneside Alliance Group and the REAL Independent Councillors, as well as a number of independents unaffiliated to any groups.
Political parties and existing independent groups on the council have been given the opportunity to tell readers why you should vote for their candidates.
Here’s what South Tyneside’s political figures have to say.
Tracey Dixon – Leader of South Tyneside Labour
We have already seen a significant amount of investment in South Tyneside from our Government.
Voting for your strong Labour candidates will result in a Labour Council working with a Labour Mayor and a Labour Government for our residents.
Our Labour controlled council have continued to deliver for our residents and our communities:
We are…
Putting our children first by building three new children’s homes.
Keeping our communities safe by investing in community and business responders.
Delivering on our local green agenda by building national recognised energy centres, delivering low carbon heat and cutting carbon emissions.
Building energy efficient housing alongside two new extra care homes and supported housing living.
We have one of our biggest investments seeing the South Shields college relocation which is currently in construction at a cost of £95m.
In Hebburn we are investing £10m through community regeneration partnership funding, supporting the regeneration of Hebburn Town Centre and improved facilities in Hebburn FC, alongside creating a new Community Hub.
Finally, Jarrow Forward – this is a 10-year £20m regeneration programme with work already under way through three priority working groups which are young people, the town centre and image and communications. We are also backing a bid for Town of Culture 2028.
Around our villages we are looking to protect our green spaces and ensuring that we plant more trees and protecting our coastline.
A vote for Labour is a vote for putting families first, and a vote for Labour is a vote for supporting businesses and communities.
David Kennedy, Leader of the South Tyneside Alliance Group (STAG)
As independent councillors, we are not directed by party headquarters or national agendas.
We live here, we listen to residents here, and we make decisions based on what is right for our borough.
That local approach is why more and more residents are choosing independent representation.
People want common sense, proper scrutiny, and councillors who will stand up for their neighbourhoods when it matters.
Residents wanted tougher oversight of councillor travel expenses, stronger planning controls on HMOs, a better approach to the local plan, sensible changes to development plans for the former college site, and the reopening and restoration of the coastal path.
Those concerns have helped secure real change. Travel rules are being reviewed so the cheapest suitable rail fare is used, borough-wide Article 4 HMO controls are now in force, revised plans for the college site retain more trees and green space, and parts of the local plan were found unsound by the Planning Inspectorate.
Our members work together while remaining independent and accountable first to their ward.
On Thursday May 7, residents can vote for hardworking local representatives who will ask difficult questions, stand up for neighbourhoods, and keep local people at the heart of decision-making by voting independent.
(The STAG leader said 16 independent candidates were affiliated to the independent group as of April 30, 2026).
- David Kennedy (Primrose)
- Kate Owens-Palmer (Westoe)
- Paul Brenen (Westoe)
- Ann Brenen (Harton)
- Karen Myers (Harton)
- Andrew Guy (Westoe)
- Karen Kennedy (Primrose)
- Joanne McKie (Primrose)
- Tony Roberts (Fellgate and Hedworth)
- Scott Oliver (Cleadon Village and East Boldon)
- Kenneth Wood (Simonside and Rekendyke)
- Simon Oliver (Boldon Colliery)
- Ethan Moffat-Oliver (Boldon Colliery)
- John Lennox (Boldon Colliery)
- Patrick Balmer (Fellgate and Hedworth)
- Jimmy King (Simonside and Rekendyke)
Rachael Taylor – Leader of the Green Group
I’m proud to lead the Green Group of councillors on South Tyneside Council, the largest Green group in the North East.
Greens in South Tyneside are a strong, consistent voice for residents and for nature.
Where local people elect local Green councillors, they want more. They see the difference we make; hard work, real results and consistency. Our movement is growing fast, with more local people getting involved and backing Greens than ever before.
This year, all 54 council seats are up for election. You have three votes and I’m asking you to use all three to vote Green. Every vote helps strengthen the local team working for you all year round.
On the doorstep, we hear about rising costs, families struggling to make ends meet and concerns about crime and safety. These are the realities shaping people’s lives. Our councillors work hard alongside local people, listening, supporting and making sure your voice is heard in the council chamber.
We’re visible, we put the work in and we stand up for residents and our environment every day. Greens aren’t told what to say or how to vote by party bosses or super-rich donors, free to put our communities first.
We’re committed to protecting vital public services, defending precious green spaces, and delivering practical, positive change.
If you want hard-working, accountable councillors who will stand up for your area and be a strong voice for your community and environment, vote Green on May 7 and bring hope back to South Tyneside.
Phil Barron – Chair of South Tyneside Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats have good representation in various parts of Tyne and Wear and in County Durham, but for reasons not clear to me, not in South Tyneside.
We are only able to field two candidates in this election, myself in Cleadon Village and East Boldon and Tom Stradling in Boldon Colliery, but we regard this as a springboard for growth, with help from our neighbouring local parties in Sunderland and Gateshead.
We Liberal Democrats are known for our community politics and localism and we have a good track record of service to local people, in the councils we lead across the UK.
Local government has suffered from many years of underfunding, resulting in weakened services, struggling to meet needs.
We will push…
(1) For greater local autonomy, devolution and ‘a bigger slice of the pie’.
(2) To ensure that local people are respected and supported in the lives they want to live, no matter their gender, race, spirituality, sexuality or (dis)abilities.
(3) To ensure that new housing developments, which are desperately needed, are planned carefully with adequate infrastructure and design which fosters physical and mental health.
(4) South Tyneside to make its contribution to the transition to renewable energy, which will quickly make our country self-reliant for power, while avoiding harm to the environment.
(5) For crises in health and social care to be resolved on a cross-party/no-party consensus.
(6) For our local living environments to be made safe and secure areas, that we can be proud of.
Paul Mackings, Reform UK candidate for Whiteleas
We are offering a clear, positive vision for South Tyneside: one focused on delivering better value for residents, restoring trust in local government, and putting frontline services first.
Across the country, Reform-led councils have demonstrated what can be achieved with a fresh approach.
In their first year, they have prioritised efficiency, reduced wasteful spending, and collectively identified hundreds of millions of pounds in savings for taxpayers.
They have also delivered the lowest average council tax increases of any party, showing that it is possible to ease the burden on residents while still maintaining essential services.
In South Tyneside, we want to build on that approach. We will review and reduce unnecessary spending, including excessive net zero-related costs, and instead redirect funding towards the services people rely on every day, from cleaner streets to stronger community safety and properly supported frontline staff.
Our focus is simple: value for money, transparency, and delivery.
Residents deserve a council that listens, prioritises their needs, and uses every pound wisely.
This election is an opportunity to bring that approach to South Tyneside, to ensure the council works for local people, supports communities, and delivers real, practical improvements across the borough.
Conservative Party
No statement or picture provided
The REAL Independent Councillors group
No statement or picture provided
Independent candidates
Around 23 independent candidates, who are not currently affiliated to the South Tyneside Alliance Group, are standing across South Tyneside on May 7 and include:
- Mark Berriman (Beacon and Bents)
- Ahmed Khan (Beacon and Bents)
- Scott Lancaster (Beacon and Bents)
- Lee Theaker (Biddick and All Saints)
- George Elsom (Cleadon Park and Harton Moor)
- Steve Harrison (Cleadon Park and Harton Moor)
- Vicky Harrison (Cleadon Park and Harton Moor)
- Justin Knight (Cleadon Park and Harton Moor)
- Pat Hay (Harton)
- Gill Brown (Horsley Hill and Westoe Crown)
- Phil Brown (Horsley Hill and Westoe Crown)
- Vicki Gardner (Horsley Hill and Westoe Crown)
- Donna Foggon (Bede)
- Terry Foggon (Bede)
- Keith Roberts (Bede)
- Kerry Redhead (Fellgate and Hedworth)
- Brian Goodman (Hebburn North)
- Sean Halligan (Hebburn South)
- Shane Smith (Hebburn South)
- Rory Page (Monkton)
- Graeme Slator (Monkton)
- Joan Hamilton (Primrose)
- John Robertson (Primrose)
