The Green Party claimed its third council seat in Newcastle, as Labour’s vote collapsed in the South Jesmond by-election.
Predictions going into Thursday’s vote, triggered following the resignation of Labour’s Milo Barnett, set up the by-election as being too close to call.
And so it proved, with Green candidate Sarah Peters winning by a margin of just 55 votes ahead of Lib Dem Jude Browne.
But Labour was pushed into a distant third place in an area that had previously been relatively safe ground for the city’s ruling party.
Defeat in South Jesmond marks the latest blow for Labour, which lost its majority in the council chamber last year and now runs a minority administration.
Image: LDRS
Attention now turns to a hugely important set of local elections next May, when every one of the council’s 78 seats will be contested – rather than the usual one-third.
Those ‘all out’ elections have the potential to radically reshape the balance of power in Newcastle and set the political direction of the city for years to come.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service after the votes were counted at Newcastle Civic Centre on Friday morning, Dr Peters said the result “shows that people are seeing that we can offer real hope and real change”.
The 27-year-old, a resident doctor working in intensive care at Newcastle’s hospitals, added that her party has “lots of momentum” after gaining its first seats on the council last year.
She said: “We can expect really positive things in May, big gains, and I am really excited.”
Colin Ferguson, leader of the council’s Liberal Democrat opposition group, said the result was “not far away from a coin toss”, but showed that Labour had “absolutely collapsed and people in the city are losing faith in them” following a period of political turmoil in Newcastle and plummeting poll ratings nationally.
Labour’s share of the vote in South Jesmond has slipped from 42.1% in May 2024 when Mr Barnett was elected to just 16.8%.
The party, which still holds the ward’s two other seats, had brought in the likes of Chancellor Rachel Reeves and transport secretary Heidi Alexander to campaign in the by-election.
Alex Hay, the council’s deputy leader, said the result was “clearly disappointing” and that Labour candidate Owen Bell “brought energy, thoughtfulness and a strong connection to the local community”.
Coun Hay added: “We would like to thank everyone who voted Labour and everyone who took the time to speak with us during the campaign. We are also grateful to all the members and volunteers who gave their time so generously.
“We congratulate Sarah Peters and wish them well in representing the ward alongside our two Labour councillors, Lesley Storey and Laura Cummings.
“This Labour council remains focused on delivering for the people of Newcastle. We will keep working every day to improve services, support communities and stand up for our city.”
Image: LDRS
Dr Peters, who is originally from London and moved to the North East three years ago, said that the state of back lane bins and the continuing fallout of Jesmond’s Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) saga were the main issues raised by voters.
Speaking about the LTN, which was removed in 2024 after almost a year of intense argument about the road restrictions, she added: “I think it was really important to make clear that what we feel is that, while we support Low Traffic Neighbourhoods as a general policy, the way it was put in in South Jesmond was not helpful for the community and led to areas like Osborne Road being more polluted. It is about getting that message across and working with people to see how we can improve active travel, bringing the community with us.”
Thursday’s by-election was the first vote held in Newcastle since Reform UK’s rise to the top of the national opinion polls and their historic local election results earlier this year, when Nigel Farage’s party won control of Durham County Council.
Reform candidate Gavin Maw finished in fourth place, ahead of the Conservatives, though the affluent suburb of South Jesmond was not viewed as a likely target seat for the party.
The full result of the South Jesmond by-election, for which there was a 30.76% turnout, was:
- Owen Bell (LAB) – 267
- Jude Browne (LD) – 523
- Stephen Dawes (CON) – 45
- Gavin Maw (RFM) – 173
- Sarah Peters (GRN) – 578
The political balance of the council is now: Labour 37, Lib Dems 22, Independents 6, East End and Associates Independents 6, Newcastle Independents 3, Green 3, Conservative 1.
