“Reform UK took control of Sunderland City Council, ending more than 50 years of continuous Labour control.”

Media reportsNews reportMay 8, 2026Read the original

Coverage of the 7 May 2026 Sunderland result.

Our verdict

True

Reform won 58 of 75 seats; Labour had run Sunderland since the council's creation in 1974.

What we found

Labour was left with five seats. The claim is accurate; strictly, Labour had controlled the council since 1974, 52 years.

The evidence

2 of 2 sources support the claim; none contradict it.

Contradict 0Support 2Background 0

Supports the claim
Reform UK takes Sunderland City Council from Labour after 50 years. [1]
Supports the claim
2026 Sunderland City Council election results. [2]

How we checked

We checked the claim against Channel 4 News, Wikipedia. We reviewed 2 relevant sources.

Sources

[1]Channel 4 News · Reform UK takes Sunderland City Council from Labour after 50 years
[2]Wikipedia · 2026 Sunderland City Council election

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