The 2024 Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council election was held on 2 May 2024, alongside the other local elections across the United Kingdom on the same day. Labour retained its majority on the council.
Background
The Local Government Act 1972 created a two-tier system of metropolitan counties and districts covering Greater Manchester, Merseyside, South Yorkshire, Tyne and Wear, the West Midlands, and West Yorkshire starting in 1974. Gateshead was a district of the Tyne and Wear metropolitan county. The Local Government Act 1985 abolished the metropolitan counties, with metropolitan districts taking on most of their powers as metropolitan boroughs.
Gateshead Council has continuously been under Labour control since its creation. The Liberal Democrats have generally been the main opposition. In the most recent election in 2023, Labour won 15 seats on 50.2% of the vote and the Liberal Democrats won 7 seats on 27.4% of the vote. The Conservatives received 12.5% of the vote and the Green Party received 7.5% of the vote, but neither party won any seats.
Positions up for election in 2024 were last up for election in 2021. In that election, Labour won 19 seats and the Liberal Democrats won five seats.
Electoral process The council elects its councillors in thirds, with a third being up for election every year for three years, with no election in the fourth year. The election took place by first-past-the-post voting, with wards generally being represented by three councillors, with one elected in each election year to serve a four-year term.
All registered electors (British, Irish, Commonwealth and European Union citizens) living in Gateshead aged 18 or over will be entitled to vote in the election. People who live at two addresses in different councils, such as university students with different term-time and holiday addresses, are entitled to be registered for and vote in elections in both local authorities. Voting in-person at polling stations will take place from 07:00 to 22:00 on election day, and voters will be able to apply for postal votes or proxy votes in advance of the election.
Previous composition After 2023 election Before 2024 election After 2024 election Party Seats Party Seats Party Seats 49 49 48 17 17 18
Results summary The election saw the Liberal Democrats take one seat from Labour, but no other seats changed party and so Labour retained their large majority on the council.
Ward results The results for each ward were:
Birtley
Blaydon
Bridges
Chopwell and Rowlands Gill
Chowdene
Crawcrook and Greenside
Deckham
Dunston and Teams
Dunston Hill and Whickham East
Felling
High Fell
Lamesley
Lobley Hill and Bensham
Low Fell
Pelaw and Heworth
Ryton, Crookhill and Stella
Saltwell
Wardley and Leam Lane
Whickham North
Whickham South and Sunniside
Windy Nook and Whitehills
Winlaton and High Spen
Changes 2024-2026
June 2024: Labour councillor Bob Goldsworthy (Bridges) died, aged 67. September 2024: Labour councillor Jane McCoid (Lamesley) left the party to sit as an independent. October 2024: Liberal Democrat councillor Sonya Hawkins (Whickham North) resigned. June 2025: Labour councillor Robert Waugh (Bridges) left the party to sit as an independent. January 2026: Labour councillor Tom Graham (Windy Nook and Whitehills) died, aged 82. As the council was due to elect all 66 seats at the 2026 election following a boundary review, no by-election was held; the seat remained vacant until that election, at which Labour lost all three Windy Nook & Whitehills seats to Reform UK. March 2026: Labour councillor Jim Turnbull (Windy Nook and Whitehills) died, aged 85. As with Graham's seat above, no by-election was held ahead of the all-out 2026 election.
By-elections
Bridges
The by-election was triggered by the death of Bob Goldsworthy.
Whickham North
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Sonya Hawkins.
References