Reform wins across northern England overturn decades of Labour control

Sunderland, Barnsley, Gateshead and South Tyneside among councils reporting gains for Farage’s partyFull results from England, Scotland and WalesElections mapped: how Labour lost ground in different directionsNigel Farage chose Sunderland for the launch of Reform UK’s local election campaign because, he said, it was where he had first sensed the “big political earthquake” underfoot.A decade ago next month, the city was the first to declare its vote in the Brexit referendum – a thumping 61% opting to leave the EU – and the aftershocks are still being felt across Labour’s heartlands. Continue reading...