The ruling Labour group lost two seats, holding their majority by returning 17 members to the council. The Newcastle Independents, a localist party, gained their first ever seat on the council whilst the Liberal Democrats gained the Ouseburn ward.
Following the election, Nick Forbes returned as leader of the council. Forbes had earlier in the year sought selection as the Labour candidate for the newly created North of Tyne mayoralty, but lost out to Monument councillor Jamie Driscoll.[4]
Election Result
The council remained under Labour majority control.
Labour lost two seats. The ward of Callerton and Throckley was lost to the Newcastle Independents, with Ian Donaldson becoming their first ever councillor.[5] The Ouseburn ward was lost to Gareth Kane of the Liberal Democrats.
The Chapel ward saw incumbent independent councillor Olga Shorton lose to Sandra Davison, an independent challenger. Shorton and her husband had attempted to form a "Chapel Independents" political group on the council, which was criticised by fellow independent Chapel councillor Marc Donnelly.[6]
The Conservatives failed to pick up a seat on the council, having last won a seat in 1995.
The Green Party had a strong showing, doubling their share of the total votes to 8.9%, taking over 20% of the vote in Heaton, Monument and South Jesmond.
This would be the last election that UKIP would stand at in Newcastle, with the party standing no candidates in the city in subsequent council or parliamentary elections.