The Sunderland Echo is reporting that veteran Labour MP Chris Mullin won't be contesting the new Sunderland Central seat at the next General Election. Mr Mullin had been adopted for the seat but appears to have had a change of heart.
Has it got anything to do with the Tories' 'Sunderland surge'? Ten years ago the Conservatives had just four seats on Sunderland council. They now have 22, gaining five more at the local elections. Labour have 48 seats.
The projected Labour majority is a large 9,040 for Sunderland Central but if you add up the votes in the nine wards that voted on 1st May and make up the seat you get the following numbers:
- Conservative 10,573 (40%)
- Labour 8,099 (31%)
- Liberal Democrat 3,788 (14%)
- BNP 2,845 (11%)
- Independent 1,203 (5%)
Those familar with election nights will know that Sunderland Central is likely to be the first seat to declare. It would be quite something if Lee Martin - our candidate pictured below with David Cameron and (right) Cllr Peter Wood (Wearside Chairman) is the first declared MP of the next Parliament. Our MEP in the region, Martin Callanan, describes Cllr Martin as "star quality". Good luck to Lee.
