The political landscape in Newcastle has been jolted by a dramatic by-election in the South Jesmond ward, where the Green Party snatched a narrow victory from Labour, sending shockwaves through the city’s established order. The contest, held on August 14, 2025, saw Dr. Sarah Peters, a 27-year-old intensive care doctor, edge past the Liberal Democrats by just 55 votes, while Labour—once dominant in the area—suffered a collapse that few had predicted.
According to detailed reports from the Local Democracy Reporting Service and regional outlets, the final tally was tight: Peters claimed 578 votes (36.4%), Liberal Democrat Jude Browne secured 523 (33%), Labour’s Owen Bell trailed with 267 (16.8%), Gavin Maw of Reform UK garnered 173 (10.9%), and Conservative Stephen Dawes managed only 45 (2.8%). The turnout, at 30.76%, reflected the challenge of mobilizing voters in August, when many students—typically Labour supporters—are away from the area.
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Labour councillor Milo Barnett, and the result has upended expectations for the city’s political future. Labour, which had previously counted South Jesmond as relatively safe ground, watched its vote share plummet from 42.1% in May 2024 to just 16.8%—a staggering fall of 25.3 percentage points. The Green Party’s vote, by contrast, surged by 15.2%, while the Liberal Democrats saw a 7.3% increase. The Conservative share dropped by 5.7%, and Reform UK, contesting the ward for the first time, made a notable debut with nearly 11% of the vote.
Labour’s loss in South Jesmond is only the latest in a series of setbacks for the party, which lost its overall majority in Newcastle City Council last year and now governs as a minority administration. The current composition of the council, post-election, stands at Labour with 37 seats, Liberal Democrats 22, Greens 3, Conservatives 1, and various Independents holding the remainder. This fragmentation sets the stage for a fiercely contested all-out council election next May, when all 78 seats will be up for grabs in a vote that could reshape Newcastle’s political trajectory for years to come.
Dr. Sarah Peters, the newly elected Green councillor, was jubilant about the outcome. Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, she said, “This result shows that people are seeing that we can offer real hope and real change.” Peters, who moved to the North East from London three years ago, emphasized the “momentum” her party has gathered since winning its first council seats last year. “We can expect really positive things in May, big gains, and I am really excited,” she added.
Peters also addressed the local issues that dominated the campaign, notably the state of back lane bins and the controversial Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) scheme in Jesmond. The LTN, introduced to reduce through-traffic but withdrawn in 2024 after intense public debate, became a lightning rod for community frustration. “While we support Low Traffic Neighbourhoods as a general policy, the way it was put in in South Jesmond was not helpful for the community and led to areas like Osborne Road being more polluted. It is about getting that message across and working with people to see how we can improve active travel, bringing the community with us,” Peters explained.
The by-election’s timing—deep in the summer when many students were away—also played a role in Labour’s misfortunes. Jesmond’s student population has traditionally leaned Labour, but with many absent, the party’s base was diminished. Despite bringing in high-profile campaigners such as Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, Labour could not stem the tide. Owen Bell, their candidate, was praised for his energy and community connection, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the party’s broader challenges.
Labour’s internal struggles have been well-documented. Over the past three years, the party has lost two council leaders—one through deselection and another through resignation—and six members have quit to form an Independent Group. This turmoil, combined with the national government’s unpopularity and Newcastle-specific controversies like the LTN, has eroded public confidence. Councillor Alex Hay, the council’s deputy leader, acknowledged the setback: “This Labour council remains focused on delivering for the people of Newcastle. We will keep working every day to improve services, support communities and stand up for our city.” He also extended congratulations to Peters, wishing her well alongside the ward’s two remaining Labour councillors, Lesley Storey and Laura Cummings.
The Liberal Democrats, who had hoped to capitalize on Labour’s vulnerability, were left pondering what might have been. Councillor Colin Ferguson, leader of the LibDem opposition, described the result as “not far away from a coin toss,” but didn’t mince words about Labour’s predicament: “Labour had absolutely collapsed and people in the city are losing faith in them” after a period of political turmoil and poor national poll ratings. The LibDems, as the largest opposition party, still harbor ambitions of overtaking Labour in the next election, but the Green surge complicates that path.
Reform UK, meanwhile, saw the by-election as a stepping stone. Their candidate, Gavin Maw, finished ahead of the Conservatives, marking another advance for the party after its historic gains earlier this year, including taking control of Durham County Council. Although South Jesmond was never a likely target for Reform UK, their 10.9% share consolidates their growing presence in the North East. The Conservatives, on the other hand, found themselves in a dismal fifth place—a result that is sure to trouble party headquarters in London, especially after their brief success in Gosforth in 2024.
For the Greens, the win in South Jesmond is more than just an additional seat. It’s a sign that their appeal is broadening beyond their traditional strongholds in Ouseburn and Elswick. Now, with a foothold in a ward influenced by the city’s universities and creative industries, the party is eyeing Labour’s riverside heartlands from Walker in the east to Newburn in the west. The May 2026 all-out elections will test whether this momentum can translate into a more substantial presence on the council.
As Newcastle’s political parties regroup and strategize for the pivotal contest ahead, the South Jesmond by-election stands as a vivid illustration of shifting allegiances and the volatility of local politics. The city’s future direction may well hinge on how parties respond to the lessons of this unexpected result, and whether new voices—like Dr. Sarah Peters and the Greens—can turn a moment of triumph into lasting influence.
