LABOUR WINS ACROSS WEARSIDE AS REFORM MAKES GAINS
Labour has swept up all seats across Sunderland and County Durham, with Reform coming ahead of the Conservatives in multiple constituencies.
Sunderland was once again first in the UK to declare a result, as Labour's Bridget Phillipson comfortably held Houghton and Sunderland South with 47% of the vote.
In her victory speech, she said the country had chosen "a brighter future".
Labour also gained Bishop Auckland from the Conservatives.
Speaking of the national exit poll, Ms Phillipson said: "Tonight the British people have spoken and if the exit poll this evening is again a guide to results across our country - as it so often is - then after 14 years the British people have chosen change.
"They have chosen Labour and they have chosen the leadership of Keir Starmer. Today our country with its proud history has chosen a brighter future."
In Bishop Auckland, Labour's Sam Rushworth took the seat from the Conservatives, with Tory candidate Jane MacBean coming second.
Newly-elected Mr Rushworth said Bishop Auckland had "voted decisively for change".
Sunderland Central was held by Labour's Lewis Atkinson, with Reform's Chris Eynon coming in second ahead of the Conservatives.
Mr Eynon told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the result was "bittersweet".
"The Tories weren’t even close and it shows the fact that around here in the red wall we’re the new opposition to Labour without a doubt," he added.
Labour's Mary Kelly Foy won the City of Durham constituency, where Reform candidate Mark Belch came second, followed by Liberal Democrat Mark Wilkes.
Alan Strickland won the newly-created Newton Aycliffe & Spennymoor seat for Labour, with Reform's John Grant second.
In North Durham, Luke Akehurst held for Labour and Reform's Andrew Husband was second, while Labour's Liz Twist was re-elected in Blaydon & Consett, with David Ayre coming in second for Reform.
Easington was also held by Labour, as Grahame Morris was re-elected and Reform's Lynn Murphy the runner-up.
Washington and Gateshead South was held for Labour by Sharon Hodgson who secured 48% of the vote, with Reform coming second.
There was a lot of amusement at Consett Leisure Centre as the first box of ballot papers was hurried from the polling station upstairs to the counting hall downstairs - only to be met by a locked door.
Officials and those stuck inside were relieved when it was unlocked after a few awkward minutes.
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