Sunderland Central
Notional 2005 Results:
Labour: 18039 (51%)
Conservative: 8999 (25.4%)
Liberal Democrat: 5403 (15.3%)
Other: 2928 (8.3%)
Majority: 9040 (25.6%)
Actual 2005 result
Conservative: 5724 (19.8%)
Labour: 15719 (54.4%)
Liberal Democrat: 4277 (14.8%)
BNP: 1136 (3.9%)
Other: 2057 (7.1%)
Majority: 9995 (34.6%)
2001 Result
Conservative: 5331 (17.9%)
Labour: 18685 (62.7%)
Liberal Democrat: 3599 (12.1%)
BNP: 687 (2.3%)
Other: 1518 (5.1%)
Majority: 13354 (44.8%)
1997 Result
Conservative: 6370 (16.7%)
Labour: 26067 (68.2%)
Liberal Democrat: 3973 (10.4%)
Referendum: 1394 (3.6%)
Other: 409 (1.1%)
Majority: 19697 (51.5%)
Boundary changes: There are major readjustments to the seats in Tyne and Wear to take account of the reduction in the total number of seats allocated. Sunderland Central takes in the majority of the former Sunderland North seat, save for Castle and Redhill wards which move to Washington and Sunderland West, and the most Easterly part of the old Sunderland South constituency, the rest of which joins the new Houghton and Sunderland South. It also gains Ryhope ward from the old Houghton and Washington East seat.
Profile: Sunderland Central takes in the centre of the City of Sunderland itself and the coastal village of Ryhope to the South. To the north it takes is Roker (the site of Sunderland AFC`s former stadium) and Monkwearmouth (home to the new Stadium of Light) and the affluent Conservative stronghold of Fulwell. Sunderland itself is a former shipbuilding and coal mining town, both industries which have all but disappeared. Sunderand however is enjoying large scale inward investment and regeneration.
Both of the old Sunderland constituencies had been held by Labour since the 1960s. However, there are Conservative voters here – four of the nine wards in the constituency return Conservative councillors and unusually, despite the lower turnouts at local elections, the Conservatives managed to get more votes in the 2004 local elections in Sunderland than they did at the subsequent general election. The seat is not about to become a tight marginal, but the notional figures probably underestimate the strength the Tories could field if they were able to convert their local election support into national support.
Outgoing MP: Bill Etherington(Labour) born 1941. Educated at Monkwearmouth Grammar School and Durham Grammar School. Worked as a fitter in Dawdon colliery and from 1983 was a full time official for the NUM, including during the miners` strike. First elected in 1987. Etherington is a left-winger and has regularly rebelled against the government on issues like foundation hospitals, top-up fees and Iraq. Will stand down at the next election (more information at They work for you)
Candidates: 
Lee Martin (Conservative) Sunderland councillor. Leader of the Conservative group.
Julie Elliott (Labour) Trade union officer.
Paul Dixon (Liberal Democrat) Works for a property company. Sunderland councillor since 2006.Pauline Featonby-Warren (UKIP)
Mad Cow-Girl (Official Monster Raving Loony) Real name Rosalyn Warner. Born 1961, Harwich. Registered nurse. Contested Sunderland South 2001, 2005, Haltemprice and Howden by-election 2008.
2001 Census Demographics
Total 2001 Population: 99971
Male: 49%
Female: 51%
Under 18: 21.4%
Over 60: 22.3%
Born outside UK: 3.8%
White: 96.9%
Black: 0.2%
Asian: 1.8%
Mixed: 0.6%
Other: 0.6%
Christian: 79.3%
Muslim: 1.5%
Full time students: 8.3%
Graduates 16-74: 14.5%
No Qualifications 16-74: 35.2%
Owner-Occupied: 62.7%
Social Housing: 27% (Council: 17.1%, Housing Ass.: 9.8%)
Privately Rented: 8.3%
Homes without central heating and/or private bathroom: 5.3%
May I intervene, just for once, to say there is a General Election aspect in the dispute between Bob Price and RLC36 and that is the position of Lee Martin,
the Conservative candidate who has been conducting a very intense campaign. However, I think Lee has made one huge mistake and alienated many voters by his action in publicly boycotting a ceremony to dedicate
a memorial window to the Miners’ Strike. In an area such as Sunderland this is of great significance and could be very damaging for the Conservative Prospective Parliamentary Candidate.
Earthmother :
“In an area such as Sunderland this is of great significance and could be very damaging for the Conservative Prospective Parliamentary Candidate.”
Recent Sunderland Echo polls :
March 8 : Is Sunderland getting good value from the Metro ? (646 votes)
March 10 : should dog owners take out insurance against their pets attacking people ? (375 votes)
March 12 : Will Fabio Capello take England to the World Cup ? (364 votes)
March 13 : Should BNP members be banned from teaching in schools (350 votes)
March 6 : Is it right for the City to commemorate the Miners Strike ? (139 votes – 40%against !)
Maybe folks realise we’re fighting an election in 2010 and not 1985 ?
I do not think that fatuous Sunderland Echo polls are indicative of voting intentions in the Sunderland Central Constituency.
I am being totally honest and non-partisan when I say that I know people (yes, I do know people outside of the Labour Party) who were going to vote for Lee Martin
but have now been alienated by his re-opening of wounds of 25 years ago.
Florence
You re-opened those wounds yourself and rejected a compromise position of honouring our mining heritage rather than an illegal strike which even your own party disowned.
Any chance you might try and find the cash in future to turn the memorial around so the public might see it or is it purely your expensive way of having a little dig at the Conservative Group on Council ?
This is very repetitive.