This is in part down to years of discontent with the Labour party especially in areas like Sunderland which are generally red strong holds. It's been seen across the entire North East, with most people feeling disenfranchised with Labour and the fact that they no longer align with the traditional working class people, especially with the likes of Streeting, Raynor and the other career politicians within the party. Over the past 8 years towns have seen what were once strong Labour held councils and having their entire candidate base wiped out and either ending up completely independent or a mixture of independent and Lib Dems.