Wear still voting for Labour – but gap is closing as Tories set General Election date
Wear still voting Labour – but the gap is closing.
That was the message from Echo readers in our poll after Prime Minister Theresa May called a General Election for June 8.
More than 2,000 readers took part in the survey.
Last night, Labour led with 36% of the poll – but the Conservatives were not too far behind with 30% of you saying you’d keep them in power.
The LibDems polled 19% with UKIP in fourth with 9% of the vote.
It will be the first time Sunderland has gone to the polls since last year’s EU Referendum – when Wearside emphatically voted Leave.
Now, one city MP has accused Theresa May of wasting time by calling a General Election rather than concentrating on Brexit negotiations.
But the leader of the city’s Tories says the vote will be a chance for the Prime Minister to establish a firm mandate for the talks.
Mrs May’s move stunned Westminster, as the Prime Minister and and Number 10 have repeatedly insisted she would not seek an election before the scheduled 2020 poll.
But Mrs May, who has a fragile working majority of just 17 in the Commons, said she wanted “unity” at Westminster as talks on Brexit begin in earnest with the European Union.
Sunderland Central MP Julie Elliott said: “I’m very surprised that Theresa May is calling a General Election when she has consistently said that she wouldn’t do so.
“The last thing this country needs is the instability a General Election will cause. Theresa May should get on with getting the best deal for our country in negotiations with the EU, instead of calling an unnecessary general election and playing politics with the British public for her own ends.
“If she thinks another election is what the British public want, she should get out of her Westminster bubble and get into the real world.
“I will fight this election on the record of having been the Labour MP for Sunderland Central for almost seven years. I always put Sunderland first in everything I do and I will ask the people of Sunderland Central to give me the opportunity and privilege of being their member of Parliament representing them in Westminster.
“Sunderland is my city, it’s where I have always lived. I want it to thrive and will always play my part in getting the best for Sunderland.”
Washington and Sunderland West MP Sharon Hodgson said: “The gauntlet has been laid down, despite Theresa May repeatedly saying that a General Election was not in the interests of the British public as we begin the process of leaving the European Union.
“Labour’s alternative approach to this Tory Government will be to invest in our public services, ensure much-needed economic growth is felt here in the North East and secure a Brexit deal that works for everyone.
“Labour is, and always has been, committed to putting the interests of the many first and will stand up for the British people. We will make this case to the country in the coming weeks ahead.”
And her Houghton and Sunderland South colleague Bridget Phillipson added: “I’m from this community and it is a privilege to serve the people of Houghton and Sunderland South.
“Less than two years ago, local people put their trust in me. I’ll be asking voters to let me continue working hard for them.”