Conservatives ready to break city’s stranglehold, says councillor

Sunderland City Council opposition leader Coun Peter Wood said he thought Julie Elliott would face a close battle on Election Day. He said: “The opinion polls suggest Sunderland Central might be more closely contested than it would have been otherwise.” Mr Wood insisted a General Election win for Mrs May would give her a strong mandate for the Brexit negotiations. Sunderland’s result was the first indication on referendum night that the UK was heading out of Europe. “I think it is always good for a Government to have a distinct mandate from the electorate,” he said. “Prime Ministers always prefer to have been elected as such at the helm of their party, rather than to have inherited the post. Winning a mandate would put the Prime Minister in an even stronger position.” Liberal Democrat spokes-

person for Sunderland Niall Hodson said the party was the choice for anyone unhappy at the prospect of a ‘hard’ Brexit: “This election is a huge opportunity for voters in Sunderland to change the direction of our country and ensure Britain has a decent opposition. “People in Sunderland may have voted to leave the EU, but many did not vote for the extreme form of Brexit that Theresa May has imposed on us after being backed by Labour. The people of Sunderland have lacked a strong voice in Parliament for far too long – it’s about time things changed around here. “For all those people who feel Labour lack the backbone to stand up for our city, this is your chance. “The Liberal Democrats are the real opposition to the Conservative Government and the only party fighting for a Britain that is open, tolerant and united.” The Prime Minister will require the support of twothirds of MPs to go to the country.