2023 Newcastle City Council election

The 2023 Newcastle City Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect one third of the members of Newcastle City Council in Tyne & Wear, England. This was on the same day as other local elections in England and Wales.

There were 27 of the 78 seats on the council up for election, being the usual third of the council plus a by-election in the North Jesmond ward. The result saw the Labour Party lose three seats with the Liberal Democrats and Newcastle Independents making gains. Labour retained its majority on the council.

Background
Newcastle is a strong council for the Labour Party. Labour controlled the council from its creation in 1973 until 2004, when the Liberal Democrats won a majority on the council. Labour retook control in 2011, and have maintained a majority at every subsequent election.

Until 2022, the Labour council was led by Nick Forbes, who was also the Leader of the Labour group of the Local Government Association. The election marked the end of the first year of Nick Kemp's leadership of Newcastle City Council and as leader of the Labour group.

The seats up for election in 2023 were last contested in 2019.

This was the first election for Colin Ferguson as leader of the Liberal Democrats group, who took over from Nick Cott, and Tracey Mitchell as leader of the Newcastle Independents, who had taken over from Jason Smith.

Election Result
Despite losing three seats, the council remained under Labour majority control. Labour made a net loss of three seats.

Five seats changed hands at this election. The Liberal Democrats gained seats in North Jesmond and West Fenham from Labour. The Newcastle Independents gained two seats from Labour, the Denton and Westerhope ward and the Lemington ward. Despite losing three seats elsewhere on the council, Labour took the seat of Callerton and Throckley from the Newcastle Independents.

Nick Kemp faced a challenge for the council leadership from fellow Labour councillor Ged Bell, who had. Bell had served as a councillor since 1996 and was a member of the council's cabinet under Nick Forbes. This challenge was withdrawn, however, leaving Kemp to return unopposed as leader of the Labour group.

Ward results
The Statement of Persons Nominated, which details the candidates standing in each ward, was released by Newcastle City Council following the close of nominations on 4 April 2023.