Rapping councillor says city becoming more diverse
BBCThe first black or mixed-race councillor elected in a city says he has seen it become more diverse.
Councillor Stephen Lewis-Elms, who represents Sunderland's Hendon ward, said a lot had changed there over the past decade.
Elms moved to the region from Bedford when he was a teenager and felt inspired to join Sunderland City Council after it helped him out during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Labour representative was elected last May and recently rapped a speech in the chamber in what he believes is a world first.
It aimed to celebrate the city's recently granted Music City status, while also calling for support and recognition for Sunderland's musicians.
"I've always said that Parliament and the council chamber are no different than 8 Mile rap battles," the 37-year-old said, referring to scenes from the 2002 film starring Eminem.
"Apart from, one rhymes, and one doesn't. It's using words to compete against each other and a debate is no different than a rap battle."
SubmittedElms's grandparents arrived in the UK in the late 1950s from Jamaica.
He grew up in Bedford and came to the North East as a teenager to play rugby for Gateshead Thunder.
In 2016, he moved to Hendon and said he felt "intimidated" at first, recalling a book signing by English Defence League founder Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson, in the area which ended in violence.
"When I arrived here my partner wouldn't let me leave the house after a certain time, on foot," Elms said.
"Because at the time when we moved here, you had Tommy Robinson doing a book signing at the top of the street."
The far-right activist was jailed last year for contempt of court by repeating false claims against a Syrian refugee.
Elms said he had never felt unwelcome in the city, which he said had become more diverse.
"Over the time that I've been here, so much has changed," he said.
"Mainly Villette Road [in Hendon] has been completely revitalised.
"Now it's got so much and it's got diverse shops as well.
"It's got herbs and spices shops at the top there, it's got the Asian barbers, Asian cafe, then we've got the new baby shop that's just opened, fruit and veg, a chippy."
SubmittedElms's political journey was inspired by his father, George Stephen Elms, who died in 2018.
He was a Conservative supporter and had always wanted to get into politics.
Despite thinking about a political career after his father died, Elms said he was not ready at the time.
That started changing during the Covid-19 pandemic when he said he was not able to access financial support, but Sunderland City Council helped him out.
"I always felt like I owed Sunderland Council a debt, because when I was struggling and really at the bottom of my line, it was Sunderland Council that were there for me," Elms said.
He added being the first black or mixed-race person to be elected as councillor in the city made him proud.
"When I think about it, I think about my grandma and I think about the Windrush," he said.
"I think about how they travelled here and the sacrifice they had to make."