Labour's narrow mayoral win sparks by-election
BBCTwo council by-elections have been triggered in North Tyneside following Labour's narrow victory in the local mayoral race.
One of the seats, Longbenton and Benton, has been vacated by mayor Karen Clark, who was elected to her new role earlier this month.
Clark, who is effectively the leader of North Tyneside Council, saw Labour's majority slip to just 444 votes, ahead of Reform UK's John Falkenstein.
Labour's Pat Oliver has stood down as a councillor in the Killingworth seat creating a vacancy there. Polling Day has been scheduled for 2 July.
Clark - who has been a councillor and cabinet member for a number of years - replaced Labour veteran Dame Norma Redfearn, after she retired from the role.
The Conservatives, who are the official opposition on the local authority, came third in May's mayoral election, which is held every four years.
In the most recent council elections in 2024, three Labour councillors were elected in Longbeton and Benton with a turnout of 32.8%, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Three Labour councillors were also returned in Killingworth, with a turnout of 35%.
Applications to register to vote need to be made by midnight on Monday, 16 June.
Candidates are required to officially register for the seats by 16:00 BST on Thursday, 5 June.