Politics in Whitley Bay: Who Represents You

Whitley Bay is governed at several levels, and knowing who to contact when you have a concern is not always obvious. This guide sets out who represents the town at each tier of government -- from your Member of Parliament to your local ward councillor -- and explains what each body is responsible for.

Your Member of Parliament

Whitley Bay falls within the Tynemouth constituency, which has been represented by Sir Alan Campbell (Labour) since 1997. Campbell was re-elected at the July 2024 general election and subsequently appointed to senior government roles, serving as Chief Whip of the House of Commons before becoming Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council in 2025.

As your MP, Campbell represents the constituency in the House of Commons, votes on national legislation, and can raise issues affecting Whitley Bay in Parliament. You can contact his office for help with matters involving national government departments, such as HMRC, the DWP, the Home Office, or the Passport Office.

Best for: Your MP is Sir Alan Campbell (Labour), representing Tynemouth. Contact him via the UK Parliament website.

North Tyneside Council

North Tyneside Council is the local authority responsible for Whitley Bay. It is a metropolitan borough council and operates as a unitary authority, meaning it handles all local government services for the area.

The council is made up of 60 councillors representing 20 wards, with three councillors per ward. Elections are held in thirds: one councillor from each ward is elected in each of three successive years, with the fourth year reserved for the mayoral election.

Whitley Bay is covered by two main council wards:

• Whitley Bay North -- covering the northern part of the town
• Cullercoats and Whitley Bay South -- covering the southern part of the town and Cullercoats

The most recent ward elections were held on 7 May 2026. You can find your ward councillors and their contact details on the council's website.

Best for: Whitley Bay is covered by two wards: Whitley Bay North and Cullercoats and Whitley Bay South. Each has three councillors.

The Elected Mayor

North Tyneside is one of a small number of local authorities in England with a directly elected mayor. The Elected Mayor leads the council, sets its priorities, and is accountable to residents for the delivery of local services.

The current Elected Mayor is Karen Clark (Labour), who was elected in May 2025. Clark succeeded Dame Norma Redfearn, who served as Elected Mayor for 12 years from 2013 to 2025. The mayor is elected for a four-year term.

The Elected Mayor appoints a cabinet of councillors to oversee key areas of council business, including housing, education, transport, and the environment.

Best for: The Elected Mayor is Karen Clark (Labour), elected May 2025 for a four-year term.

What the Council is Responsible For

North Tyneside Council is responsible for the services that most directly affect daily life in Whitley Bay, including:

• Planning and development decisions
• Highways, roads, pavements, and street lighting
• Schools and education
• Social care for adults and children
• Waste collection and recycling
• Parks, beaches, and public spaces
• Housing and council tax
• Libraries and leisure centres

If you have a concern about a pothole, a planning application, school admissions, bin collections, or the condition of the seafront, North Tyneside Council is the body to contact.

How to Know Who to Contact

It can be confusing to work out which level of government deals with which problem. As a rough guide:

• National issues (tax, benefits, immigration, pensions, passports) -- contact your MP, Sir Alan Campbell.
• Local services (roads, schools, planning, social care, bins, housing, parks, beaches) -- contact your North Tyneside ward councillor or the Elected Mayor's office.

All elected representatives have a duty to help residents with issues that fall within their area of responsibility. You do not need to be a member of any political party to get in touch.

Getting Involved

There are several straightforward ways to have a say in how Whitley Bay is run. Council meetings are open to the public, and agendas are published in advance on the council's website. Planning applications can be viewed and commented on online. You can also attend ward surgeries held by your local councillors.

If you are not already registered to vote, you can do so at gov.uk/register-to-vote. Local elections in North Tyneside take place in most years, so your vote counts frequently.

The council also runs public consultations on major decisions affecting the borough, from development plans to budget priorities. Details are published on the North Tyneside Council website.