Chris Mullin

Sunderland

Sunderland is a coastal industrial city of nearly 300,000 people which has had some success in attracting new industries city to replace the collapse of shipbuilding and mining.

Large employers include Nissan, Arriva (which has its company headquarters in Sunderland), Rolls Royce, Berghaus, Nike, the University and a wide range of call centres. In the last five years or so Doxford International Business Park has attracted over 7,000 new jobs. A huge effort has gone into the regeneration of the city centre and the riverside.

In addition, there is now a metro-link between Sunderland and Tyneside. Attractions include the Empire Theatre, the new Musueum and Winter Gardens, the Glass Centre.

Sunderland South has been the first constituency to declare at each general election since 1992. The 2005 result was counted in a record time once again. The result was as follows:

Lab 17,982
Con 6,923
Lib Dem 4,492
B.N.P. 1,166
Monster R.L.P. 149
Majority11,059

Chris Mullin visits the "Animal Crackers" shop in Grangetown