Before (end of 1979) (78 seats, Elections Centre)
Labour 57 · Conservative 11 · The Liberal Party 6 · Other 4
After (end of 1980) (78 seats, Elections Centre)
Labour 61 · Conservative 11 · The Liberal Party 4 · Other 2
Ward results
Birtley2 seats · turnout 39.4%
| J. Killen | Labour | 2,797 |
| M. Robson | Labour | 2,632 |
| S. King | LIB | 2,422 |
| C. Dolman | LIB | 2,000 |
| S. Johnson | Conservative | 219 |
| D Moor | Conservative | 157 |
No. 10 (Blaydon)1 seat · turnout 38.6%
| J. Beaty | Labour | 1,435 |
| R. Brown | Conservative | 696 |
No. 14 (Felling: North & Central)1 seat · turnout 33.3%
| S. Nugent | Labour | 1,827 |
| A. Bettis | Conservative | 523 |
No. 2 (Gateshead: Bensham Claremont & Chandles)2 seats · turnout 28.4%
| A. Johnson | Labour | 1,684 ✓ |
| P. Murray | Labour | 1,662 ✓ |
| C. Walker | Conservative | 762 |
| C. Leightell | Conservative | 717 |
No. 7 (Gateshead: Shipcote)1 seat · turnout 37.5%
| R. Davis | Labour | 1,070 |
| J. Scott | Conservative | 689 |