Nearly all of the middle-class areas of the city are in this constituency and therefore the Conservatives tend to do better in Sunderland Central than either of its neighbours.

The City of Sunderland spans the River Wear and is southeast of Newcastle upon Tyne, with long-distance train and air links, as such it is a base for companies, particularly those requiring a large labour force, including in graphic design and production through to customer service jobs in fields such as insurance and banking.

The constituency was formed primarily from the abolished Sunderland North seat, together with parts of the abolished constituencies of Sunderland South (Hendon and St Michael's wards) and Houghton and Washington East (Ryhope ward).

This is because it brings together virtually all of the areas of historical Conservative strength, such as Fulwell and St Michaels, into one seat.

At the 2008 city council elections, held in thirds, the Conservatives carried five of Sunderland Central's nine wards, with Labour winning three and the Liberal Democrats one.