Reform take Durham as Farage warns council workers

Reform UK has taken control of Durham County Council after winning more than half of the seats.

It secured 65 councillors, gaining heavily from Labour, the Conservatives and independents, with all 98 results declared.

Party leader Nigel Farage MP, who visited the area during the election campaign, spoke at a celebration event in Newton Aycliffe.

He warned civil servants working on climate change or diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, or anyone who "thinks they can go on working from home, I think you better all be seeking alternative careers very, very quickly".

He criticised Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for not taking Reform seriously when he joked the party would "have the Conservatives for breakfast".

"But he missed a bit. We were going to have the Labour Party for lunch and that's what we have done," Farage said.

Among the newly elected councillors is former GB News presenter Darren Grimes, who is from County Durham, and who won one of two seats for Reform representing the Annfield Plain and Tanfield ward.

"I gave up a job in telly land to stand here and do this," he said.

"I'm obviously personally delighted but I'm also really humbled by the number of people who put their trust and faith in us to deliver for them."

He said if Reform UK took control of the council, they would "get the auditors in" to make sure no money was being wasted.

The council was previously run as a coalition between the Liberal Democrats, Tories and independent councillors.

Liberal Democrat leader Amanda Hopgood - who previously led the council - has retained her seat, with her party securing 14 councillors, increasing its number by one. The Green Party also picked up an extra seat, taking its number of councillors to two.

Labour has been left with just four seats on the council, with local leader Carl Marshall one of the political casualties, losing his seat in Stanley to Reform.

Marshall said the council was in "decent financial nick" but Reform would have to have some "very challenging discussions because of the cost pressures" County Durham faced.

The Conservatives have just one councillor from the previous 16, with local party leader Richard Bell holding on to his Upper Teesdale seat. There are 14 independent councillors.

Labour MP for Blaydon and Consett Liz Twist, who attended the Durham County Council count, said the local election results showed her party needed to "move faster" when enacting its policy changes.

"We have a clear plan and we need to make sure people understand that plan," she said.

Reform also won its first seat on Hartlepool Borough Council following a by-election.

Amanda Napper took the Throston ward seat from Labour with 889 votes.

Speaking after the count, she told the Local Democracy Reporting Service her priorities would be to tackle anti-social behaviour.

"When you see the state of Throston ward it makes you realise how much hard work it needs to pull it into shape, so I'm fully eyes wide open to the amount of work needed," she said.

Elsewhere in the North East, Labour managed to hold off Reform in a tightly run race for North Tyneside mayor.

Karen Clark was elected to the post, replacing Dame Norma Redfearn who stepped down from the role, which effectively leads the council.

In Northumberland, the Conservatives held on to 26 county council seats to remain the largest party there, but fell short of the 35 needed for a majority.

Reform surged into second place, with 23 new councillors elected.

Additional reporting from the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

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