2025 Durham County Council election

2025 Durham County Council election
← 2021
1 May 2025
All 98 seats on Durham County Council
50 seats needed for a majority
Turnout34.8% (Decrease1.6 pp)
  First party Second party Third party
  Blank Blank Blank
Leader Andrew Husband Amanda Hopgood [c]
Party Reform Liberal Democrats Independent
Leader's seat Chester-le-Street North Framwellgate and Newton Hall
Last election 0 seats, 0.1% 17 seats, 12.4% 22 seats, 16.6%
Seats before 0[a] 13[a] 26[a]
Seats won 65 14 12
Seat change Increase65[b] Increase1[b] Decrease14[b]
Popular vote 54,655 18,644 17,595
Percentage 34.4% 11.7% 12.0%
Swing Increase34.3% Decrease0.5% Decrease5.5%
  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
  Blank Blank Blank
Leader Carl Marshall [d] Richard Bell
Party Labour Green Conservative
Leader's seat Stanley (defeated) Upper Teesdale
Last election 53 seats, 37.8% 1 seats, 3.8% 24 seats, 26.8%
Seats before 42[a] 1[a] 16[a]
Seats won 4 2 1
Seat change Decrease38[b] Increase1[b] Decrease15[b]
Popular vote 31,098 7,682 11,790
Percentage 19.5% 4.8% 7.4%
Swing Decrease14.0% Increase1.0% Decrease19.4%
Composition of the council
Leader before election

Amanda Hopgood
Liberal Democrat
No overall control

Leader after election

Andrew Husband
Reform

The 2025 Durham County Council election took place on 1 May 2025 to elect members to Durham County Council in County Durham, England.[3] 98 seats were elected, a reduction from 126.[4] This was on the same day as other local elections. The council was under no overall control prior to the election, being run by a Liberal Democrat-led coalition. The election saw Reform UK win a majority of the seats on the council.

Background

At the 2021 election, the Labour Party lost overall control of the council for the first time in a century.[5] Although Labour were the largest party after the 2021 election, a coalition of the Liberal Democrats, Conservatives, Derwentside Independents, Green Party and some of the independent councillors formed to run the council between 2021 and 2025, led by Liberal Democrat councillor Amanda Hopgood.[6]

New division boundaries were drawn up to take effect for the 2025 election, reducing the number of seats on the council from 126 to 98.[7]

In March 2025, a poll from Electoral Calculus for The Daily Telegraph - of all English local authorities with elections in May 2025 - projected that Reform UK would win outright control of, and hold a majority of seats on, the council following the election.[8]

Previous council composition

After 2021 election Before 2025 election[9]
Party Seats Party Seats
Labour 53 Labour 52
Conservative 24 Conservative 17
Liberal Democrats 17 Liberal Democrats 15
Derwentside Independents 5 Derwentside Independents 4
Reform 0 Reform 4
North East 4 North East 2
Green 1 Green 1
Independent 22 Independent 29
Vacant N/A Vacant 2

Changes 2021–2025

  • November 2021: Brian Avery (independent) dies – by-election held February 2022[10]
  • January 2022: Mark Roberts (Conservative) dies – by-election held April 2022[11]
  • February 2022: Curtis Bihari (Labour) gains by-election from independent[12]
  • April 2022: George Smith (Labour) gains by-election from Conservatives[13]
  • May 2022: Karen Hawley and Diane Howarth (North East) leave party to sit as independents[14]
  • February 2023: Beatrice Bainbridge (Conservative) dies – by-election held May 2023[15]
  • May 2023: Julie Scurfield (Labour) gains by-election from Conservatives[16]
  • September 2023: Leanne Kennedy (Labour) dies – by-election held November 2023[17]
  • November 2023: June Watson (Labour) wins by-election[18]
  • February 2024: Isabella Roberts (Labour) dies – by-election held May 2024[19]
  • May 2024: June Clark (Labour) wins by-election;[20] Maura McKeon (Labour) resigns – by-election held July 2024;[21] Michael McGaun (Conservative) leaves party to sit as an independent[22]
  • June 2024: Angela Hanson and Sam McMahon (Labour) leave party to sit as independents[23]
  • July 2024: Viv Anderson (Labour) wins by-election[24]
  • November 2024: Neville Jones (Liberal Democrats) leaves party to sit as an independent[25]
  • December 2024: Robert Potts (Conservative) joins Reform UK[26]
  • January 2025: Joanne Howey and Cathy Hunt (Conservative) leave party to sit as independents;[27] Paul Taylor (Labour) leaves party to sit as an independent[28]
  • February 2025: Fraser Tinsley (Labour) resigns – seat left vacant until 2025 election;[29] Joe Quinn (Conservative) and Cathy Hunt (independent) join Reform UK[30]
  • March 2025: Michael McGaun (independent) joins Reform UK[31]
  • Stephen Robinson (Derwentside Independents) leaves party to sit as an independent
  • April 2025: Mamie Simmons (Liberal Democrats) dies, seat left vacant until election.[32]

Opinion polls

Seat projections

Date(s)
conducted 		Pollster Client Sample
size 		Area Lab Con LD Grn Ref Others
1 – 10 Mar 2025 Electoral Calculus[33] Daily Telegraph 5,421 GB 15 4 9 0 70 0
6 May 2021 2021 local elections – – 53 24 17 1 0 31

Results summary

2025 Durham County Council election[34]
Party Candidates Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Reform 97 65 65 0 Increase65 66.3 34.4 54,655 Increase34.3
  Labour 98 4 0 38 Decrease38 4.1 19.5 31,098 Decrease14.0
  Liberal Democrats 77 14 1 0 Increase 1 14.3 11.7 18,644 Decrease0.5
  Independent 53 12 0 14 Decrease14 12.2 11.1 17,679 Decrease5.5
  Conservative 73 1 0 15 Decrease15 1.0 7.4 11,790 Decrease19.4
  Green 37 2 1 0 Increase1 2.0 4.8 7,682 Increase1.0
  Derwentside Independents 5 0 N/A N/A N/A - 1.1 1,686 Decrease2.2
  Seaham Community Party 4 0 N/A N/A N/A - 1.0 1,622 Decrease0.1
  North East 4 0 N/A N/A N/A - 0.6 972 Decrease1.0
  SDP 1 0 N/A N/A N/A - 0.1 83 New
  UKIP 1 0 N/A N/A N/A - 0.0 33 New

Ward results

List of candidates [35]

Annfield Plain and Tanfield

Annfield Plain and Tanfield (2 Seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Karen Allison 1,404 47.3
Reform Darren Grimes 1,364 46.0
Derwentside Independents Joan Nicholson 659 22.2
Labour Olga Milburn 579 19.5
Derwentside Independents Joyce Charlton 574 19.3
Labour Jeanette Theresa Stephenson 512 17.3
Green Sarah Twigg 122 4.1
Conservative Kevin John Briggs 114 3.8
Liberal Democrats Sopha Phal 80 2.7
Conservative Garry Richardson 77 2.6
Majority
Turnout 2,968 36.4

Aycliffe North and Middridge

Aycliffe North and Middridge (2 Seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Michael Stead* 1,001 34.1
Reform Tim McGuinness 999 34.0
Reform Clive Taylor-Sholl 887 30.2
Liberal Democrats Lindsey Aston 807 27.5
Conservative David Sutton-Lloyd 471 16.0
Labour Michael Edward Murphy 438 14.9
Labour Luke Ellis 419 14.3
Conservative Tony Stubbs 339 11.5
Independent Tony Beddard 106 3.6
Independent Dorothy Bowman 94 3.2
Green Jonathan Stephen Park 82 2.8
Majority
Turnout 2,936 34.2
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Reform gain from Conservative Swing

Aycliffe South

Aycliffe South (3 Seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform John William Grant 1,459 44.3
Reform Nicole Louise Brown 1,335 40.5
Reform Andrew Eales 1,287 39.0
Labour Jim Atkinson 667 20.2
Conservative Paul Howell 589 17.9
Labour John Joseph Clark 556 16.9
Independent Ken Robson 550 16.7
Labour Toyin Ogunyemi 396 12.0
Independent Martin Ashcroft 363 11.0
Liberal Democrats Kyle Robinson 331 10.0
Independent George Coulson Gray 305 9.3
Liberal Democrats Tunde Akinsanya 286 8.7
Liberal Democrats John Woodward 286 8.7
Independent Tony Armstrong 227 6.9
Green Neale Floyd Darryl Cooley 156 4.7
Majority
Turnout 3,296 29.0

Barnard Castle

Barnard Castle (1 Seat)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Chris Foote-Wood 456 30.8
Reform Christopher Paul Bewley 436 29.4
Conservative Ted Henderson 421 28.5
Green John Edward Hogg 97 6.6
Liberal Democrats Richard Huzzey 63 4.3
Majority 20
Turnout 1,473 35.6
Labour hold Swing

Belmont

Belmont (2 Seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Lesley Mavin* 1,296 39.4
Liberal Democrats Eric Mavin* 1,256 38.2
Reform Christopher Elliott 1,026 31.2
Reform Steve Gilley 853 25.9
Labour Paul Thomas Finley 733 22.3
Labour Val Hawes 722 21.9
Green Joel Graham Thornton 306 9.3
Conservative Gary Parkin 158 4.8
Majority
Turnout 3,292 39.5
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Benfieldside

Benfieldside (2 Seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Sandra Ruth Grindle 1,064 33.9
Reform Andrew James Kilburn 1,007 32.0
Labour Kevin Earley 879 28.0
Independent Stephen Robinson 783 24.9
Independent Peter Oliver 646 20.6
Labour Michael Wass 613 19.5
Liberal Democrats Terry Rooney 362 11.5
Liberal Democrats Joanne Nattrass 278 8.8
Conservative David Lowes 216 6.9
Conservative Dan Lowes 215 6.8
Majority
Turnout 3,143 39.6

Bishop Auckland

Bishop Auckland (3 Seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Lyndsey Fox 1,870 46.9
Reform John Paul Kinvig 1,713 42.9
Reform Tom Redmond 1,708 42.8
Labour Kelly Joanne Guest 949 23.8
Labour Tessa Fay Hope 945 23.7
Labour Michael Thomas Siddle 934 23.4
Independent Sam Zair 783 19.6
Independent Mike Harker 422 10.6
Conservative Luke Allan Holmes 413 10.4
Conservative James Peter Middleton 392 9.8
Conservative Adeline Tchana 246 6.2
Green S J Hannahs 245 6.1
Independent Joanne Marie Howey 233 5.8
Liberal Democrats Christine Thelwell 164 4.1
Liberal Democrats Arnold Simpson 152 3.8
Independent John Dennis Brigstock 32 0.8
Majority
Turnout 3,989 32.6

Blackhalls and Hesledens

Blackhalls and Hesledens (1 Seat)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Rob Crute 629 44.5
Reform Gary Johnson 621 43.9
Liberal Democrats Neil Thompson 114 8.1
Conservative Victoria Bartch 49 3.5
Majority 8
Turnout 1,413 32.6

Bowburn and Coxhoe

Bowburn and Coxhoe (3 Seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Kyle Martin Genner 1,613 41.7
Independent Gary Hutchinson 1,419 36.7
Independent Jan Blakey 1,409 36.4
Reform Benjamin Straughair 1,269 32.8
Reform Michael Walter Watson 1,242 32.1
Labour Viv Anderson 962 24.9
Labour Shaun David Gibson 667 17.2
Labour Lennox Walter Lauchlan 607 15.7
Green Catherine Marie Birchmore 384 9.9
Liberal Democrats Kimberley Noble 200 5.2
Liberal Democrats George Alexander Chissell 188 4.9
Liberal Democrats Alexander Greenaway 180 4.7
Conservative Dorothy Luckhurst 162 4.2
Conservative Jane McAndrew 145 3.7
Conservative Clive Oliver Rowland 120 3.1
Majority
Turnout 3,869 31.6

Brandon

Brandon (2 Seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Jonathan Elmer 1,017 33.7
Green Priscilla Anne Bowen Elmer 900 29.8
Independent Paul Taylor 845 28.0
Reform Andrew Fullard 786 26.0
Reform Mark Leigh 700 23.2
Labour Anne Bonner 503 16.6
Labour Nick Rippin 457 15.1
Independent Carolyn Jayne Smith 93 3.1
Conservative Billy Walker 71 2.3
Liberal Democrats Abrial Jerram 62 2.1
Liberal Democrats Prem Raghvani 51 1.7
Majority
Turnout 3,022 36.2

Castle Eden and Passfield

Castle Eden and Passfield (1 Seat)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Scott Woodhouse 804 52.5
Labour Mary Agnes Bell 337 22.0
North East Party Susan McDonnell 132 8.6
Independent Karen Hawley 124 8.1
Conservative James Coulson 87 5.7
Liberal Democrats David Hodgson 46 3.0
Majority 467
Turnout 1,530 34.5

Chester-le-Street North

Chester-le-Street North (2 Seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Andrew John Husband 1,139 37.3
Labour Tracie Jane Smith 1,082 35.5
Labour Julie Anne Scurfield 944 30.9
Independent Karen Fantarrow-Darby 860 28.2
Reform Antony Teasdale 765 25.1
Green Derek Morse 230 7.5
Conservative David Brown 199 6.5
Liberal Democrats Philip Bernard Nathan 160 5.2
SDP Tom Chittenden 83 2.7
Majority
Turnout 3,052 40.0

Chester-le-Street South

Chester-le-Street South (2 Seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Paul Stephen Sexton 1,641 50.0
Independent Bill Moist 1,453 44.3
Reform Geoff Dovaston 908 27.7
Reform Adele Taggart 709 21.6
Labour Harry Clark 519 15.8
Labour Eileen McKnight-Smith 383 11.7
Conservative Ellie Sargeant 217 6.6
Conservative Sebastian Gradzki 160 4.9
Green Alan Ostle 151 4.6
Liberal Democrats Andrew Peter Haney 143 4.4
Majority
Turnout 3,281 41.5

Chilton

Chilton (1 Seat)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Stephen Robert Bowron 523 46.9
Independent Sue Reece 235 21.1
Labour Angus John Ferguson 135 12.1
Independent Julie Cairns 128 11.5
Conservative Catherine Anne Hart 65 5.8
Liberal Democrats Carole Lattin 28 2.5
Majority 288
Turnout 1,114 30.4

Consett North

Consett North (1 Seat)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Kathryn Rooney* 772 48.5
Reform Trevor Douglas Newsom 537 33.7
Labour Rob Moran 238 14.9
Conservative Will Robinson 46 2.9
Majority 235
Turnout 1,593 38.4

Consett South

Consett South (1 Seat)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Dominic John Haney* 740 54.8
Reform Michael McGaun 421 31.2
Labour Phillip Marshall 139 10.3
Conservative Rachel McEnaeny 44 3.3
Majority 319
Turnout 1,344 35.4
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Craghead and South Moor

Craghead and South Moor (2 Seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform John Michael Cook 1,317 59.4
Reform Aaron Hillam 1,148 51.8
Labour Les Timbey 601 27.1
Labour Carole Ann Hampson 599 27.0
Liberal Democrats Neil John Bradbury 229 10.3
Conservative Ian Davison 122 5.5
Majority
Turnout 2,218 27.9

Crook

Crook (3 Seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Robbie Rodiss 2,102 51.9
Reform Paul David Bean 1,849 45.7
Reform Adrian Schulman 1,645 40.6
Independent Anne Reed 1,327 32.8
Labour Mary Elizabeth Hall 711 17.6
Labour Michael Edward Beeforth 679 16.8
Conservative Mike Currah 610 15.1
Labour John Leslie Wilson 569 14.1
Conservative Patricia Jopling 484 12.0
Green Steven Douglas Bamlett 335 8.3
Green Geoffrey William Martin 280 6.9
Liberal Democrats Nick Lion 255 6.3
Majority
Turnout 4,048 36.6

Dalton and Dawdon

Dalton and Dawdon (2 Seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform George Anderson 945 38.6
Reform Jack McGlenen 876 35.8
Seaham Community Party Robert Arthur 845 34.5
Seaham Community Party Susan Mary Faulkner 690 28.2
Labour Kevin Joseph Shaw 619 25.3
Labour June Watson 554 22.6
Conservative Mark Shanks 64 2.6
Liberal Democrats Giuseppe Enrico Bignardi 61 2.5
Majority
Turnout 2,447 30.4
Reform gain from Labour Swing
Reform gain from Labour Swing

Deerness

Deerness (2 Seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Matthew John Burnard 1,259 39.8
Reform Sean Patrick Healy 1,105 34.9
Labour Marion Wilson 860 27.2
Liberal Democrats Edwin Simpson 806 25.5
Liberal Democrats John Simon Burt 741 23.4
Labour Jimmy Jamieson 710 22.4
Green Sarah Jane Banks 239 7.6
Green Liz Wright 176 5.6
Conservative Wendy Frances Smith 94 3.0
Conservative Michael Drummond Moverley Smith 90 2.8
Majority
Turnout 3,164 37.1
Reform gain from Labour Swing
Reform gain from Labour Swing

Delves Lane

Delves Lane (2 Seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Kenny Hope 1,272 50.3
Reform Jacqueline Teasdale 1,045 41.3
Labour Jane Brown 620 24.5
Labour Simon Andrew Stewart-Piercy 461 18.2
Conservative Angela Sterling 386 15.3
Conservative Michelle Walton 379 15.0
Liberal Democrats Nazcat Stephen Haney 276 10.9
Liberal Democrats David Bowerbank 219 8.7
Majority
Turnout 2,529 32.9

Derwent and Pont Valley

Derwent and Pont Valley (3 Seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Saffron Sims-Brydon 1,913 39.7
Reform Gavin Brydon 1,858 38.5
Reform Craig Thomas Marshall 1,761 36.5
Labour Veronica Andrews 1,272 26.4
Labour Declan Gerard John Mulholland 1,267 26.3
Labour Tom Hubbuck 1,059 22.0
Derwentside Independents Watts Stelling 1,027 21.3
Derwentside Independents Alan Shield 1,014 21.0
Derwentside Independents Eileen Elliott 766 15.9
Green Richard Edwin Simpson 384 8.0
Liberal Democrats Tonia Jean Atkinson 289 6.0
Conservative Jacob Boneham 276 5.7
Liberal Democrats Stephen Murray 208 4.3
Majority
Turnout 4,821 37.5

Easington and Shotton

Easington and Shotton (3 Seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform John Bailey 1,849 52.0
Reform Howard William Brown 1,752 49.3
Reform Louise Taylor 1,729 48.6
Independent Sophie Louise Brown 798 22.5
Independent Christopher Ross Hood 743 20.9
Labour Angela Surtees 713 20.1
Labour Leeann Clarkson 601 16.9
Labour Omide Deinali 527 14.8
Independent Ivan Cochrane 479 13.5
Conservative Tom Baker 163 4.6
Independent Rob Moore 158 4.4
Liberal Democrats Chukwuka Okuchukwu 156 4.4
Conservative Kye Slawson-Powell 104 2.9
Majority
Turnout 3,554 29.8

Elvet, Gilesgate and Shincliffe

Elvet, Gilesgate and Shincliffe (2 Seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats David Robert Freeman* 936 39.4
Liberal Democrats Ellie Jayne Hopgood 839 35.4
Labour Rory Handy 660 27.8
Labour Stacey Deinali 613 25.8
Reform Xavier Hale 403 17.0
Reform Isaac Lucan 381 16.1
Green Stephen James Ashfield 356 15.0
Green Jamie Michael Pearson 215 9.1
Conservative George Carter 114 4.8
Conservative Graham William Lee 81 3.4
Majority
Turnout 2,373 29.0

Evenwood

Evenwood (1 Seat)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Robert Potts 732 48.7
Labour Becky Land 352 23.4
Conservative James Cosslett 275 18.3
Green Michael Stonehouse 76 5.1
Liberal Democrats Anne Woodward 69 4.6
Majority 380
Turnout 1,504 39.4

Ferryhill

Ferryhill (2 Seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Paul Mountford 1,114 40.4
Reform Joe Michael Quinn 986 35.8
Independent Glenys Joan Newby 934 33.9
Labour Curtis Ferenc Bihari 857 31.1
Labour Carole Atkinson 629 22.8
Conservative David Farry 174 6.3
Green Matthew Henry Choi 107 3.9
Conservative Lisa Coxon 102 3.7
Liberal Democrats Sandra Elizabeth Kirby 84 3.0
Liberal Democrats Bob Peach 57 2.1
UKIP John Barry Lathan 33 1.2
Majority
Turnout 2,758 35.5

Framwellgate and Newton Hall

Framwellgate and Newton Hall (3 Seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Amanda Hopgood 2,465 53.0
Liberal Democrats Mark Wilkes 2,425 52.2
Liberal Democrats Elizabeth Pears 2,048 44.0
Reform Neville Forbes 1,173 25.2
Reform Colin Trevor Toghill 983 21.1
Labour Kaye Burns 830 17.8
Labour Rachael Perry 768 16.5
Labour Valerie Speed 689 14.8
Green Irene Ostle 432 9.3
Independent Karon Willis 306 6.6
Conservative Carolyn Anne Baker 243 5.2
Conservative Elizabeth Anne Marshall 195 4.2
Conservative Matthew James Smith 191
Majority
Turnout 4,650 42.9

Horden and Dene House

Horden and Dene House (2 Seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Dawn Bellingham 1,312 54.8
Reform John Cottier 1,147 47.9
Labour Chris Cain 725 30.3
Labour June Clark 703 29.4
Independent Paul Maddison 165 6.9
Independent Arlene Helen Childs 100 4.2
Liberal Democrats Owen Temple 85 3.6
Independent Matthew Thomas Tough 67 2.8
Conservative Nigel Jeremy Cassidy 57 2.4
Majority
Turnout 2,393 30.3

Lanchester and Burnhope

Lanchester and Burnhope (1 Seat)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alison Louise Gray 755 35.8
Conservative Doug Oliver 710 33.7
Reform Stephen Harrison 563 26.7
Liberal Democrats Jeanette Williams 79 3.7
Majority 45
Turnout 2,107 47.4

Langley and Esh

Langley and Esh (1 Seat)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Alex Neil 777 48.0
Reform Andrea Mary Brown 534 33.0
Labour Michael Toner 187 11.5
Green Joshua James Lightfoot 68 4.2
Conservative Mark Paul Shaw 54 3.3
Majority 243
Turnout 1,620 37.4

Lower Teesdale

Lower Teesdale (2 Seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Jillian Anne Campbell 1,075 37.4
Reform Jasmine Fox 1,008 35.1
Green Sarah Louise Hannan 726 25.3
Conservative George Morland Richardson 666 23.2
Conservative James Rowlandson 636 22.1
Green Marc Cole 555 19.3
Labour Simon Lind 434 15.1
Labour Noah Padraig McCourt 302 10.5
Liberal Democrats Wico van Mourik 116 4.0
Majority
Turnout 2,873 42.4

Lumley and West Rainton

Lumley and West Rainton (2 Seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Alan Bell 1,581 54.2
Independent Philip Heaviside 1,353 46.4
Reform Adam Carter-Jones 844 29.0
Reform Ewan Charles Marshall 719 24.7
Labour Paul Greenwood 325 11.1
Labour Lyn Leach 301 10.3
Liberal Democrats David Alan Haswell 152 5.2
Conservative Thomas Shanks 140 4.8
Green Bisserka Ivanova Gaydarska 115 3.9
Majority
Turnout 2,915 38.0

Murton

Murton (2 Seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform David Cumming 1,045 45.1
Reform Mark Stephen Rowney 938 40.5
Labour Julie Ann Griffiths 781 33.7
Labour Robert Adcock-Forster 682 29.5
Independent Brian Brown 322 13.9
Independent Stephen George Robson 312 13.5
Conservative Brian Wareham 121 5.2
Liberal Democrats Antonio Milian 99 4.3
Majority
Turnout 2,315 29.1

Nevilles Cross

Nevilles Cross (2 Seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Liz Brown 1,402 52.9 +0.5
Liberal Democrats Elizabeth Scott 1,266 47.8 +3.6
Labour Les Wilson 545 20.6 −6.4
Labour Gabriel Ridley 529 20.0 −1.6
Green Jack Hughes 476 18.0 −3.5
Reform Gary Black 382 14.4 N/A
Reform Katrina Rockett 314 11.9 N/A
Conservative Deborah Jane Whitfield 172 6.5 −7.2
Majority
Turnout 2,648 31.3
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

North Lodge

North Lodge (1 Seat)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Craig Martin 999 58.0
Reform Darren Hawkes 432 25.1
Labour Glenn James Batey 212 12.3
Conservative Krishnarajasri Krishnapillai 37 2.1
Green Chris Dale 36 2.1
Majority 567
Turnout 1,716 44.4

Pelton

Pelton (3 Seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Steve Biggs 1,767 47.5
Reform Ian Mark Cross 1,748 47.0
Reform Brian Quirey 1,630 43.8
Labour Alison Joan Batey 1,428 38.4
Labour Danny Wood 1,300 34.9
Labour Paul Pringle 1,221 32.8
Green Andrew Gray 263 7.1
Conservative Darren Whitfield 255 6.9
Liberal Democrats Alan Neil 245 6.6
Liberal Democrats Adam Joseph Walker 215 5.8
Liberal Democrats Nigel van Zwanenberg 180 4.8
Majority
Turnout 3,722 31.1

Peterlee

Peterlee (2 Seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Steven Franklin 1,063 52.1
Reform Dawn Saunders 900 44.1
Labour Louise Fenwick 425 20.8
Labour Audrey Ellen Laing 384 18.8
North East Party Mary Alison Cartwright 326 16.0
Independent Ray Burnip 173 8.5
Independent Diane Howarth 172 8.4
North East Party Al Wilkinson 86 4.2
Conservative Michael Cassidy 82 4.0
Independent David Hawley 77 3.8
Liberal Democrats Heather Leake 57 2.8
Majority
Turnout 2,039 24.2

Pittington and Sherburn

Pittington and Sherburn (1 Seat)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Rhys Burriss 508 35.6
Liberal Democrats Stephen Charles White 443 31.0
Labour Bill Kellett 356 24.9
Conservative Malcolm Colledge 63 4.4
Green Maggie Tallerman 54 3.8
Majority 65
Turnout 1,424 38.5
Reform gain from Labour Swing

Sacriston and Witton Gilbert

Sacriston and Witton Gilbert (2 Seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform James Pickard 1,088 42.4
Reform Timothy John Robson 1,023 39.9
Liberal Democrats Hugh Massey 807 31.5
Liberal Democrats Andy Przybysz 709 27.7
Labour Emma Waldock 553 21.6
Labour Andrew Eric Page 500 19.5
Green Nicholas Leight Kasch 177 6.9
Majority
Turnout 2,564 32.7

Seaham

Seaham (2 Seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Andrew Harrison 1,219 40.9
Reform Christopher Fairs 1,145 38.4
Seaham Community Party Barry Taylor 777 26.0
Labour Rochelle Laine 747 25.0
Labour John James Purvis 691 23.2
Seaham Community Party Stephen Wayman 656 22.0
Green Stephen Jonathan Joseph 151 5.1
Conservative Ian Leslie McAndrew 150 5.0
Conservative Tolu Kolawole 116 3.9
Liberal Democrats Rafe J Richards 87 2.9
Majority
Turnout 2,983 34.3

Sedgefield

Sedgefield(2 Seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Chris Lines 1,372 44.1
Reform Ian Catchpole 1,115 35.9
Reform Christine Moore 926 29.8
Conservative Elaine Peeke 624 20.1
Labour Lucy Ann Gibson 529 17.0
Labour Kester Noble 501 16.1
Green Rebecca Margaret Dixon 229 7.4
Liberal Democrats Charlotte Ann Shaw 120 3.9
Green Richard Wilkes 111 3.6
Liberal Democrats Philip Hugh Layton 102 3.3
Majority
Turnout 3,110 39.4

Shildon and Dene Valley

Shildon and Dene Valley (3 Seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Michael David Ramage 2,220 56.8
Reform Kate Rowland 2,181 55.8
Reform James Michael Stephenson 2,034 52.0
Labour Shirley Quinn 849 21.7
Labour Samantha Townsend 805 20.6
Labour Charlie Kay 768 19.6
Independent Fred Langley 625 16.0
Liberal Democrats Leanne Barrett 389 9.9
Liberal Democrats Michael Shaw 336 8.6
Conservative Jack Charlton 282 7.2
Conservative Clive Michael Parker 221 5.7
Majority
Turnout 3,911 32.3

Spennymoor

Spennymoor (2 Seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Liz Maddison 1,162 37.5
Independent Pete Molloy 1,006 32.5
Reform Ernest Spowart 977 31.5
Reform William Sydney Thorkildsen 824 26.6
Liberal Democrats Dean Ranyard 544 17.6
Liberal Democrats Liss Owen 466 15.0
Labour Stephen Francis Gilling 444 14.3
Labour Jabez Jordon Sherrington 324 10.5
Conservative David Barry Evans 97 3.1
Conservative Christopher Anthony Coxon 70 2.3
Majority
Turnout 3,098 34.5
Independent hold Swing
Independent hold Swing

Stanley

Stanley (2 Seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Christine Blatchford 1,366 54.5
Reform David Stanley Walton 1,336 53.3
Labour James Kane 640 25.5
Labour Carl Marshall 601 24.0
Independent Paddy McGough 270 10.8
Liberal Democrats David Agutter Rolfe 154 6.1
Conservative Charles Aldous 117 4.7
Independent Frankie Elise Ward 78 3.1
Majority
Turnout 2,505 30.9

Thornley and Wheatley Hill

Thornley and Wheatley Hill (1 Seat)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Neil Craggs 921 65.1
Labour Jake Miller 375 26.5
Liberal Democrats Pamela Ann Askell 65 4.6
Conservative Graham Southall 53 3.7
Majority 546
Turnout 1,414 32.5

Trimdon and Wingate

Trimdon and Wingate (2 Seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Mary-Lynn Franklin 1,361 49.7
Reform Susan Husband 1,171 42.7
Labour Lucy Hovvels 797 29.1
Labour Paul Trippett 660 24.1
North East Party Sean Ward Ivey 514 18.8
Liberal Democrats Liz Temple 186 6.8
Conservative Rathika Krishnarajasri 120 4.4
Majority
Turnout 2,741 31.4

Tudhoe

Tudhoe (2 Seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Billy McAloon 996 40.6
Reform Nicola Lyons 826 33.7
Reform Dave Whalley 747 30.5
Independent Andy Anderson 697 28.4
Labour Ian Geldard 479 19.5
Labour Neil Crowther Foster 412 16.8
Liberal Democrats Beckie Ranyard 168 6.9
Liberal Democrats Martin Thomas Brian Jones 101 4.1
Conservative Oliver Garbutt Peeke 98 4.0
Conservative Michael Francis Renton 73 3.0
Majority
Turnout 2,451 31.2

Upper Teesdale

Upper Teesdale (1 Seat)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Andrew Bell 808 45.5
Reform Ian Hirst 522 29.4
Labour Chris Kelsey 253 14.3
Green Kathleen McGough 103 5.8
Liberal Democrats Florence Diana Simpson 84 4.7
Majority 286
Turnout 1,770 48.1

Weardale

Weardale (2 Seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Anita Savory 1,331 36.8
Independent John Shuttleworth 1,215 33.6
Reform Paul Beattie 1,037 28.6
Reform David Brown 1,031 28.5
Conservative Will Wearmouth 762 21.0
Conservative Richard Lawrie 490 13.5
Green Matthew James Ferguson 267 7.4
Labour Gemma Louise Holmes-Wood 250 6.9
Labour Sally-Beth Marshall 233 6.4
Liberal Democrats Olivia Evelyn Dunn 135 3.7
Majority
Turnout 3,620 47.5

West Auckland

West Auckland (2 Seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Nick Brown 1,453 52.0
Reform Stephen Gray 1,287 46.1
Labour Robert John Yorke 906 32.4
Labour George Smith 874 31.3
Conservative Georgia Lynne Holmes 230 8.2
Independent Lesley Gwyneth Zair 131 4.7
Green Liz Tyrrell 118 4.2
Independent Alan John Breeze 104 3.7
Liberal Democrats Alyson Hudson 89 3.2
Liberal Democrats Alison Clare Fidgin 78 2.8
Majority
Turnout 2,792 34.2

Willington and Hunwick

Willington and Hunwick (2 Seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Cathy Hunt 1,336 49.0
Reform Emma Hunt 1,281 47.0
Labour Olwyn Elizabeth Gunn 763 28.0
Labour Trevor Tinsley 610 22.4
Conservative Sam Mitchell-Worthington 249 9.1
Independent Angela Smith 241 8.8
Conservative Aiden Smith 225 8.2
Green David Ata Saygi 180 6.6
Liberal Democrats Geoff Moore 174 6.4
Liberal Democrats Aaron Calder 134 4.9
Majority
Turnout 2,728 38.0

Aftermath

Just nine days the election, Reform UK councillor Andrew Kilburn, who was elected in Benfieldside, resigned after it emerged he did not inform the party that he had previously worked for the council, the resulting by-election was won by the Liberal Democrats.[36]

On the 14th of May 2025, independent councillor for Chester-le-Street, Paul Sexton, defected to Reform UK.[37]

The leader of the Reform UK group on the council prior to the election had been Robert Potts.[1] Following the election, Reform UK chose Andrew Husband to be their new group leader.[38] He was formally appointed as the new leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 21 May 2025.[39]

On the 9th of June 2025, Reform UK Councillor for Easington and Shotton, John Bailey, announced his resignation due to ill health, the resulting by-election resulted in a Reform UK hold[40]

On the 19th of August 2025, Reform UK Councillor for Crook, Paul Bean was suspended by the party over reported comments he had made about asylum seekers, breaching Civil Service impartiality rules, due to his job assessing asylum seeker's claims.[41] On the 16th of January 2026 it was announced that he had joined Advance UK.[42]

On the 8th of January 2026, it was reported that David Cumming, councillor for Murton, resigned due to gaining employment abroad, triggering a by-election in his ward. [43]

On the 10th of February 2026 Michael Ramage, a councillor for Shildon and Dene Valley became an independent. This followed not having attended 4 Council Meetings.[44]

Benfieldside by-election

Benfieldside by-election: 3 July 2025[45]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Terry Rooney 824 28.3 +17.3
Labour Kevin Earley 800 27.4 +0.8
Reform Stephen Harrison 747 25.6 −6.6
Independent Stephen Robinson 459 15.7 −8.0
Conservative David Lowes 76 1.6 −5.0
Green Richard Simpson 40 1.4 N/A
Majority 24 0.9 N/A
Turnout 2,953 37.4 −2.2
Registered electors 7,981
Liberal Democrats gain from Reform Swing Increase8.3

Easington & Shotton by-election

Easington & Shotton by-election: 7 August 2025
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Louise Penders 1,208 46.7 +1.6
Labour Angela Surtees 523 20.2 +2.8
Independent Christopher Hood 520 20.1 +2.0
Independent Ivan Cochrane 179 6.9 –4.8
Green Stephen Ashfield 60 2.3 N/A
Conservative Anthony Stubbs 47 1.8 –2.2
Liberal Democrats Chukwuka Okuchukwu 27 1.0 –2.8
Independent Arlene Childs 23 0.9 N/A
Majority 685 26.5 N/A
Turnout 2,589 21.7 –8.1
Registered electors 11,942
Reform hold Swing Decrease0.6

Murton

Murton by-election: 5 March 2026
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Julie Griffiths 1,004 50.6 +16.9
Reform Theo Bell 786 39.6 −5.5
Green Isaac Short 95 4.8 N/A
Conservative Dorothy Luckhurst 61 3.1 −2.1
Liberal Democrats Neil Thompson 38 1.9 −2.4
Majority 218 11.0 N/A
Turnout 1,991 24.9 −4.2
Labour gain from Reform Swing Increase11.2

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Notional 2021 results.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Boundary changes reduced the number of seats, so these are notional changes.
  3. ^ Prior to the election, 9 of the independents formed the Durham County Council Independent Group (led by John Shuttleworth), 6 sat as part of the Durham Group (led by Derwentside Independents councillor Alan Shield), 5 formed the County Durham Independent Group (led by Paul Sexton), 3 formed the Unaligned Group (led by Karen Hawley), 2 formed the Spennymoor and Tudhoe Independent Group (led by Liz Maddison), and the other 4 did not belong to any group.[1][2]
  4. ^ Prior to the election, the Green Party councillor formed part of the Durham Group, led by Derwentside Independents councillor Alan Shield.
  1. ^ a b "Council's political make-up". Durham County Council. Archived from the original on 15 April 2025. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  2. ^ "Your Councillors by Political Grouping". Durham County Council. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  3. ^ "Election timetable in England". Electoral Commission. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  4. ^ "Durham county councillor numbers reduced in ward boundary change". BBC News. 2023-12-02. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  5. ^ "Election 2021: Labour loses control of Durham County Council". BBC News. 2021-05-09. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  6. ^ "Durham County Council gets first woman leader amid control change". BBC News. 26 May 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  7. ^ "This is the reaction to plans to cut dozens of councillors from Durham County Council". The Northern Echo. 2022-09-23. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  8. ^ "MRP Local Election Poll March 2025". Electoral Calculus. 14 March 2025. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  9. ^ "Your Councillors by Party". Durham County Council. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  10. ^ Priestley, Catherine (6 November 2021). "Tributes to long-serving County Durham councillor who 'got things done'". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  11. ^ Gouldsbrough, Patrick (14 January 2022). "Heartfelt tributes paid to 'committed' West Auckland councillor after his sudden death". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  12. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Ferryhill Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  13. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — West Auckland Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  14. ^ Lightfoot, Lightfoot (21 May 2022). "Councillors resign from party over support for Durham Council coalition". The Northern Echo.
  15. ^ "Death of Retired Police Officer's Wife: Beaty Bainbridge". Durham Retired Police Officers. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  16. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Chester-le-Street East Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  17. ^ Edgar, Bill (22 September 2023). "Tributes to Seaham councillor Leanne Kennedy, who has died after years of service". Sunderland Echo. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  18. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Dawdon Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  19. ^ Edgar, Bill (1 March 2024). "Tributes paid to 'community champion' Durham councillor after their death". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  20. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Horden Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  21. ^ Boothroyd, David. "Kingstanding still". Localcouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  22. ^ Edgar, Bill (24 May 2024). "Durham Council leader clashes with Labour and responds to coalition critics". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  23. ^ Havery, Gavin (1 July 2024). "County Durham councillors leave Labour over party candidate days before election". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  24. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Coxhoe Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  25. ^ Boothroyd, David. "Greenhithe feels in need of Reform". Localcouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  26. ^ Edgar, Bill (10 December 2024). "County Durham councillor leaves Conservative Party to join Reform UK". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  27. ^ Edgar, Bill (23 January 2025). "Tory councillors quit party in County Durham to become Independents". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  28. ^ Boothroyd, David. "Broxtowing a different line". Localcouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  29. ^ Boothroyd, David. "Reform in Wales are as high as a Keyte". Localcouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  30. ^ Hordon, Daniel (1 February 2025). "Tory Durham County Councillors defect to Reform UK as Nigel Farage welcomes them". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  31. ^ Boothroyd, David. "Fabian gets the Exe". Localcouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  32. ^ Edgar, Bill (2 April 2025). "Tributes paid to County Durham councillor Mamie Simmons after death". Northern Echo. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  33. ^ "MRP Local Election Poll March 2025".
  34. ^ "LE2025 RESULTS: @ElectionMapsUK". Election Maps UK. 10 May 2025. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
  35. ^ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED" (PDF). Durham County Council. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
  36. ^ Hordon, Daniel (May 11, 2025). "Durham Reform UK councillor resigns just nine days after being elected, party says". The Northern Echo.
  37. ^ "Chester-le-Street Independent councillor joins Reform UK". www.bbc.com. 2025-05-14. Retrieved 2025-08-27.
  38. ^ Edgar, Bill (15 May 2025). "Andrew Husband and Darren Grimes revealed as Durham Reform leaders". Northern Echo. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  39. ^ Bilalova, Pamela; Edgar, Bill (21 May 2025). "Council roles renamed as Reform takes charge". BBC News. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  40. ^ "Reform UK-led Durham County Council to hold second by-election". www.bbc.com. 2025-06-10. Retrieved 2025-08-27.
  41. ^ "Reform UK suspends Durham councillor over asylum comments". BBC News. 2025-08-27. Retrieved 2025-08-27.
  42. ^ "County Durham councillor expelled from Reform joins new party". The Northern Echo. 2026-01-16. Retrieved 2026-02-11.
  43. ^ "By-election to be held in County Durham after Reform councillor resigns". The Northern Echo. 2026-01-08. Retrieved 2026-01-08.
  44. ^ "Former County Durham Reform councillor becomes Independent". The Northern Echo. 2026-02-10. Retrieved 2026-02-11.
  45. ^ "Benfieldside Ward by-election Thursday 3 July 2025" (PDF). Durham County Council. Retrieved 4 July 2025.

See also

allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Durham_County_Council_election