Council receives complaints over Darren Grimes’ grooming gang ‘joke’

Councillor Darren Grimes, who represents Annfield Plain and Tanfield, took to social media on Sunday in the middle of a heatwave to say: “Hey it’s humid, mind. I’m sweating like a Labour-ran council in a rape gang inquiry.”

The ‘joke’ has been described as ‘simply disgraceful’ by a Labour source and it is understood that formal complaints have been made to Durham County Council.

One resident, Teresa Churchill, commented on Cllr Grimes’ post saying: “I get the joke, however, not sure it’s in good taste.

“You may be forgetting there are survivors who may not find this remotely amusing.”

A Labour source said: “This is simply disgraceful conduct from Councillor Grimes.

“He should consider his future comments very carefully and rise above using incredibly serious issues to give his followers a cheap laugh.

The post reads: “Hey it’s humid, mind. I’m sweating like a Labour-ran council in a rape gang inquiry.” (Image: Facebook) “Nothing is more important than protecting vulnerable children, delivering action for victims who have endured years of being ignored, and stamping out the vile crimes perpetrated by grooming gangs once and for all, which this Government will do by implementing Baroness Casey’s recommendations.”

Cllr Grimes was elected to Durham County Council amid a wave of support for Reform UK in the May election which saw the insurgent party win 65 of the council’s 98 seats.

Following the election, The Northern Echo reported on criticism levelled at the former GB News presenter over several posts on social media, one of which pictured him wearing a rainbow-coloured hijab while sat in a wheelchair.

Cllr Grimes said: “I understand I have been accused of trivialising sexual exploitation in a post I made. Let me be absolutely clear: I did no such thing.

“My post was a direct, unvarnished attack on Labour’s institutional failures and their historical cover-up of the hideous rape gangs that have plagued towns in Britain for decades.”

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The Stanley councillor said he made ‘no apologies’ for the post and accused Labour politicians of ‘trivialising’ the issue themselves by dismissing people raising concerns as ‘far right’.

“My post was a stark reminder of the political class’s failure to protect our children,” Cllr Grimes added. 

“My fight, and Reform UK’s fight, is for genuine accountability, decisive action, and uncompromised justice for every single victim. We will not be silenced by accusations from those in political parties who have failed and refused to act.”