Durham councillor issues statement after resigning from Reform

Kenny Hope, of Delves Lane ward, has spoken out about his decision to leave the party ahead of the investigation’s conclusion. 

He joined Councillor Andrew Harrison, of Seaham ward, who also resigned from the party last week, while under investigation. Both members had been suspended by Reform. 

Speaking after his resignation, Cllr Hope alleged he had been subjected to “bullying” and “harassment”, and accused the party’s leadership at Durham County Council of “a campaign to silence me”. 

The former party group whip added that his relationship with the leadership is “no longer reconcilable”. 

Reform said it will conclude the investigations before commenting further – but added that it has a “strong group of loyal councillors who support our vision and are proud of what we have achieved”. 

Cllr Hope was elected to Durham County Council after receiving 1,272 votes (50 per cent of the vote) alongside Reform councillor Jackie Teasdale. 

But he will now represent the Consett ward as an Independent member. 

Cllr Hope said his role as group whip for the party’s strong majority of councillors meant he was responsible for “supporting morale, maintaining discipline, and ensuring healthy cohesion between Durham County Council officers, backbench councillors, cabinet members, and leadership.”

Detailing his decision to resign from the role, he said: “I will not go into detail as the matter remains a live case. However, I subsequently raised several serious concerns with the party’s local governance team at HQ, some of which I consider deeply troubling.”

He was also elected onto six council committees, including holding the role of vice-chair of the authority’s economy and resources scrutiny committee, “to help influence the change Reform UK advocates for”. 

Cllr Hope added: “Since resigning from the position, I have been subjected to bullying, harassment, coercion, and the suspension of the whip as part of what I believe has been a campaign by elements of the leadership to silence me.

Despite resigning, he praised the “many fantastic” councillors within the party in County Durham and said he will continue to serve Delves Lane “selflessly, professionally, and with integrity as an unaligned independent councillor.”

He added: “I formally resign the Reform UK Whip because my relationship with the leadership at Durham County Council is no longer reconcilable.

“To the leadership at Durham County Council: I do not work beneath you, nor was I elected to simply conform. I was elected to represent my residents, and I was one of the people who helped build this administration into what it is today.”

Andrew Husband, council leader, said the resignation of both councillors during the investigations “speaks volumes”. 

He said: “We have a strong group of loyal councillors who support our vision and are proud of what we have achieved. When 65 individuals are thrown together with some big personalities, it is fair to say some won’t work out. 

“We will conclude the investigations before making any further public comments.” 

Reform is now represented by 58 councillors after initially winning 65 seats at the local election in May 2025.