Former Durham Reform councillor Michael Ramage becomes Independent

Michael Ramage, who represents Shildon and Dene Valley, was elected alongside Reform county councillors Kate Rowland and James Stephenson at the local elections in May 2025 when Reform gained overall control of the local authority. 

However, he is no longer listed as representing the party on the Durham County Council website and is not aligned to any political group. 

Cllr Ramage declined to comment. 

Council data shows he did not attend any of the full county council meetings in May, July, October or December last year. 

He is also listed as a member of the council’s Adults, Wellbeing and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee; Area Planning Committee (Central and East); and Pension Fund Committee. 

The current makeup of the council is 61 Reform councillors, 15 Liberal Democrats, 13 Independents, four Labour, two Greens, one Conservative, and one Advance UK.

Elsewhere voters in the Murton ward in the East Durham area of the county will return to the polls next month to vote for a new county councillor after former Reform member David Cumming stood down due to work commitments. 

It will be the third by-election in County Durham since last year’s full council vote, following the resignation of two former Reform councillors due to an employment conflict and ill-health. 

The party initially won 65 seats but has seen its majority decrease to 61 after three members became independents and the Liberal Democrats won a by-election. 

Since May, the party has won another by-election in the Easington and Shotton ward, and also gained a new member after Cllr Paul Sexton defected to the party, having formerly stood as an Independent.

Reform UK was contacted for comment.