Labour’s Julie Griffiths wins Durham County Council Murton by-election

Julie Griffiths was elected to serve the Murton ward alongside Reform colleague Mark Rowney after the election victory on Thursday (March 5). 

The by-election was called after former Reform member David Cumming stepped down last year due to work commitments. 

Ms Griffiths secured 1,004 votes, with Theo Bell of the Reform UK second on 786 votes, and Isaac Short of the Green Party third with 95 votes. 

The latest win has increased the number of Labour members on Durham County Council to five. 

Ms Griffiths, who is also the chair of Murton Parish Council, previously represented the ward before the local elections in 2025. 

Reflecting on her win, the new councillor said: “I feel like I have continued to do the job here. Reform have never been seen in the ward.

“I have always been a pavement politician and listened to local people. I couldn’t let people down.”

Thursday’s vote was 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 current makeup of the council is 60 Reform councillors, 15 Liberal Democrats, 14 Independents, five Labour, two Greens, one Conservative, and one Advance UK.

Results in full – candidates’ names listed in alphabetical order

• Theo Bell – Reform UK – 786 
• Julie Ann Griffiths – Labour Party – 1,004
• Dorothy Luckhurst – Conservative Party – 61
• Isaac Short – Green Party – 95
• Neil Thompson – Liberal Democrats –  38

Total number of votes – 1,991
Turnout – 24.9 per cent