Andrew Husband: New Durham Reform leader tasked with top council job
Chester-le-Street North councillor Andrew Husband has been announced as the man in charge of leading Reform’s 65 new councillors in County Hall. After multiple failed attempts in various elections, taking a seat at the top table is no doubt new ground for the self-professed ardent supporter of North Durham.
Cllr Husband, a married father with a young family, previously stood as a Brexit Party candidate for North Tyneside in the 2019 General Election after saying he had “lost trust in politicians”.
Although the party has rebranded to Reform UK in recent years, he has remained on board and helped play a key role in growing the party’s local popularity.
Nigel Farage’s influence on national politics and role as head of the party nationally “is the reason I got out of being politically homeless,” he previously said.
Speaking ahead of the 2024 General Election, where he stood as Reform’s candidate in North Durham, he told voters of his dedication to the local area. “I grew up in North Durham, I have my business in North Durham, I care about North Durham,” he said.
He is listed as owning the Red Lion pub in Plawsworth and previously the Coach and Horses in Croxdale
The 47-year-old added: “I am not a politician, far from it. I am a family man and an experienced employer of people who wants to see the North East and North Durham thrive. I am only interested in common sense policies, not waffle. I have lost all trust and faith in our current government, along with the opposition, therefore I question everything that is forced upon us and our country, without a vote.”
However, several national news publications accused Cllr Husband of endorsing conspiracy theories and highlighted comments made over the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, allegedly branding President Zelensky ‘evil and corrupt’.
Although he finished second during July’s national poll Reform UK’s stock had significantly risen, winning 25 per cent of the vote in North Durham. Then, Cllr Husband warned: “People will have to sit up and take notice.”
Appointed Interim Chair of Reform’s Durham branch, his LinkedIn profile describes how he “played a significant role in the growth of the Reform brand on a local level.”
Cllr Husband added: “As leader for the region I have built up a volunteer group and developed communication tools to encourage membership growth and local member involvement.
“I have set up a branch structure with committee and also took the lead in the recruitment of local council candidates for the May 1st local elections to stand in every ward of North Durham.”
Cllr Husband topped the table and was elected as the most popular candidate in the Chester-le-Street North ward at this year’s local elections, receiving 1,139 votes to take up a role in County Hall alongside Labour councillor Tracie Smith.
As party leader, his first task will involve setting out the Reform’s priorities for County Durham and how it will run the council, already suggesting the party will fulfil voters’ calls for “serious change”.
Alongside deputy leader Darren Grimes, the pair are set to be announced as key figureheads in control of Durham County Council.
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Celebrating his new post, Cllr Husband said: “What we have achieved here is incredible. From a standing start, we now have full control of the council. The people of Durham have given us a clear mandate for serious change and we fully intend to deliver that.”
Attention now turns to which other Reform UK members will earn the responsibility for the local authority’s several cabinet roles.
The first signs of power from the party’s 65 new members will be on show at the annual general meeting of Durham County Council on Wednesday, May 21, when vast swathes of Reform councillors are expected to be appointed to key council decision-making committees.