Councillors not standing for re-election in County Durham

The poll will take place on May 1 and will decide the authority’s political future for the next four years. 

Former Durham County Council leader Simon Henig will retire from local political duties after 26 years and joins 16 other Labour councillors not seeking re-election. 

Three councillors from Conservative Party and three from the Liberal Democrats will also not return. Five Independents and one member of the North East Party are also among those not selected. 

Residents across the county will be voting to decide who will be elected as their county councillors for the 51 electoral divisions within County Durham.

A total of 98 councillors will be elected, down from 126.

At the last local election in 2021, the Labour Party lost overall control of the county council for the first time in 100 years. The current Joint Administration in charge of the authority is made up of Liberal Democrats, Conservatives and Independents. 

Recommended reading: 

Full list of candidates not seeking re-election 

• Mark Abley – Tudhoe – Conservative

• Eddy Adam – Aycliffe West – Labour

• Peter Atkinson – Ferryhill – Labour 

• Karen Batey – Seaham – Labour 

• Christine Bell – Annfield Plain – Derwentside Independents 

• Gordon Binney – Tanfield – Labour 

• David Boyes – Easington – Labour 

• David Brown – Sedgefield – Conservative 

• Jean Chaplow – Deerness – Labour 

• Bev Coult – Esh and WItton Gilbert – Liberal Democrat 

• Terry Duffy – Peterlee East – North East Party 

• Christine Fletcher – Belmont – Labour 

• David Hall – Sherburn – Labour 

• Angela Hanson – Stanley – Independent 

• Simon Henig – Chester-le-Street West Central – Labour 

• John Higgins – Wingate – Labour 

• Andrew Jackson – Bishop Auckland Town – Conservative 

• Matt Johnson – Shildon and Dene Valley – Labour 

• Neville Jones – Aycliffe East – Independent 

• Richard Manchester – Tow Law – Labour 

• David McKenna – Seaham – Labour 

• Ian McLean – Horden – Labour 

• Sam McMahon – Craghead and South Moor – Independent 

• Dan Nicholls – Deerness – Labour 

• Richard Ormerod – Elvet and Gilesgate – Liberal Democrat 

• David Stoker – Durham South – Liberal Democrat 

• Chris Varty – Trimdon and Thornley – Labour 

• Alex Watson – Consett North – Independent 

• Simon Wilson – Sacriston – Labour