Ed Davey visits Diggerland in County Durham to boost Liberal Democrats
Amanda Hopgood, local party leader and current council leader, said it is likely a coalition would be formed again following May’s local elections.
The party’s local election campaign was sent to dizzy new heights on Friday as members were joined by national party leader Sir Ed Davey to swap the thrills and spills of politics for a day of fun at Diggerland.
Speaking at the popular site in Langley Park, Cllr Hopgood said the leader’s visit to the region is a testament to the party’s local success.
“It’s a sign of how important the party sees what we have done as part of the Joint Administration in Durham and what a difference it has made after 103 years of Labour that we were able to bring something different.
“Of course, it is in partnership with the other groups that we work with but this is about showing people that there is an alternative, and we have proven that in Durham and the wider region. We are your local councillors, we work hard, and we represent people.”
The defection of several former Conservative councillors to Reform UK has put the party in a strong position to have its first councillors elected come May. And with the current Joint Administration made up of Liberal Democrats, Conservatives and Independents, Cllr Hopgood did not rule out inviting other parties into the coalition.
She added: “We formed an administration with other groups to run this council and it’s been really successful over the last four years. I believe Durham County Council will not have one single group running it again after May, so we will have to look to work with other people.”
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey continues his tour of the country’s best days out by taking a ride on Spin Dizzy at Diggerland in County Durham pic.twitter.com/rXOvlGHLXL
— Bill Edgar (@BillEdgarnews) March 14, 2025
Yet, a potential collaboration with Labour is unlikely. Given the party’s recent national success, are members worried about Labour regaining control of the council? “No, not at all,” Cllr Hopggod added.
“On the doors, people aren’t happy with Labour, with the government, at the fact pensioners are losing their winter fuel allowance, they are not happy with what they’ve done with the farming community in our rural areas. They are really happy with what we have done as an administration over the last four years.”
Sir Ed was front and centre as existing county councillors and candidates were swung around by ‘Spin Dizzy’, the theme park’s main attraction, to highlight the party’s success in growing the County Durham tourism industry.
He praised the local party’s collaborative work on the council “for the greater good of local people” and said its success in County Durham can be used as a model for elsewhere in the North East.
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“I have been really proud of the way County Durham Liberal Democrats have been a part of the Joint Administration very successfully,” he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service. “Nobody thought they could do it, but the Liberal Democrats play an important role.
“People want councillors communicating with them, responding to them, and taking action. So often, they don’t get that. The Conservatives are clearly in decline and Labour are going backwards.
“If people are unsure where to go, the Liberal Democrats have a proven track record and will be their local champion. Other parties don’t really care. Reform want to privatise the NHS and are sucking up to Trump and Putin.”