How Reform rose to power at County Durham local election 2025
The party secured 65 seats, gaining significantly on Labour, to gain overall control of Durham County Council. dramatically redraw the region’s political map.
An emphatic Nigel Farage visited Newton Aycliffe after the historic result, telling pint-sinking members the party had “the Labour Party for lunch” and “wiped out” the Conservatives.
Labour, which previously held 52 seats, is now represented by just four councillors.
The previous coalition in charge of the local authority – consisting of Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Independents – will now be replaced by Reform members, many working in local politics for the first time.
Mr Farage promised residents a “fresh new start” after criticising Durham County Council’s financial management, telling voters the party will cut taxes, scrap council roles, and invest in local services.
Robert Potts, the first Reform councillor to defect from the Conservatives in December 2024, said members will open up the books to review council spending, adding: “We are going to see if we can do it better, cheaper, or if we need to do it at all.”
The first sign of the party’s success came overnight when votes were verified and the public’s penchant for Nigel Farage and Reform’s policies was clear. Shell-shocked candidates walked the corridors of Spennymoor and Consett leisure centres as the shock results were announced.
Rhys Burriss, the first Reform councillor to be elected on Friday, said outgoing councillors had been “tarnished with the brush of the failing Labour Party”.
As the piles of ballot papers for Reform candidates increased, it was clear the party’s presence on Durham County Council would improve.
And as the deputy presiding officer announced Reform victory after Reform victory, her all-black dress felt apt for what was becoming a day of mourning for the Conservatives and Labour.
Labour enjoyed early success in winning two seats early on, but the party’s joy was short-lived, with just two more candidates elected all day. The party will now be tasked with electing a new leader after Carl Marshall was ousted in Stanley. One Labour staffer was reduced to tears, while a losing councillor said the day had been “crap” and a “disaster”. The party will now be tasked with electing a new leader after Carl Marshall was ousted in Stanley.
Former Council Leader Amanda Hopgood was one of 14 Liberal Democrats to be elected on Friday and will join 12 Independent members in crossing the floor of County Hall. There, she vowed to challenge and scrutinise every decision Reform makes, adding: “We will be holding them to account. We have made promises to the people of County Durham and now they have to deliver on them.”
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The Conservative Party’s 17 seats and ownership of key cabinet roles almost vanished completely. Richard Bell, the party’s leader in Upper Teesdale, is now the last man standing.
Green Party councillor Jonathan Elmer, of Brandon ward, will now work alongside his wife, Priscilla, after she was elected to increase the party’s overall seat count to two.
Acknowledging the challenging task ahead, Mr Farage added: “We have got a big political job of work to do – and a big responsibility.”