This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg419g63qelo
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Durham County Council election results: Reform UK takes control | |
| (33 minutes later) | |
| Counting is under way at Durham County Council, where 98 seats are being declared | Counting is under way at Durham County Council, where 98 seats are being declared |
| Reform UK has taken control of Durham County Council after winning more than half of its seats. | |
| It has secured 55 seats so far, gaining heavily from Labour, the Conservatives and independents. | |
| The council was previously run as a coalition between the Liberal Democrats, Tories and independent councillors. | The council was previously run as a coalition between the Liberal Democrats, Tories and independent councillors. |
| There are 98 seats being contested on the local authority, as counting continues. | |
| Among the newly elected councillors is former GB News presenter Darren Grimes, who is from County Durham, and who won one of two seats for Reform representing the Annfield Plain and Tanfield ward. | |
| "I gave up a job in telly land to stand here and do this," he said. | "I gave up a job in telly land to stand here and do this," he said. |
| "I'm obviously personally delighted but I'm also really humbled by the number of people who put their trust and faith in us to deliver for them." | "I'm obviously personally delighted but I'm also really humbled by the number of people who put their trust and faith in us to deliver for them." |
| He said if Reform UK took control of the council, they would "get the auditors in" to make sure no money was being wasted. | He said if Reform UK took control of the council, they would "get the auditors in" to make sure no money was being wasted. |
| Local Labour leader Carl Marshall was one of the election casualties, who lost his seat in Stanley to Reform. | |
| Results in Durham are continuing to be declared throughout the afternoon. | Results in Durham are continuing to be declared throughout the afternoon. |
| Darren Grimes said he wanted an audit of the council's finances to be carried out | Darren Grimes said he wanted an audit of the council's finances to be carried out |
| Meanwhile, Reform also won its first seat on Hartlepool Borough Council following a by-election. | Meanwhile, Reform also won its first seat on Hartlepool Borough Council following a by-election. |
| Amanda Napper took the Throston ward seat from Labour with 889 votes. | Amanda Napper took the Throston ward seat from Labour with 889 votes. |
| Speaking after the count, she told the Local Democracy Reporting Service her priorities would be to tackle anti-social behaviour. | Speaking after the count, she told the Local Democracy Reporting Service her priorities would be to tackle anti-social behaviour. |
| "When you see the state of Throston ward it makes you realise how much hard work it needs to pull it into shape, so I'm fully eyes wide open to the amount of work needed," she said. | "When you see the state of Throston ward it makes you realise how much hard work it needs to pull it into shape, so I'm fully eyes wide open to the amount of work needed," she said. |
| Amanda Napper becomes the first Reform UK councillor on Labour-led Hartlepool Borough Council following a by-election | |
| Elsewhere in the North East, Labour managed to hold off Reform in a tightly run race for North Tyneside mayor. | Elsewhere in the North East, Labour managed to hold off Reform in a tightly run race for North Tyneside mayor. |
| Karen Clark was elected to the post, replacing Dame Norma Redfearn who stepped down from the role, which effectively leads the council. | Karen Clark was elected to the post, replacing Dame Norma Redfearn who stepped down from the role, which effectively leads the council. |
| In Northumberland, the Conservatives held on to 26 county council seats to remain the largest party there, but fell short of the 35 needed for a majority. | In Northumberland, the Conservatives held on to 26 county council seats to remain the largest party there, but fell short of the 35 needed for a majority. |
| Reform surged into second place, with 23 new councillors elected. | Reform surged into second place, with 23 new councillors elected. |
| Additional reporting from the Local Democracy Reporting Service. | Additional reporting from the Local Democracy Reporting Service. |
| Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. | Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. |