County Durham Reform UK party elect leader as Andrew Husband
A newly elected Reform UK councillor has been selected to be the party's leader in County Durham after it took control of the council.Andrew Husband, member for Chester-le-Street North, was elected by fellow councillors on Wednesday and is expected to be voted in as leader of the council next week.Former GB News presenter Darren Grimes, councillor for Annfield Plain and Tanfield, is the party's deputy leader.Husband, a Reform candidate at the 2024 General Election, said the people of Durham had given the party a "clear mandate for serious change".
Reform UK swept to victory in the 2 May local elections by winning 65 seats.However, just days later, one of its new councillors, Andrew Kilburn, was forced to resign after he failed to declare he worked for the council, triggering a by-election in Benfieldside.The party's numbers remain at 65 councillors after Paul Sexton, former independent councillor for Chester-le-Street South, joined Reform earlier this week.
'Proven track record'
Husband said it was "an honour and a privilege" to have been elected leader."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."He is expected to be voted in as leader of the local authority at next week's full council meeting before setting out the party's key priorities for the administration, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. The council was previously run as a coalition between the Liberal Democrats - who are now the second largest party - the Conservatives and independent councillors.A Reform spokesperson said: "Andrew is a business leader with a proven track record of growth in start-ups and building successful teams."Evenwood Reform councillor Robert Potts, who defected from the Conservatives in December, was initially believed to be a front runner for the role.Reform UK leader Nigel Farage MP recently caused controversy by saying a Reform-led county council would scrap working from home and cut spending on diversity, equity and inclusion.However, he admitted local members were aware of the challenges and responsibility ahead.
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