Reform Party Turmoil Rocks Durham County Council

Durham County Council, one of England’s largest local authorities, has been dominated by internal fighting since Reform UK won 65 of the council’s 98 seats in May 2025. The dispute centers on council leader Andrew Husband and a standards-committee investigation into former independent councillor Paul Sexton. Accusations of “maladministration” by officers, Husband’s “woke” comment on mental-health, and reports of wine-drinking and vaping during meetings have led to 13 Reform resignations and a pending vote of no confidence called by independent councillor Kenny Hope.

iNews

Reform UK’s victory gave the party control of a council responsible for education, transport, social care and housing. Shortly after taking office, the party faced a standards-committee inquiry into Sexton’s 2021 bullying complaints. The committee cleared Sexton, but Reform-majority members argued the matter warranted further scrutiny, alleging that officers—including chief executive John Hewitt—had improperly initiated the probe, forcing costly legal advice.

iNews

• May 2025 – Reform UK wins 65 seats; Andrew Husband becomes leader.

iNews

• 2021 – Bullying complaints against Paul Sexton arise.

iNews

• January 2024 – Standards committee dismisses Sexton’s complaints; a lone non-Reform member later finds a breach of the members’ code.

iNews

• April 2026 – Husband reportedly remarks that “mental health is woke.”

Byline Times

• Late 2024 – Kenny Hope announces a vote of no confidence in Husband.

Byline Times

• Council size: 98 seats; Reform UK holds 65.

iNews

• Resignations: 13 Reform councillors have left the group in the past 15 months.

iNews

• Budget: £1.3 billion annually.

Byline Times

• Andrew Husband said the standards committee acted improperly, called the issue “an epic screw-up,” and dismissed criticism as “virtue-signalling.”

iNews

• Durham County Council spokesperson noted the standards-committee meeting was private and declined comment on confidential matters.

iNews

• Reform UK Durham spokesperson described Hope’s allegations as “wild” and said the party was unaware of any live police investigations.

iNews

• Durham Constabulary spokesperson said they cannot confirm or deny an investigation until charges are filed.

Byline Times

• Nick Brown (Independent, former Reform councillor) said he does not expect Husband to remain leader for the year.

iNews

• Amanda Hopgood, Liberal Democrat opposition leader, warned that internal fighting was diverting attention from council services.

iNews

• Kate Rowland (now independent) criticised the standards process as “jokingly” treating mental-health issues and called the leadership’s behaviour “petulant.”

Byline Times

Durham Constabulary declined to confirm either claim. Husband says he does not recall wine being consumed at meetings, yet several Reform members and media reports describe a bottle of wine and vaping during a Teams call. The discrepancy remains unresolved.

iNews

• “I don’t expect Husband to last out the year [as leader].” — Amanda Hopgood

iNews

• “See you in standards Kenny [Hope]” — Cllr Husband

Byline Times

A formal vote of no confidence in Andrew Husband has been announced by Kenny Hope. The outcome will determine whether Reform UK retains its leadership of Durham County Council amid the ongoing standards-committee controversy.

iNews