Durham County Council
Unitary authority in North East England covering Dalton and Dawdon.
Last refreshed: 24 August 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Timeline for Durham County Council
Durham councillor joins UK Social Democratic Party
UK Local Elections 2026Background
Durham County Council is the unitary authority for most of ceremonial County Durham, excluding Darlington, Hartlepool and part of Stockton-on-Tees. Established as a county council in 1889, it became a single-tier authority on 1 April 2009 when seven district councils were abolished. New boundaries introduced in May 2025 reduced the council from 126 to 98 councillors.
The May 2025 all-out election gave Reform UK a majority. Open Council Data records 56 Reform councillors, 15 Liberal Democrats, five Labour councillors, two Greens, one Conservative and 19 others. Fifty seats are required for control.
Dalton and Dawdon councillor Jack McGlenen, elected for Reform in May 2025, later sat as an independent. His move to the Social Democratic Party in August 2026 reduced neither the council's seat total nor Reform's recorded majority.
When did Durham County Council become unitary?
How many councillors are on Durham County Council?
Who controls Durham County Council?
What party does Jack McGlenen represent?
