Durham County Council
Unitary authority governing County Durham in North East England, with 98 elected councillors.
Durham County Council's member list showed Reform UK on 50 of 98 seats on 7 October 2026, down from 65 in 2025. One more departure would leave it on 49, exactly half, still a bare majority of sitting councillors until the vacant seat is filled.
Last refreshed: 7 October 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Timeline for Durham County Council
Listed 50 Reform UK members in a 98-seat chamber
UK Local Elections 2026: Reform down to 50 of 98 Durham seatsDurham councillor joins UK Social Democratic Party
UK Local Elections 2026Background
Durham County Council is the unitary authority for most of ceremonial County Durham, in North East England, excluding Darlington, Hartlepool and part of Stockton-on-Tees. It is based in Durham and is a separate body from Durham city's own institutions and from any regional mayoralty.
Established as a county council in 1889, it became a single-tier authority on 1 April 2009, when seven district councils were abolished and their services passed to it. New boundaries from May 2025 cut the council from 126 to 98 councillors, so 50 seats are needed for control.
The all-out election of May 2025 gave Reform UK 65 seats and a majority. Departures have since cut that group to 50, leaving Reform's control resting on a single seat by October 2026.
Reform's council majority narrows
Reform UK won 65 of the council's 98 seats in May 2025. On 7 October 2026, the council's member list showed the group on 50, with 97 councillors sitting. Three councillors left Reform on 15 September and Aaron Hillam followed later that month; one more loss would cut Reform to 49, exactly half the 98 seats. Until a by-election fills the empty seat, that would still be a bare majority of the councillors sitting.
The erosion began earlier. Jack McGlenen, elected for Reform in Dalton and Dawdon in 2025, had already left to sit as an Independent before Open Council Data recorded him joining the UK Social Democratic Party on 20 August 2026.
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?
