Durham County Council elections

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Durham County Council elections are held every four years. Durham County Council is the local authority for the unitary authority of County Durham. 98 councillors are elected from 51 wards. [1]

Contents

County council elections

ElectionLabourConservativeLiberal Democrat [a] IndependentReformGreenTotal
1973 [2] 56267--72 [3]
1977 [4] 4114710--72
1981 [5] 53766--72
1985 [6] 5057 [b] 10 [c] --72
1989 [7] 56754--72
1993 [8] 56664--72
1997 [9] 53224--61
2001 [10] 53242--61
2005 [11] 53253--63
2008 [12] 67102722-0126
2013 [13] 944919-0126
2017 74101428-0126
2021 5324173201126
2025 41141265298

County result maps

District council elections

Prior to the formation of the unitary authority in 2009, the county was divided into a number of second tier districts. The following articles detail the local elections to those district councils. The Borough of Darlington has formed a unitary authority outside the area covered by the County Council since 1997.

By-election results

The following is an incomplete list of by-elections to Durham County Council.

1997–2008

Bishop Auckland Town by-election, 30 March 2000
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats 689 42.9 +1.2
Labour 60137.4−21.0
Conservative 31819.8+19.8
Majority 885.5
Turnout 1,60822.5
Liberal Democrats gain from Labour Swing
Burnopfield and Dipton by-election, 28 November 2002 [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Reginald Ord 519 37.2 +2.2
Labour 50035.8−18.3
Liberal Democrats 32223.1+23.1
Conservative 543.9−7.1
Majority 191.4
Turnout 1,39522.0
Independent gain from Labour Swing
Stanley by-election, 17 July 2003
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Leslie Vaux 1,702 56.1 −20.6
Liberal Democrats David Rolfe56618.7+4.3
BNP Dean McAdam50916.8+16.8
Conservative Stuart Tilney2568.4−0.5
Majority 1,13637.4
Turnout 3,03346.4
Labour hold Swing
Woodhouse Close by-election, 26 February 2004
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour John Lethbridge 1,538 66.3 −2.0
Liberal Democrats Jody Dunn78233.7+9.6
Majority 75632.6
Turnout 2,32043.7
Labour hold Swing
Durham South by-election, 26 January 2006 [15]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Abiodun Williams 834 51.6 +4.8
Liberal Democrats Isobell Lunan56134.7−9.1
Conservative Michael Fishwick22013.6+4.2
Majority 27316.9
Turnout 1,61534.0
Labour hold Swing
Framwellgate Moor by-election, 8 June 2006 [16]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour George Burlison 1,187 43.4 −5.5
Liberal Democrats Redvers Crooks1,03737.9−2.9
Independent Ian Rutland2679.8+9.8
Conservative Patricia Wynne2459.0−1.4
Majority 1505.5
Turnout 2,73737.1
Labour hold Swing
Dawden by-election, 19 October 2006 [17]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Edwin Mason 775 84.0 +4.3
Conservative Lucille Nicholson14816.0−4.3
Majority 62768.0
Turnout 92318.7
Labour hold Swing
Ouston and Urpeth by-election, 30 November 2006 [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Colin Carr 665 57.7 −2.8
Liberal Democrats Sean Kilkenny48742.3+19.2
Majority 17815.4
Turnout 1,15218.6
Labour hold Swing

2008–2013

Barnard Castle East by-election, 4 June 2009 [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative James Rowlandson 1,263 46.9 +4.2
Independent Anthony Cooke63423.5−20.0
Liberal Democrats Michael Newlands47917.8+17.8
Labour Sharon Longcroft31911.8−1.9
Majority 62923.4
Turnout 2,69538.9
Conservative hold Swing
Easington by-election, 11 February 2010 [20]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Alan Barker 702 55.8 −8.3
Independent Terry Murray31124.7+24.7
Liberal Democrats Carole Harrison12610.0−25.9
Conservative Margaret Reid1209.5+9.5
Majority 39131.1
Turnout 1,25920.9
Labour hold Swing
Brandon by-election, 30 September 2010 [21]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour John Turnbull 1,204 64.0 +13.2
Liberal Democrats Maureen Smith53828.6−3.6
Conservative Mark Krajewski1407.4−1.4
Majority 66635.4
Turnout 1,882
Labour hold Swing
Deneside by-election, 14 October 2010 [22]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Jennifer Bell 917 82.4 +26.1
Conservative Margaret Reid19617.6+17.6
Majority 72164.8
Turnout 1,113
Labour hold Swing
Peterlee West by-election, 21 June 2012 [23]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Jimmy Alvey 767 70.1 +25.7
Independent Karen Hawley18116.5+16.5
Liberal Democrats Wendy Bentley999.0−46.6
Conservative Harvey Morgan474.3+4.3
Majority 58653.6
Turnout 1,094
Labour gain from Liberal Democrats Swing

2013–2017

Crook by-election, 7 November 2013 [24]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Andrea Patterson 741 40.3
Independent Ian Hirst49627.0
Wear Valley Independent GroupJohn Bailey36019.6
Liberal Democrats David English1457.9
Conservative Beaty Bainbridge542.9
Green Joanne Yelland412.2
Majority 24513.3
Turnout 183718.6
Labour hold Swing
Crook by-election, 18 September 2014 [25]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Maureen Stanton 753 46.8 +16.0
UKIP Betty Hopson33921.1+21.1
Liberal Democrats David English23314.5+7.6
Independent Tony Simpson19312.0+12.0
Conservative Alan Booth905.6+5.6
Majority 41425.7
Turnout 1,608
Labour gain from Independent Swing
Burnopfield and Dipton by-election, 23 October 2014 [26]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Joanne Carr 656 44.9 +6.8
Derwentside Independents Gill Burnett65544.8+3.5
Conservative Alan Booth835.7+5.7
Green Melanie Howd684.7+4.7
Majority 10.1
Turnout 1,462
Labour gain from Derwentside Independents Swing
Evenwood by-election, 23 October 2014 [27]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Heather Smith 546 38.2 −7.8
Conservative Stephen Hugill39627.7−0.3
UKIP Ben Casey30921.6−4.4
Independent Lee Carnighan1087.5+7.5
Green Greg Robinson725.0+5.0
Majority 15010.5
Turnout 1,431
Labour hold Swing
Barnard Castle West by-election, 7 May 2015 [28]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Edward Henderson 2,518 57.6 −1.8
Green Thomas Robinson97222.3+1.8
Labour Philip Hunt87820.1+0.0
Majority 1,54635.4
Turnout 4,368
Conservative hold Swing
Ferryhill by-election, 7 May 2015 [29]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour John Lindsay 2,266 49.8 +14.8
Independent Joseph Makepeace1,96943.3+43.3
Green William Lawrence3166.9+6.9
Majority 2976.5
Turnout 4,551
Labour hold Swing
Sherburn by-election, 7 May 2015 [30]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour William Kellett 2,218 52.5 +4.1
Conservative Michael Fishwick96522.9+13.4
Liberal Democrats Andrew Tibbs53112.6−19.1
Green Joanna Smith50812.0+12.0
Majority 1,25329.7
Turnout 4,222
Labour hold Swing
Willington and Hunwick by-election, 7 May 2015 [31]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Fraser Tinsley 2,169 54.5 +8.5
Independent Matthew Todd1,51238.0+38.0
Green Mark Quinn3017.6+7.6
Majority 65716.5
Turnout 3,982
Labour hold Swing
Shotton and South Hetton by-election, 20 August 2015 [32]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Alan Liversidge 595 52.5 +9.4
North East Ted Hall21418.9+18.9
UKIP Lee-James Harris13111.6+11.6
Liberal Democrats Michael Anderson1079.4+9.4
Conservative Beaty Bainbridge675.9+5.9
Green Martie Warin191.7+1.7
Majority 38133.6
Turnout 1,133
Labour hold Swing

2017–2021

Dawdon by-election, 29 June 2017 [33]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Leanne Kennedy 693 52.3 +6.2
Seaham Community PartyRobert Arthur63347.7+10.8
Majority 604.6
Turnout 1,32921.3
Labour hold Swing
Trimdon and Thornley by-election, 28 September 2017 [34]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Jude Grant 1,150 65.4 +15.2
Independent Maurice Brown35120.0+20.0
Liberal Democrats Alan Bell1176.7−3.6
Conservative Michael Smith1126.4−12.7
Green Jonathan Elmer291.6+1.6
Majority 79945.4
Turnout 1,759
Labour hold Swing
Wingate by-election, 14 March 2019 [35]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour John Higgins 458 64.1 −9.6
Liberal Democrats Edwin Simpson16322.8+20.1
North East Stephen Miles7410.3+0.3
For Britain Gareth Fry202.8+2.8
Majority 29541.3
Turnout 715
Labour hold Swing
Esh and Witton Gilbert by-election, 21 March 2019 [36]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Beverley Coult 1,115 63.2 +7.8
Labour Anne Bonner36620.7−7.0
Independent Ryan Drion1558.8+8.8
Conservative Richard Lawrie1287.3−9.6
Majority 74942.5
Turnout 1,764
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Shildon and Dene Valley by-election, 2 May 2019 [37]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats James Huntington 1,257 42.7 +21.5
Labour Samantha Townsend68223.2−7.2
UKIP Alan Breeze45615.5+3.4
Independent Robert Ingledew41514.1−7.0
Conservative Marie Carter-Robb1314.5−10.7
Majority 57519.6
Turnout 2,941
Liberal Democrats gain from Labour Swing
Spennymoor by-election, 2 May 2019 [38]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Ian Geldard 489 18.7 +18.7
Labour Colin Nelson42016.1−2.2
Liberal Democrats Martin Jones37314.3−6.0
Independent Billy McAloon35813.7+13.7
Independent Pete Molloy33212.7−2.1
UKIP Bob Purvis28110.8+4.4
Spennymoor IndependentsRonald Highley2218.5−19.6
Conservative James Cosslett1375.2−3.7
Majority 692.6
Turnout 2,611
Independent gain from Spennymoor Independents Swing

2021–2025

Ferryhill by-election, 24 February 2022 [39]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Curtis Bihari 876 41.3 +6.4
Independent Glenys Newby52824.9+24.9
Conservative David Farry34816.4−11.9
Independent Joseph Makepeace1667.8+7.8
Green Rebecca Dixon-McWaters1657.8+7.8
Freedom AllianceKaela Banthorpe231.3+1.3
Liberal Democrats Bill Thorkildsen90.4+0.4
Majority 34816.4
Turnout 2,120
Labour gain from Independent Swing
West Auckland by-election, 14 April 2022 [40]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour George Smith 956 56.3 +12.2
Conservative Lyndsey Fox55432.6−10.2
Independent Nick Brown18711.0+11.0
Majority 40223.7
Turnout 1,697
Labour gain from Conservative Swing
Chester-le-Street East by-election, 14 April 2022 [41]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Julie Scurfield 716 59.8 +28.9
Conservative Allan Bainbridge43936.6−4.9
Liberal Democrats Russell Haswell433.6−1.4
Majority 27723.1
Turnout 1,198
Labour gain from Conservative Swing
Dawdon by-election, 30 November 2023 [42]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour June Watson 514 55.9 +5.4
Independent Bob Arthur33936.9+36.9
Conservative Josh Rayner566.1−10.0
Liberal Democrats Roger Vila101.1+1.1
Majority 17519.0
Turnout 919
Labour hold Swing
Horden by-election, 2 May 2024 [43]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour June Clark 852 76.2 +8.3
North East Robert Fishwick18016.1−10.4
Conservative George Carter665.9−9.7
Liberal Democrats Neil Thompson201.8+1.8
Majority 67260.1
Turnout 1,118
Labour hold Swing
Coxhoe by-election, 4 July 2024 [44]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Viv Anderson 2,479 43.5 +9.9
Independent Jamie Peterson1,25722.1+22.1
Independent Stuart Dunn93816.5+16.5
Conservative Oliver Peeke70512.4−5.9
Liberal Democrats Martin Jones3185.6+1.9
Majority 1,22221.4
Turnout 5,697
Labour hold Swing

2025–2029

Andrew Kilburn, who won a seat in the 2025 election, did not take up his seat due to being disqualified as a local government employee. [45]

Benfieldside by-election, 3 July 2025 [46]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Terry Rooney 824 28.0 +16.5
Labour Kevin Earley80027.2+0.8
Reform UK Stephen Harrison74725.4−6.6
Independent Stephen Robinson45915.6−9.3
Conservative David Lowes762.6−4.3
Green Richard Simpson401.4
Majority 240.8
Turnout 2,95337
Liberal Democrats gain from Reform UK Swing

Notes

  1. ↑ Liberal Party prior to 1981, SDP-Liberal Alliance in 1983, Social and Liberal Democrats in 1989
  2. ↑ 3 Liberal, 4 SDP
  3. ↑ Includes five of other parties

References

  1. ↑ "Councillors – general information". Durham County Council. Archived from the original on 25 April 2010. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
  2. ↑ "Labour take over metropolitan counties and 11 other councils". The Times . 14 April 1973. p. 3.
  3. ↑ Including one seat vacant after election
  4. ↑ "Conservatives triumphant in Greater London and Metropolitan counties". The Times . 6 May 1977. p. 4.
  5. ↑ "GLC results in full: big Labour gains in the counties". The Times . 8 May 1981. p. 4.
  6. ↑ "County Council elections". The Times . 3 May 1985. p. 5.
  7. ↑ "County council election results". The Times . 5 May 1989. p. 5.
  8. ↑ "Results". The Times . 7 May 1993. p. 9.
  9. ↑ "County Councils". The Times . 3 May 1997. p. 10.
  10. ↑ "Durham". BBC News. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  11. ↑ "Durham". BBC News. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  12. ↑ "Durham". BBC News. 2 May 2008. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  13. ↑ "Results for Durham". BBC News. 3 May 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  14. ↑ "Lib Dem win follows family tradition". The Guardian. London. 29 November 2002. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
  15. ↑ "Lib Dems fail in key bylelection". The Guardian. London. 27 January 2006. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
  16. ↑ "Burlison retains seat for Labour". The Journal. 10 June 2006. p. 35.
  17. ↑ "Mixed results for Tories in council byelections". The Guardian. London. 20 October 2006. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
  18. ↑ "News in brief". The Northern Echo . 2 December 2006. p. 15.
  19. ↑ "Declaration of result of poll" (PDF). Durham County Council. Retrieved 7 February 2010.[ dead link ]
  20. ↑ "Labour maintains majority on Durham County Council with Easington victory". The Northern Echo . 12 February 2010. Retrieved 12 February 2010.
  21. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project – Brandon Ward". andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  22. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project – Deneside Ward". andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  23. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project – Peterlee West Ward". andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  24. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  25. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project – Crook Ward". andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  26. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project – Burnopfield and Dipton Ward". andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  27. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project – Evenwood Ward". andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  28. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project – Barnard Castle West Ward". andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  29. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project – Ferryhill Ward". andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  30. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project – Sherburn Ward". andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  31. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project – Willington and Hunwick Ward". andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  32. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project – Shotton and South Hetton Ward". andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  33. ↑ http://www.durham.gov.uk/media/22036/Declaration-of-result---Dawdon-division-29-June-2017/pdf/DeclarationOfResultDawdonDivision20170629.pdf [ dead link ]
  34. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project – Trimdon and Thornley Ward". andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  35. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project – Wingate Ward". andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  36. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project – Esh and Witton Gilbert Ward". andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  37. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project – Shildon and Dene Valley Ward". andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  38. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project – Spennymoor Ward". andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  39. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project – Ferryhill Ward". andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  40. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project – West Auckland Ward". andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  41. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project – Chester-le-Street East Ward". andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  42. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project – Dawdon Ward". andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  43. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project – Horden Ward". andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  44. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project – Coxhoe Ward". andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  45. ↑ "Lib Dems win council seat after Reform resignation". BBC News. 4 July 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  46. ↑ Bradley, Helen (4 July 2025). "Declaration of result of poll, Durham County: Election of a County Councillor for Benfieldside on 3 July 2025" (PDF). Durham County Council. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
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