Labour on notice as Reform surge changes landscape of region's politics

REFORM UK has delivered a seismic shock to the North East's political landscape.

- DANIEL HOLLAND

Nigel Farage’s party seized control of Durham County Council in staggeringly dominant fashion yesterday and made major gains in other local elections being held in the region.

The huge swing in Reform’s favour, both here and across the country, marks them out as a genuine political force now as both Labour and the Tories lose ground in conventional strongholds.

And it sparks major questions about what the future leadership of the North East will look like and what Sir Keir Starmer can do to regain public support less than a year into his premiership, amid enduring anger over policies like the cuts to the winter fuel allowance.

Mr Farage dashed to Newton Aycliffe to celebrate his party's crushing victory, where he declared “the end of two-party politics” and that they had eaten “the Labour Party for lunch” as he predicted they would win the next General Election.

He also warned that Durham council workers tasked with diversity or climate change programmes should be “seeking alternative careers very, very quickly’ promising to scale back what he claims is “excessive” local government spending.