Can Farage Reform UK councils in his grip?

In red and blue heartlands, a turquoise tidal wave washed over England as Nigel Farage's party took local elections by storm. So now they're at the helm, the Express went to Durham to find out what happens next...

- By Jon King

AFTER decades of two-party political dominance, occasionally tempted by the Lib Dems or Greens, Reform UK snatched control of councils from both Labour and the Conservatives up and down the country at the start of last month. Their success led Nigel Farage to declare he had broken the grip of the two main parties on British politics.

Certainly, a turquoise tidal wave washed over red and blue heartlands as Reform took control of 10 councils, won two mayoral races and gained a fifth MP at the Runcorn and Helsby by-election. Having threatened to park Reform's tanks on Labour's lawns ahead of the May 1 poll, Mr Farage's full-frontal attack smashed into their front rooms.

In County Durham, an erstwhile Labour stronghold and home of Sir Tony Blair's former Sedgefield constituency, Reform won 65 council seats out of a total 98.

The Conservatives lost 15 wards, ending up with just one councillor while Labour was summarily dismissed from a staggering 38 wards to be left with only four.

This despite the county being home to the annual Miners' Gala, which some in Labour still believe represents the best of the party's working class values. From no overall control, the unitary authority is now securely in the hands of Reform UK.

Former GB News presenter, Darren Grimes, was among the victors winning Annfield Plain and Tanfield for Reform and going on to become deputy leader of Durham County Council. He and his colleagues now find themselves controlling the levers of power in a county where locals are crying out for improvement to local services.

But how will they cope? After all, as the Greens have found in Bristol to their cost, since becoming its largest party one year ago, winning votes is one thing but establishing radical change is another.