Cross-party administration keeps Labour from power

A seismic political earthquake, one almost impossible to overstate, has exposed fault lines in public opinion and Wednesday’s historic county council meeting cemented in place a new cross-party alliance.

Rival leaders outmanoeuvred the existing ruling party when Labour lost its majority in elections earlier this month and former council chief Simon Henig stood down.

Agreements between Liberal Democrats, Conservatives and three separate independent groups, meant Labour’s 53 councillors were left without allies to help them achieve the majority of 64 they needed to retain control of Durham County Council.

At a procedural meeting on Wednesday, almost entirely devoid of drama, County Durham Lib Dem leader Amanda Hopgood became the first female leader in the local authority’s 132-year history.

Amanda Hopgood

Cllr Hopgood, from Durham City, who has represented the Framwellgate and Newton Hall division of the council since 2008, said: “As someone who was born and brought up in County Durham, I feel honoured and privileged to have been elected as leader of Durham County Council.

“County Durham is a fantastic place, not just for those of us who live here, but also those who choose to work, visit and invest in the area.

“I am looking forward to working with my colleagues from other groups to achieve our common goal of ensuring our county is able to prosper.”

Cllr Hopgood, who is also a member of Framwellgate Moor Parish Council, said her priorities include the county’s ongoing recovery from the pandemic; ensuring its continued economic growth and prosperity; representing the county at a national level; health and social care; education and tackling climate change.

She said: “We have much to be proud of in County Durham, but it is vital that we push to ensure that we are not left behind, and that we instead lead the way.

“The Government’s levelling up agenda is key to this and I will be working with my colleagues to ensure we have a voice at that national level.”

Richard Bell

Cllr Richard Bell, who represents Barnard Castle West, and is leader of the county’s Conservative Group, was elected as deputy leader of the council.

Despite obvious comparisons with the 2010 Cameron-Clegg coalition, the new leaders are keen to avoid the phrase, choosing instead to use Joint Administration.

The meeting at Spennymoor Leisure Centre also saw the election of independent councillor Watts Stelling as chairman of the council and Tory Beaty Bainbridge as vice-chairwoman.

One moment of drama during the meeting did come when Cllr Carl Marshall, new leader of the County Durham Labour Group, stood to congratulate Cllr Hopgood, only to begin a political speech about the previous administration’s achievements and plans for job creation he hoped would be preserved .

It came shortly after the election of the new chairman and he was quickly silenced by Cllr Stelling in a possible foretelling of things to come.

Watts Stelling 

Carl Marshall 

After the meeting in a statement Cllr Marshall said: “Given the vastly differing political views and platforms each party stood on, it will be interesting to learn how the coalition will deliver the 30,000 jobs for which Labour laid the foundations in the last administration.

“Likewise, its plans for Aykley Heads and the 4,000 jobs its development has the potential to create.

“I have, so far, been disappointed not to hear more on coalition plans to deliver improvements to lives across our communities.

“We are willing to work with this coalition to deliver investment and services across the County...but we need to know what the plan is.”

The current Tory-Lib Dem leadership is expected to change annually on a rotational basis and the main political parties are supported by the councillors from the Durham Group of Independents, Durham County Council Independent Group and Spennymoor Independents.

Alan Shield

Alan Shield, who is the leader of the Durham Group, said: “I have spotted comments from some people floating around that seem to imply that independents are ‘propping up’ a Conservative/Lib Dem administration, and some that even fail to acknowledge that independents are involved.

“It’s worth emphasising that 31 independent councillors were elected (almost 25 per cent of all seats), and there are four independents in the new cabinet.

“Independents have been front and centre in forming the administration and in fostering the spirit of cooperation, and that role will continue.”

Labour’s loss of control of the council exacerbates an existing crisis for the party locally and nationally, which became clear after the 2019 General Election when large swathes of the so-called 'red wall' turned blue.

Northern heartlands split as a result of the divisive Brexit referendum and dissatisfaction with the Corbyn leadership fell to the Tories.

In County Durham, three out of the six constituencies returned a Conservative MP, with Dehenna Davison replacing Helen Goodman in Bishop Auckland.

Dehenna Davison 

Ms Davison said: “This is a really exciting new era for County Durham.

“The people have had their say and have rejected the old guard of Labour and their decades-long complacency.

“I’m so pleased an agreement has been reached to take the county forward under new, dynamic leadership.

“I look forward to working with the new team and delivering for every part of the Bishop Auckland constituency.”

Labour’s Mary Foy held the constituency of Durham City, home of the Big Meeting, that bastion of the region’s left-wing politics, but around her, locally, support has waned and the party has lost control of the council for the time in over a century.

Mary Foy

Ms Foy said: “Labour losing its majority at the local elections was hugely disappointing. As we emerge from the pandemic and our recovery is at its most fragile, strong local government will be needed more than ever.

“The people of County Durham desperately need this new administration to produce results in office rather than just rhetoric.

“I hope it has the ability to deliver these.”