Durham Reform UK leader says allegations about him are 'farce'

Cllr Andrew Husband has hit back at the accusations made by former Reform UK councillors about his conduct, which included that the party did not take mental health seriously.

Sedgefield councillor Ian Catchpole, who resigned from the party last month, criticised comments allegedly made about mental health in a WhatsApp group, describing them as “utterly appalling” and said it was “wholly unbecoming of elected officials to discuss such sensitive matters in that manner”.

“I cannot and will not continue to be part of a political group culture that operates in this manner or treats colleagues with such disregard,” he added.

“Some cabinet members displayed a complete lack of empathy as well as a blatant disregard for my wellbeing.”

Councillor Ian Catchpole (Image: ldr)

While Delves Lane councillor Kenny Hope said in his letter of resignation from the party that he had been “subjected to bullying, harassment, coercion, and the suspension of the whip as part of what I believe has been a campaign by elements of the leadership to silence me.”

At least 13 councillors have stepped down, been sacked or resigned since the sweeping Reform UK win of May last year, which saw 65 of the council’s 98 seats claimed by Nigel Farage’s party.

Reform UK said that Cllr Hope was sacked from the party, while he said he had resigned.

Councillor Kenny Hope was elected in May 2025 to represent Reform UK but has since become an Independent. (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

The Northern Echo understands that at least 20 council officers have left their jobs in 2026, with only two moving on to another position in the local authority.

Cllr Husband said: “I would like to see one shred of evidence that I have bullied anyone within Reform.

“It seems to be the outgoing narrative of any councillor who leaves the party in disgrace.”

"I would like to see one shred of evidence that I have bullied anyone within Reform," Cllr Husband said.

The Chester-le-Street councillor said that Reform was better off without the members who had left.

“We are a tighter group without them. We are a well run council getting results,” he said.

Addressing the allegations that he did not take mental health seriously, he said: “It has taken them six months to come up with this farce…”

Several councillors who had left Reform in the last year spoke to Sky News, repeating their allegations against Cllr Husband, for a broadcast on Wednesday night (September 9), with some suggesting the running of Durham County Council was ‘chaos’.

Since May 2025 the following Reform UK councillors no longer represent the party on the local authority:

• Andrew Kilburn, Benfieldside (Resigned as a councillor)
• David Cumming, Murton (Resigned as a councillor)
• John Bailey, Easington and Shotton (Resigned as a councillor due to health issue with by-election won by Reform)
• Kate Rowland, Shildon
• Michael Ramage, Shildon
• Jasmine Fox, Lower Teesdale
• Nick Brown, West Auckland
• Andrew Harrison, Seaham
• Kenny Hope, Delves Lane
• Jack McGlenen, Dawdon
• Ian Catchpole, Sedgefield
• Dawn Saunders, Peterlee
• Paul Bean, Crook (Defected to Advance UK)

Reform UK was contacted for comment.