The leader of Durham County Council has accused three former Reform UK councillors of "letting residents down" after they quit the party and left his administration with a majority of just three.
Councillors Lyndsey Fox, Nicole Brown and Paul Sexton resigned from Reform UK on Tuesday (September 15) and are now sitting as independents on the authority.
The departures were the latest blow to Reform's flagship council administration, which has been rocked by a series of resignations, suspensions and defections since sweeping to power at the May 2025 local elections.
Responding to the resignations, council leader Andrew Husband said: "These people have let their residents down.
"They have conned them using Reform colours and betrayed the many members who spent their time and money to help get them elected."
The comments came after Cllr Fox said she had left the party because of "growing concerns about the culture I have experienced" within the group, announcing her decision on Sky News.
The Bishop Auckland councillor also claimed she had raised a "serious safeguarding concern" with party leadership in July but had received no meaningful response.
Cllr Fox said: "We were elected to deliver for County Durham, but too often the focus has appeared to shift towards internal politics and positioning for future elections rather than the job residents elected us to do."
Reform swept to power in County Durham last year, winning 65 of the authority's 98 seats and taking control of the council for the first time.
However, just over a year on, the group has seen a string of councillors leave the party, be suspended or resign from the council altogether.
The latest departures mean at least 16 councillors elected as Reform representatives in 2025 are no longer part of the party on Durham County Council.
Despite the losses, Reform remains the largest group on the authority and continues to run the council administration, but with a majority of only three.
Cllr Husband has previously rejected allegations of bullying and poor internal culture made by former Reform councillors, describing such claims as part of a recurring narrative from those leaving the party.
He has also insisted the authority is "a well run council getting results".
North East MP Bridget Phillipson, chair of the Labour Party, said: "Reform UK are in complete meltdown.
"Nigel Farage’s party have failed Durham residents since they came to power.
"From resignations to expulsions - the chaos simply has not stopped since they came to power in 2025.
"The North East deserves better."
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Since May 2025, the following councillors have left Reform UK or no longer represent the party on Durham County Council:
- Andrew Kilburn (Benfieldside)
- David Cumming (Murton)
- John Bailey (Easington and Shotton)
- 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, now with Advance UK)
- Lyndsey Fox (Bishop Auckland)
- Nicole Brown (Aycliffe South)
- Paul Sexton (Chester-le-Street South)
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