The 2021 Durham County Council election was held on 6 May 2021 as part of the 2021 local elections in the United Kingdom.
All 126 councillors were to be elected. The county is divided into 63 electoral divisions (called "wards") with each electing between 1 and 3 councillors by the first-past-the-post voting method for a fixed four-year term.
The result saw the Labour Party retain its position as the largest party but lose control of the council. It marked the first time since 1919 that the council (and its predecessors) had not been controlled by Labour.
Another notable result was the Green Party of England and Wales gaining their first seat on the Council in the Brandon division, gaining one seat from Labour.
The council convened in its Annual Meeting on 26 May, where a coalition of the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, North East Party, and independents formed the Cabinet and elected Amanda Hopgood of the Liberal Democrats as Leader of the Council; the first woman to hold the position.
Results summary
| Seaham Community Party | align="right" |0 | align="right" |0 | align="right" |0 | align="right" |- | align="right" |0.0 | align="right" |1.1 | align="right" | 1,645 | align="right" |-0.1
| Political Unity for Progress | align="right" |0 | align="right" |0 | align="right" |0 | align="right" |- | align="right" |0.0 | align="right" |0.5 | align="right" | 792 | align="right" |+0.5
| Spennymoor Independents | align="right" |0 | align="right" |0 | align="right" |5 | align="right" |-5 | align="right" |0.0 | align="right" |0.0 | align="right" |0 | align="right" |-1.4
Results by electoral division A − B
C − D
E − N
P − S
T − W
Changes 2021–2025 The council held six by-elections between the 2021 and 2025 elections (see By-elections below). In addition, several councillors changed party affiliation without a seat being contested: May 2022: Karen Hawley and Diane Howarth (North East) leave party to sit as independents 24 May 2024: Michael McGaun (Conservative) leaves party to sit as an independent June 2024: Angela Hanson and Sam McMahon (Labour) leave party to sit as independents November 2024: Neville Jones (Liberal Democrats) leaves party to sit as an independent December 2024: Robert Potts (Conservative) joins Reform UK January 2025: Joanne Howey and Cathy Hunt (Conservative) leave party to sit as independents; Paul Taylor (Labour) leaves party to sit as an independent February 2025: Fraser Tinsley (Labour) resigns – the seat was left vacant until the 2025 election; Joe Quinn (Conservative) and Cathy Hunt (independent) join Reform UK March 2025: Michael McGaun (independent) joins Reform UK; Stephen Robinson (Derwentside Independents) leaves party to sit as an independent April 2025: Mamie Simmons (Liberal Democrats) dies – the seat was left vacant until the election.
By-elections Ferryhill
The by-election was triggered by the death of Independent Cllr Brian Avery in October 2021, who represented the ward since the 2013 elections, having been previously elected to represent Chilton as a Labour candidate in 2008.
Conservative candidate David Farry last contested the ward as an Independent candidate in 2017, having previously been elected a councillor for the ward in 2008 but defeated in 2013 as a F.A.I.R. candidate. Independent Joe Makepeace represented the ward from 2017 until 2021, when he failed to be re-elected to his seat.
West Auckland
The by-election was held following the death of Conservative councillor Mark Roberts in January 2022. Labour's George Smith gained the seat from the Conservatives.
Chester-le-Street East
The by-election was held following the death of Conservative councillor Beatrice "Beaty" Bainbridge, who was serving as Chair of Durham County Council, in February 2023. Labour's Julie Scurfield gained the seat from the Conservatives.
Dawdon
The by-election was held following the death of Labour councillor Leanne Kennedy, a former Mayor of Seaham, in September 2023. Labour held the seat with June Watson.
Horden
The Horden by-election was triggered by the death of Labour councillor Isabella Roberts.
Coxhoe
The by-election was held following the resignation of Labour councillor Maura McKeon in May 2024. Labour held the seat with Vivienne Anderson.
References