Overview

• The by-election was triggered after Reform UK’s Andrew Kilburn resigned nine days into his term when officials discovered he was ineligible due to his council employment.
• Liberal Democrat candidate Terry Rooney secured the Benfieldside seat with 824 votes, narrowly outpacing Labour’s Kevin Earley on 800 and Reform UK’s candidate on 747.
• The result boosts Liberal Democrat representation on Durham County Council to 15 seats, while Reform UK maintains a commanding majority with 62 councillors.
• Council estimates put the cost of the July 3 by-election at £22,800, a figure criticized by a former council leader as a waste of taxpayers’ money.
• A second by-election in the Easington and Shotton ward is scheduled for August 7 after another Reform UK councillor stepped down for health reasons.