A former Reform UK councillor in County Durham has become an Independent, writes Local Democracy Reporter, Bill Edgar.
Michael Ramage, who represents Shildon and Dene Valley, was elected alongside Reform county councillors Kate Rowland and James Stephenson at the local elections in May 2025 when Reform gained overall control of the local authority.
However, he is no longer listed as representing the party on the Durham County Council website and is not aligned to any political group.
Cllr Ramage declined to comment.
Council data shows he did not attend any of the full county council meetings in May, July, October or December last year.
He is also listed as a member of the council’s Adults, Wellbeing and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee; Area Planning Committee (Central and East); and Pension Fund Committee.
The current makeup of the council is 61 Reform councillors, 15 Liberal Democrats, 13 Independents, four Labour, two Greens, one Conservative, and one Advance UK.
Elsewhere, voters in the Murton ward in the East Durham area of the county will return to the polls next month to vote for a new county councillor after former Reform member David Cumming stood down due to work commitments.
It will be the third by-election in County Durham since last year’s full council vote, following the resignation of two former Reform councillors due to an employment conflict and ill-health.
The party initially won 65 seats but has seen its majority decrease to 61 after three members became independents and the Liberal Democrats won a by-election.
Since May, the party has won another by-election in the Easington and Shotton ward, and also gained a new member after Cllr Paul Sexton defected to the party, having formerly stood as an Independent.
Reform UK was contacted for comment.
Bill Edgar
Reporter for the Local Democracy Reporter Service.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
Unless its taking out our trash if an MP then we dont care about your insighting of hate towards anything that is not Labour.
We already got the message of your corruption there, even though the new is supoosed to be nuetral.
Michelle H-edding mate, what?
Has anyone in Shildon or Dene Valley seen this councillor? Remember he is getting paid a hefty allowance to represent Shildon area
Paul Truman yes, met with him in person and have had lots of contact! What’s your point ?
Vicki Scaife I’ve written to him several times, never had a reply. As far as I’m aware he’s never held a surgery in Shildon. I’ve been to several council meetings and he’s never been there. Much like his leader!
Tracey Beadle never had a problem with any of them .. even spoke to Andrew Husband today. Always answered my queries unlike the Town council
Vicki Scaife , lucky you. Please can you let me know how you contacted him?
I mean it’s not anything important that I’ve contacted him about, just the death of my daughter. The cover up of her death by the north east ambulance service and my son’s subsequent suicide.
Tracey Beadle today was just a simple message on here.. replied directly . Not a problem
Vicki Scaife oh so he replies to comments on Facebook from you, not actual issues? That’s not really hard for him to do is it.
When you said lots of contact, I thought you meant he had helped you out with an actual issue
Tracey Beadle maybe try Sam Rushworth MP and police .. that’s why they are there , right?
Tracey Beadle always had a reply to emails as have many people I know that have contacted him .
Vicki Scaife just the fact that it’s not obvious how they are best representing our interests?
Paul Truman Nope. Invisible.
I emailed him earlier today and tbh heard back a few hours later.
lol I emailed all 3 of them on 7th January and then a follow up email last week and not a peep 🤷🏼♂️
Come to his senses
Never seen any of the reform councillors
Cllr Ramage lives in Bishop and has no interest in Shildon. He doesn’t even have a photo on the DCC website he’s so under the radar. Looks like he didn’t attend the last four main council meetings either.
Shame folks aren’t more educated to look into these people before they vote. We had three local Cllrs before (lived here, volunteered here) who were very visible. Now we have these three new councillors that nobody sees and who don’t even live in Shildon.
I’m sure they’ll be taking their allowances home though.