A former Reform UK councillor in West Auckland has quit the party – with a statement criticising the attitude of leaders and council decisions, writes Local Democracy Reporter, Bill Edgar.
Nick Brown said he had left the party and would continue sitting as an independent councillor on Durham County Council.
The ward member for West Auckland accused Reform leaders of being party leader Nigel Farage’s “yes-men” and holding colleagues “in very serious disdain” in the nine months since election in May 2025.
Recent announcements to axe the long-awaited A68 Toft Hill bypass scheme and ongoing budget planning caused the councillor to cut up his Reform membership card after submitting his resignation to the party leadership.
However, he admits he has no “smoking gun” as evidence to support his belief that the party is not successfully reforming the local authority.
Responding to the criticism, Reform said it is committed to delivering its election pledges and value for money for residents.
A spokesperson added: “The resignation of Cllr Nick Brown is not a surprise; in fact, it saves the party a necessary spring clean after months of working to deliver the lowest council tax in the North East.”
The local authority also said it has urged regional politicians to contribute funding so it can deliver the bypass scheme.
Cllr Brown was elected to Durham County Council after receiving 1,453 votes (52 per cent of the vote) alongside Reform cabinet member Stephen Gray.
But now, he said, he cannot best support his constituents while remaining a member of the party.
In a letter to Andrew Husband, council leader, and all other political parties, he said: “It is clear that certain members of the Reform leadership, including yourself, but principally your deputy, Cllr Darren Grimes, hold members of their own administration in very serious disdain and consequently refuse to engage in any meaningful dialogue, instead choosing to insult and belittle them.
“I am loyal to the people who elected me and whom I represent and you have no longer earned my loyalty.”
He was appointed as the first Reform organiser in County Durham around five years ago, but later stood down over concerns around the national leadership of the party.
“Since I rejoined those concerns have been magnified and I and others have now personally experienced a culture of yes-men and ‘anything goes’ running through every level of Reform UK – branch, county and nationally,” he added.
Cllr Brown was defeated in a leadership contest following May’s local elections, with Cllr Husband elected to lead the party at County Hall.
During his time as a councillor, he claimed to have spoken with several ‘core Reform voters’, who have lamented the progress of the council.
He added: “I have no ‘smoking gun’ as evidence but it is my very strongly held belief that this administration is deliberately not ‘rocking the boat’. A Reform administration serious about reform would be prepared to stand up to the vested interests within Durham County Council.”
But instead of questioning the upcoming medium term financial plan, Cllr Brown accused members of protecting the party’s reputation in Westminster.
Cllr Brown said: “Everything I have seen tells me that this is the current scenario and thus meaningful reform is off the table. You are Nigel’s Yes-men, on best behaviour lest your chance to become an MP be threatened.
“We have a huge mandate for Reform but I see no meaningful evidence of it.”
A revised 1.99 per cent council tax increase for County Durham households was supported by cabinet members this week, following a previous 3.1 per cent increase proposal.
Reform is now represented by 60 councillors after initially winning 65 seats at May’s election.
The party spokesperson added: “Reform UK is a party of high standards and hard work. Our residents expect—and deserve—representatives who are as committed to their wards as they were to their election campaigns.
“We remain fully focused on delivering our ambitious capital programme, tackling the Care Emergency, and ensuring every penny of taxpayer money is spent effectively. We make no apologies for demanding high standards; those who lack the commitment or work ethic required to represent Reform UK will naturally find themselves at odds with our leadership.”
Bill Edgar
Reporter for the Local Democracy Reporter Service.
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
South West Durham News covering news across County Durham.
Wanted a seat got if my,all he wanted used Reform
Well it all seems to have hinged on the fact that he, like his colleague, promised that the tofthill bypass would go ahead. The Reform leaders decided it wouldn’t and the £8 million remaining from the project would be used elsewhere. So that’s a principle right?
The project is £36m. I am no Carol Vorderman but £8m won’t build a bypass. Whilst we he was whining about losing the leadership, we are writing to mp’s to find a bypass THEY promised
Yeah he lost the leadership to me. He never accepted it, we never saw him.
Didn’t either bother to turn up to vote on the budget today. Good riddance.
It’s called democracy and is only news because he is a Reform councillor