We will listen - First Liberal Democrat and woman elected as leader of Durham council chroniclelive.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from chroniclelive.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Labour Councillor Katie Corrigan leaves after serving as chairman of Durham County Council. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT FOUNDATIONS of an unlikely new political structure have been laid after Labour’s once rock-solid support across County Durham crumbled. A seismic political earthquake, one almost impossible to overstate, has exposed fault lines in public opinion and Wednesday’s historic county council meeting cemented in place a new cross-party alliance. Rival leaders outmanoeuvred the existing ruling party when Labour lost its majority in elections earlier this month and former council chief Simon Henig stood down. Agreements between Liberal Democrats, Conservatives and three separate independent groups, meant Labour’s 53 councillors were left without allies to help them achieve the majority of 64 they needed to retain control of Durham County Council.
First Liberal Democrat and female Durham County Council leader expected to be elected
Councillor Amanda Hopgood is due to be elected leader designate of the local authority
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The first Liberal Democrat and female leader of Durham County Council is expected to be elected this week.
Durham County Councillor Carl Marshall GROUNDWORK for 30,000 new jobs will be destabilised if a new political alliance takes control of the region’s largest authority, Labour has claimed. Tories have agreed to work with Liberal Democrats and independent councillors on Durham County Council to keep Labour from forming the next administration. But Carl Marshall, leader of the County Durham Labour Group, has warned the move could harm progress on existing projects designed to stimulate the post-Covid local economy. He complained that Labour was excluded from talks after losing 14 seats in the recent local elections. Cllr Marshall said: “Labour’s first and only priority at this moment in time is to play our part in creating a council that delivers for the people and businesses of County Durham.