Reform UK council to hold second by-election

Reform UK took control of Durham County Council after 65 councillors were elected in May

A second by-election is to be held at a newly led Reform UK council, just a month after the party swept to power.

Reform secured a landslide victory in May, winning 65 seats across County Durham to take control of the county council.

Easington and Shotton councillor John Bailey has announced his resignation due to ill health.

It comes after former Benfieldside member Andrew Kilburn was forced to resign for failing to declare he was employed by the local authority. A by-election will be held there on 3 July.

National legislation means council employees are disqualified from standing as councillors simultaneously.

John Bailey, pictured with fellow Easington and Shotton Reform UK councillor Louise Taylor, during May's election victory

Confirmation of Bailey's resignation was delivered on Monday, as his councillor profile page was removed from Durham County Council's website.

Reform won all three of the available seats within the East Durham ward during May's ballot. Bailey came top with 1,849 votes ahead of party colleagues Howard Brown and Louise Taylor.

A party spokesman said: "We are deeply saddened to learn of Mr Bailey's resignation as a result of a serious health issue.

"We are immensely grateful for him stepping forward to make a difference in his community.

"We wish John and his family the very best during this difficult time."

Bailey previously represented the Liberal Democrats but resigned from the party in 2009 due to "irreconcilable differences" and later represented the former Crook North ward as an Independent.

A by-election is expected to be held for the vacancy later this summer, the Local Democracy Reporting Service understands.