Photo: Robert Graham · CC BY-SA 2.0No party holds a majority on Darlington Borough Council
Darlington is run by Darlington Borough Council. No party holds a majority on Darlington Borough Council. Its MP is Lola McEvoy (Labour), member for Darlington.
£2,486
Band D, a year, the middle band every council sets its tax from.
Where it goes →How Darlington’s politics has changed since 2021
No majority on Darlington Borough Council
Labour, the largest group, holds 23 of its 50 seats as elected, 3 short of the 26 needed. The Conservatives hold 15, the Greens 7, the Liberal Democrats 3, independents 1 and Reform UK 1. Who’s in charge ↓
Council tax
A Band D bill in Darlington is £2,486 for 2026–27; Darlington Borough Council keeps 83% of it. The council area’s Band D has risen 58% in ten years, against England’s 56%. Council money ↓
Written from the data on this page: Democracy Club results since May 2021, the UK Parliament Members API and MHCLG council tax.
No party has a majority
Seats by party as elected. A party needs 26 of Darlington’s 50 seats to run the council alone.
- Labour23
- Conservative15
- Green7
- Liberal Democrat3
- Independent1
- Reform UK1
Latest election: May 2023.
Seats are counted from election results: each ward’s most recent winners until its seats are filled. Councillors who have since changed party or resigned aren’t reflected, and which parties lead the council, and who is leader, comes from the council itself.
Results: Democracy Club (CC BY 4.0), elections since May 2021; seats per ward from its EveryElection.
The councils that run Darlington
One council runs every main service here.
Every main council service: schools, social care, roads, bins, planning, housing and libraries.
Website ↗Transport, skills and regeneration across several council areas. It is led by an elected mayor.
Mayor: Ben Houchen (Conservative), elected May 2024
Who to ask
From GOV.UK’s “Understand how your council works”: here one council runs every main service.
98% of Darlington is unparished: there is no parish or town council, so the council runs local matters itself and no parish precept is added to the bill.
Councils from ONS lookups (wards and councils May 2026, parishes 2025), names and websites from GOV.UK’s local council finder; parish councils from MHCLG’s 2026–27 list of precepting parishes.
From the council to Westminster
Every elected tier that speaks for Darlington, from the most recent elections.
- 1Darlington Borough Council17 wards · 43 councillorsLabour 24 · Conservative 8 · Green 7 · Liberal Democrat 3 · Independent 1 · Reform UK 1 · all 44
- 2Mayor of Tees Valley Combined AuthorityTees Valley Combined Authority · elected May 2024Ben Houchen
- 3Police and crime commissionerDurham Constabulary · elected May 2024Joy Allen
- 4House of CommonsDarlington
Party colours are neutral on purpose: they tell parties apart and aren’t the parties’ own. Tap an MP’s name for their contact page on parliament.uk.
43 councillors for 17 wards
Wards with at least 2% of the town’s residents, or half their own inside it. Each shows who won its most recent elections, newest first, until its seats are filled.
- Libby McCollomLabour · May 2023
- Michael Robert NicholsonLabour · May 2023
- Matthew RocheLabour · May 2023
- Helen CrumbieLabour · May 2023
- David Jeffrey RayLabour · May 2023
- Andrew Graham AndersonLabour · May 2023
- Rebecca Elizabeth BakerLabour · May 2023
- David Joseph BeckettLabour · May 2023
- Scott DurhamConservative · May 2023
- Roz HendersonGreen · May 2023
- Anna-Maria TomsGreen · May 2023
- Richard LawleyGreen · May 2023
- Kevin NicholsonIndependent · May 2023
- Jonathan DulstonConservative · May 2023
- Joe DillonLabour · May 2023
- Jan CossinsLabour · May 2023
- Jim GarnerLabour · May 2023
- Neil JohnsonLabour · May 2023
- Chris McEwanLabour · May 2023
- Nick WallisLabour · May 2023
- Dawn StorrLabour · May 2023
- Anne-Marie CurryLiberal Democrat · May 2023
- Hilary AllenLiberal Democrat · May 2023
- James CoeLiberal Democrat · May 2023
- Steve HarkerLabour · May 2023
- Mary LaytonLabour · May 2023
- James Stephen McGillLabour · May 2023
- Ian G HaszeldineLabour · May 2023
- Mohammad Romalus MahmudLabour · May 2023
- Michael Alan WalkerReform UK · December 2025 · by-election
- Mandy PorterLabour · May 2023
- Amanda Louise RileyLabour · May 2023
- Matthew SnedkerGreen · May 2023
- Bryony Hannah HolroydGreen · May 2023
The other 5 wards
- Heather ScottConservative · May 2023
- Bob DonoghueConservative · May 2023
- Sonia Elizabeth KaneLabour · May 2023
- Syeda Sajna Begum AliLabour · May 2023
- Jamie BartchConservative · May 2023
- Andy KeirConservative · May 2023
- Pauline CulleyConservative · May 2023
- Alan James MarshallConservative · May 2023
- Thomas Julian RobinsonGreen · May 2023
- Kate MammolottiGreen · May 2023
Show as a table
| Ward | Seats | Elected | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park Eastall in Darlington · 7,591 residents3 seats · May 2023 | 3 | Libby McCollomMichael Robert NicholsonMatthew Roche | May 2023 |
| Bank Top & Lascellesall in Darlington · 7,102 residents3 seats · May 2023 | 3 | Helen CrumbieDavid Jeffrey RayAndrew Graham Anderson | May 2023 |
| Brinkburn & Faverdaleall in Darlington · 6,833 residents3 seats · May 2023 | 3 | Rebecca Elizabeth BakerDavid Joseph BeckettScott Durham | May 2023 |
| Harrowgate Hillall in Darlington · 6,469 residents3 seats · May 2023 | 3 | Roz HendersonAnna-Maria TomsRichard Lawley | May 2023 |
| Eastbourneall in Darlington · 6,361 residents3 seats · May 2023 | 3 | Kevin NicholsonJonathan DulstonJoe Dillon | May 2023 |
| Cockertonall in Darlington · 6,325 residents3 seats · May 2023 | 3 | Jan CossinsJim GarnerNeil Johnson | May 2023 |
| Haughton & Springfieldall in Darlington · 6,312 residents3 seats · May 2023 | 3 | Chris McEwanNick WallisDawn Storr | May 2023 |
| North Roadall in Darlington · 6,213 residents3 seats · May 2023 | 3 | Anne-Marie CurryHilary AllenJames Coe | May 2023 |
| Pierremontall in Darlington · 5,843 residents3 seats · May 2023 | 3 | Steve HarkerMary LaytonJames Stephen McGill | May 2023 |
| Stephensonall in Darlington · 4,839 residents2 seats · May 2023 | 2 | Ian G HaszeldineMohammad Romalus Mahmud | May 2023 |
| Red Hall & Lingfieldall in Darlington · 4,669 residents2 seats · December 2025, May 2023 | 2 | Michael Alan Walkerby-electionMandy PorterAmanda Louise Riley | December 2025, May 2023 |
| Collegeall in Darlington · 4,286 residents2 seats · May 2023 | 2 | Matthew SnedkerBryony Hannah Holroyd | May 2023 |
The other 5 wards
| Ward | Seats | Elected | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park Westall in Darlington · 4,262 residents2 seats · May 2023 | 2 | Heather ScottBob Donoghue | May 2023 |
| Northgateall in Darlington · 4,145 residents2 seats · May 2023 | 2 | Sonia Elizabeth KaneSyeda Sajna Begum Ali | May 2023 |
| Whinfieldall in Darlington · 3,834 residents2 seats · May 2023 | 2 | Jamie BartchAndy Keir | May 2023 |
| Mowdenall in Darlington · 3,817 residents2 seats · May 2023 | 2 | Pauline CulleyAlan James Marshall | May 2023 |
| Hummersknottall in Darlington · 3,700 residents2 seats · May 2023 | 2 | Thomas Julian RobinsonKate Mammolotti | May 2023 |
Councillors can resign, change party or sit as independents between elections; a by-election winner replaces someone not named here. Darlington Borough Council’s website lists who sits now.
Results from Democracy Club’s candidates database (CC BY 4.0; elections since May 2021) and ward seats from its EveryElection, matched to ONS wards (May 2026) and county divisions (May 2025).
Darlington council election, May 2023
Results in the wards that make up Darlington, as declared. Percentages are of votes cast for candidates in each ward; where a ward elects several councillors, each voter has that many votes.
17 wards voted. Every seat in the town’s wards was up.
No election is scheduled yet for Darlington’s wards in Democracy Club’s list. Councils publish a notice of election about five weeks before polling day.
Who can I vote for? ↗3,791 votes for candidates · 3 seats, so 3 votes each
3,147 votes for candidates · 3 seats, so 3 votes each
5,947 votes for candidates · 3 seats, so 3 votes each
Every ward’s result (14 more)
5,496 votes for candidates · 3 seats, so 3 votes each
3,893 votes for candidates · 3 seats, so 3 votes each
3,994 votes for candidates · 3 seats, so 3 votes each
4,728 votes for candidates · 3 seats, so 3 votes each
3,183 votes for candidates · 3 seats, so 3 votes each
4,363 votes for candidates · 3 seats, so 3 votes each
1,821 votes for candidates · 2 seats, so 2 votes each
2,018 votes for candidates · 2 seats, so 2 votes each
3,748 votes for candidates · 2 seats, so 2 votes each
3,577 votes for candidates · 2 seats, so 2 votes each
1,350 votes for candidates · 2 seats, so 2 votes each
2,657 votes for candidates · 2 seats, so 2 votes each
2,986 votes for candidates · 2 seats, so 2 votes each
3,702 votes for candidates · 2 seats, so 2 votes each
Candidates and results: Democracy Club (CC BY 4.0), from councils’ declared results; polling dates from Democracy Club’s EveryElection.
Darlington is in Darlington constituency
The constituency’s MP and the 4 July 2024 general election, the whole constituency’s result.
42,378 votes for candidates · majority 2,298
Labour, MP since 4 July 2024.
turnout in July 2024: 42,378 votes from 70,672 registered voters. England: 60%.
Majority 2,298 of 42,378 votes (5.4%): the 105th-narrowest of 543 in England.
MPs and results: UK Parliament Members API (Open Parliament Licence v3.0); constituencies from ONS (2024 boundaries). Percentages are of valid votes; turnout is votes cast over the electorate.
Darlington’s Band D council tax is £2,486 a year
Where a Band D bill goes, what it has cost over the years, and what the councils plan to spend per resident.
Darlington Borough Council keeps £2,056.87 of a Band D bill (83%); the rest goes to the Durham police and crime commissioner and the Durham Fire and Rescue Authority.
Band D since 1993
Darlington’s Band D bill has risen 58% in ten years, from £1,579.21 in 2016–17, against England’s average (56%). It was £588.38 in 1993–94.
Your bill by band
A Band D home in the unparished part of Darlington, 2026–27, before discounts. The Valuation Office Agency’s band search gives any home’s band.
County Durham’s councils
Average Band D in each council area, 2026–27, parish precepts included. Bars start at £2,300.
Council budgets per resident, 2026–27
Show as a table, with County Durham
| Darlington | Darlington’s councils | County Durham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult social care | £510 | £443 | £487 |
| Children’s social care | £384 | £394 | £290 |
| Roads and transport | £59 | £48 | £41 |
| Housing (not council homes’ rents) | £31 | £36 | £61 |
| Bins, street cleaning, environment | £118 | £125 | £119 |
| Libraries, leisure, culture | £68 | £65 | £44 |
| Planning and development | £13 | £23 | £26 |
| Public health | £103 | £116 | £78 |
| Running the council | £85 | £57 | £59 |
| Other | £-15 | £33 | £19 |
| Total, schools apart | £1,356 | £1,340 | £1,234 |
Net budgeted service spending, MHCLG Revenue Account budget 2026–27, per resident (ONS mid-2025 estimates). Schools are left out: academies are paid for directly by government, so council school budgets depend on how many schools have converted. County Durham and England: all their councils together. Police, fire and transport authorities aren’t included.
Band D: MHCLG Band D council tax 2026–27 (each authority’s own figure, excluding parish precepts) and Council Tax statistics for town and parish councils 2026–27; since 1993–94, MHCLG’s area averages including parishes.
Having a say in how Darlington is run
It takes about five minutes online; the deadline is 12 working days before a poll.
gov.uk ↗Type a postcode to write to each of its councillors and its MP.
WriteToThem ↗GOV.UK sends the report to the council that looks after the road.
gov.uk ↗Council and committee meetings are open to the public, with agendas and minutes online.
darlington.gov.uk ↗Anyone can comment while an application is open for consultation.
darlington.gov.uk ↗The rules, nomination papers and guidance for council candidates.
Electoral Commission ↗Questions about how Darlington is run
Does Darlington have a town council?
No. Darlington is unparished, so there is no town or parish council and no parish precept.
Who is the MP for Darlington?
Lola McEvoy (Labour) is the MP for Darlington, which covers Darlington.
How many councillors does Darlington have?
43 ward councillors represent Darlington’s 17 wards.
When are the next elections in Darlington?
No election is scheduled yet in Democracy Club’s list for Darlington’s wards. The next UK general election must be held by August 2029.
How much is council tax in Darlington?
Band D council tax in Darlington is £2,486 for 2026–27. Your bill depends on your home’s band, from A (6/9 of Band D) to H (18/9).
Who controls Darlington Borough Council?
No party has a majority. As elected, Labour 23 · Conservative 15 · Green 7 · Liberal Democrat 3 · Independent 1 · Reform UK 1 of 50 seats; a majority needs 26. The council’s website lists who leads it now.
Who won the 2023 council election in Darlington?
In Darlington’s wards on 4 May 2023, Labour 24 · Conservative 8 · Green 7 · Liberal Democrat 3 · Independent 1 of the 43 seats up. Labour had the largest share of votes, 38.2%.
Sources: ONS ward, county division, parish, constituency lookups (Census 2021 output areas; Open Government Licence v3.0) · GOV.UK local council finder · Democracy Club candidates (CC BY 4.0) and EveryElection · UK Parliament Members API (Open Parliament Licence v3.0) · MHCLG Band D council tax, parish precepts and Revenue Account budgets 2026–27 (OGL v3.0) · ONS mid-2025 population estimates. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.