Darlington local elections 2023: Parties battle for power

The political landscape in Darlington experienced a seismic shift in 2019 when the Conservatives gained control of the council for the first time in 40 years. Even though their majority is small - it has had to rely on cross-party support after a ‘no overall control’ result was returned - any new gains will increase its power. 

Yet there is also a possibility of a power shift back to Labour, who hope to capitalise on a dwindling Conservative vote share seen elsewhere in the UK. The 2019 election loss was a hammer blow for the party, locally and nationally, and paved the way for the Tory Teesside takeover with Boris Johnson at the helm. 

Local elections are often described as the most important elections of all, and hailed as the ones that make a real difference to communities and residents. While all parties have pledged to crackdown on anti-social behaviour, clean up communities and improve transport, the Government’s decision to build a new Treasury campus in the town has thrust it into the national spotlight on a weekly basis and provides an extra incentive for Darlington’s future. 

Read more: Voter ID reminder for residents ahead of Darlington local elections

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak with Darlington Council leader Jonathan Dulston (far left), Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen (far right) and Darlington MP Peter Gibson (second from left) in Firthmoor during a visit to Darlington (Image: PA)

Conservatives hope Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s regular visits to the town - at the Indoor Market, Treasury campus or at a community centre - will boost their campaign and is proof of levelling up. Mr Sunak recently visited Firthmoor as part of the Tories campaign ahead of the local elections and focused on his party’s ambition to fix ailing roads, as he was photographed pointing at a pothole and standing at a bus stop alongside local Tory members - two key issues which all parties have identified that need improving. 

Current Council Leader Jonathan Dulston said his party’s 22 members has helped shake up the council and has allowed it to take a different approach to other leaderships, with newer and fresher faces entering local politics. “Our ambition is to get full control of the council because that will unlock even more potential for what we want to do and where we want to take Darlington,” he said. 

Labour members at the launch of their election campaign (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Meanwhile, Labour insists it has ‘changed for the better’ after being voted out in 2019, ending its 22 years in control. Its campaign was boosted by a visit from Deputy leader Angela Rayner on the doorstep earlier this week, as they hope to improve the lives of every resident, which the party says have been neglected by the current administration.

Members have criticised a lack of progress or improvement and aims to improve livelihoods throughout the town by providing: help with the cost-of-living crisis; a healthier and greener Darlington; safer communities; better transport for all; and a better-run council. 

“Labour has changed for the better and we’re ready to make Darlington better than ever before,” leader Stephen Harker said. “Our drive and determination is to make sure we provide opportunities for everybody wherever they’re from and whatever they do.”

Read next: 

• Conservatives launch 2023 election campaign
• Labour launch 2023 election campaign
• Liberal Democrats launch 2023 election campaign
• Green Party launches 2023 local election campaign

We need a radical solution': Darlington Liberal Democrats launch election campaign (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Green Party members hope for more seats in May (Image: Sarah Caldecott)

Hoping to gain further foothold in the council chamber, the Liberal Democrats and Green Party have published ambitious manifesto which propose widespread changes across the town, from protecting green space and woodland areas to changing the council structure. Although the Lib Dems received the smallest vote share of the four main parties in 2019, three councillors were elected with healthy majorities. 

The Green Party has identified four key wards in the north and west of the town as it looks to build on the success of the previous election, where its two councillors were elected for the first time. And then there are the three independent candidates, who received significant support in 2019, but hope to retain their posts after four years of fervent community work. 

With the next General Election likely to be held in 2024 next month’s local elections will be a significant indication of how future leadership of the region and UK will look in the future.