EXCLUSIVE: Local police have rejected the Reform UK deputy council leader’s claim that they advised him not to meet his constituents
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage (right) and Darren Grimes whilst on the local election campaign trail at Durham Garden at South Causey Inn in Stanley, Durham. Photo: PA Images / Alamy
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Reform UK’s Darren Grimes faces allegations of misleading voters, after he claimed police had advised him not to hold local surgeries with his constituents – only for the police to tell Byline Times this was untrue.
One Durham resident contacted the new Reform UK Deputy Leader of Durham County Council and former GB News host, in order to request assistance in addressing parking problems in his ward
He asked Grimes: “Can you confirm surgery dates and any public meetings where this [issue] will be covered?”
Cllr Grimes, a former GB News presenter, and prominent activist, told the voter: “To be honest I am still figuring out how to go about that at this moment. The police have advised me not to conduct such events due to security concerns, which I do not want to do.”
“I’ll get back to you if [a Reform colleague] and I do get one set up.”
Cllr Grimes’s claim that police advised him not to hold public meetings due to unspecified security concerns aroused the voter’s suspicion.
The man challenged the excuse, pointing out that local politicians hold similar meetings without major issues. He told this paper that he felt the councillor was avoiding accountability to voters.
He then approached the Durham Police and Crime Commissioner (PPC) about the claim of being advised to not hold surgeries over security risks.
A senior PCC spokesperson for Joy Allen, Durham Police & Crime Commissioner, told the constituent: “The Police have not [their emphasis] advised councillors not to hold surgeries in the community. They would only do this in exceptional circumstances i.e. if there was a specific risk identified.”
A spokesperson for Durham Constabulary confirmed this to Byline Times, saying: “No, we have not told councillors they should not hold in-person surgeries for security reasons.”
Grimes’ constituent believes Darren Grimes’ security concerns are a “lie” and that the councillor simply doesn’t want to hold face-to-face meetings with voters. Darren Grimes did not respond to a request for comment.
One Durham councillor, who asked not to be named, told this outlet: “I’ve never had that sort of advice from a police officer…When you’re actually elected and you’re just getting on with the job of being a councillor, there’s much less concern over those things [than during elections]. So I’d be very surprised if the police had advised that surgery didn’t take place.
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“They might have made some recommendations on how to do them safely. But yes, it’s very unlikely that they would have advised not to do them.”
The opposition councillor added: “He’d have somebody with him normally, and that’s what anyone that’s what we’d recommend any councillor did – not to do it on their own. That’s the principal safeguarding measure. The police are fantastic when it comes to looking after the wellbeing of elected people. They’re proactive.”
Last week, Byline Times revealed that Cllr Grimes failed to list being a member of any political organisations on his register of interests.
That’s despite Grimes proudly declaring on X that he is a member of the right-wing Free Speech Union last August – and of course, being a member of Reform UK.
The former GB News host is among a series of newly-elected Reform councillors who appear to have left basic information off of their registers of interest
Josiah Mortimer
Following Byline Times’ story, Cllr Grimes’ register of interests was updated to include his membership of Reform UK and the Free Speech Union.
As Byline Times previously revealed, in 2024 Grimes was slammed by anti-hate groups after publishing posts on his X account featuring AI-generated images of Labour leader Keir Starmer wearing Islamic dress and standing alongside Muslim women. One had the message “July 5th 2024.”
Grimes left GB News in March this year, ahead of standing for Reform in the May elections. He had a tumultuous time at the channel, including facing misconduct allegations.
The same week as leaving GB News, Grimes founded ‘DDog Media Ltd’ in nearby Newcastle, a firm which provides “media representation services” according to Companies House records. It is listed elsewhere as a marketing consultancy.
With thanks to readers and council staff for story tips. Keep them coming. Do you live in a Reform-run council area? Get in touch in confidence on josiah@bylinetimes.com
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