What Durham’s Funding Boost from Labour Really Means

There’s been a lot of noise this week about the new funding settlement for County Durham. Some people — Darren Grimes included — are claiming it’s a “punishment beating”, “not new money”, or some kind of stitch‑up because the area didn’t vote the “right” way.

Let’s cut through the drama and look at what actually happened.

Durham’s Been Short‑Changed for Years

Most council funding doesn’t come from council tax — only about a quarter does. The rest comes from government formulas. And for over a decade, those formulas hammered places like Durham.

Even Rishi Sunak admitted on camera that he changed the rules to send more money to wealthier southern areas. Meanwhile, Durham lost around 60% of its funding.

That’s why services have been stretched to breaking point.

This Week’s Settlement Finally Reverses That

The new national settlement is the first in years to put money back into deprived and rural areas. Durham’s County Council’s Core Spending Power will rise by 27% over four years — around £170 million.

Under the last Conservative multi‑year settlement, Durham County Council got just 4% over four years. That’s the comparison that matters.

This uplift is real, it’s new, and it’s long overdue.

So What About Darren Grimes’ Claims?

“It’s not new money.”

It is. The government’s own documents describe it as a major funding injection.

“Southern councils do better.”

They don’t. The biggest increases go to the most deprived areas — including County Durham.  County Durham’s £170m three‑year settlement—about £316 per resident—is far larger than allocations to southern councils of similar size. High‑need areas such as Cornwall receive comparable per‑capita gains, while affluent counties like Buckinghamshire and Wiltshire see only £0–£150 per head and may even face net losses. The new funding formula shifts resources toward deprived communities, leaving lower‑need southern shires reliant on council tax or static budgets. Mid‑need areas such as Somerset receive modest increases but well below Durham’s uplift. Overall, Durham’s settlement marks a major reversal after years of cuts, contrasting with tighter settlements across many southern counties.

“It’s a punishment for Reform voters.”

There’s no evidence of that at all. The formula is needs‑based, not party‑based.

“It won’t fix everything.”

True — no settlement will. Children’s services and social care are under pressure everywhere. But this is the first settlement in years that even tries to address the gap.

Why the Misinformation?

Because it’s easier to shout “betrayal” than explain funding formulas. It’s easier to wave a flag than fix a bus route. And it’s easier to blame “London” than admit the last decade’s cuts did the real damage.

But flying flags won’t cut it. Facts will.

The Bottom Line for Bishop Auckland

You don’t have to like any political party to see what’s in front of you:

• Durham was hammered for years.
• The formulas have finally been corrected.
• The uplift is real.
• It gives the County Council room to repair services that have been on life support.

People here know the difference between noise and reality. This settlement won’t solve everything overnight — but it’s the first step forward we’ve had in a long time.