Andrew Husband
Andrew Husband | |
|---|---|
| Leader of Durham County Council | |
| Assumed office 21 May 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Amanda Hopgood |
| Member of Durham County Council | |
| Assumed office 1 May 2025 | |
| Ward | Chester-le-Street North |
| Preceded by | Tracie Jane Smith |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1978 (age 47–48) |
| Party | Reform UK (since 2019) |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Known for | Leading Durham County Council from May 2025 |
Andrew John Husband is a British entrepreneur and politician who has served as the Reform UK Leader of Durham County Council and as Durham County Councillor for Chester-le-Street North since May 2025.
Early life
Husband was born and raised in Chester-le-Street.[1] He attended Gateshead College before studying for a business degree in Leeds which involved working in foreign countries including in the USA and Belgium.[2] He has previously worked in telesales and as a male model.[3][4]
Business career
When announced as the leader of Reform UK in Durham County Council, a party spokesman said Husband was "a business leader with a proven track record of growth in startups and building successful teams".[5][6] He previously owned the Red Lion in Plawsworth and the Coach and Horses in Croxdale.[7]
Husband set up United Hygiene and Catering Equipment, his first major business venture, in December 2015.[8] It was an equipment supplier for schools and hospitals. It entered creditors' voluntary liquidation in May 2023 with debts exceeding £1,000,000.[9] Liquidators reported there were insufficient funds to repay creditors or former employees.[8][9] Private Eye reported that the company supplied Durham County Council with 10,000 IIR surgical masks in March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic at a price it said was higher than the NHS average at the time. Husband disputed the comparison and said he had raised the matter with his lawyer.[10]
Later, in October 2016, Husband set up Restaurant Kitchen as an installer of industrial machinery and equipment.[8] The Sunday Times has reported Restaurant Kitchen contributed to the repayment of money owed by United Hygiene and Catering Equipment in what it called "an unusual arrangement".[3] Husband resigned as a director of Restaurant Kitchen in July 2022 before it entered liquidation in 2024 with debts of £279,000.[8][9][3]
UHC Leisure was incorporated in 2019 and traded as the Red Lion Hotel.[8][10] It too entered administration in July 2025, owing £446,926 to creditors.[8] Husband said UHC Leisure leased a pub and hotel in County Durham that was forced to close due to an electrical fire.[10][8] Husband was also previously a director of UHC Hotels until stepping down in April 2022. The company entered liquidation later the same year, owing debts of £85,000, including £13,000 to Durham County Council.[8][3][9]
Combined liabilities across Husband's companies are reportedly between £1.5 million and £1.7 million.[3][10][8] He has said he exited hospitality during the COVID-19 pandemic and blamed government economic policy at that time.[9][8] Following reporting on the companies, some political opponents called for Husband to resign as a councillor.[9][11] However, he denied any suggestion of wrongdoing and said many failures occurred after he left directorship positions.[9] He told newspapers he had generated about £20 million of new business from scratch over a decade.[9][8] Husband continues to work in several director positions across various finance and investment companies.[12][13]He was appointed director of his local governmental association in July 2026.[14]
Political career
Husband is a member of Nigel Farage's Reform UK party. He is a supporter of Farage, and said he provided him with a political home.[7]
2019 General Election
During the 2019 General Election, Husband ran as the Brexit Party (later renamed as Reform UK in 2021[15]) candidate for North Tyneside.[2] He gained 5,254 votes, a vote share of 10.4%, ultimately being unsuccessful in his bid to be elected as the constituency's MP.[16][17]
2024 General Election
In the 2024 General Election, Husband ran as the Reform candidate for the North Durham constituency.[18] He gained 10,689 votes while the Labour Party candidate, Luke Akehurst, gained 16,562 votes and was therefore elected as the MP for the constituency. Husband did, however, beat the Conservative Party candidate, George Carter, who received 6,492 votes.[19][20] Husband said Reform's gain in momentum in the election was due to the charisma of Nigel Farage and his ability to connect with the public as well as a focus on the cost of living crisis.[7]
2025 Local Elections
Husband stood as a candidate for Reform in the Chester-le-Street North ward in Durham County Council during the 2025 United Kingdom local elections.[21][22] Amid Reform making significant gains nationally during the local elections,[23] he was elected as one of two councillors for the ward after receiving 1,139 votes, 20.9% of the total number received.[24][25] On 14 May 2025, fellow councillors elected Husband as the leader of the Reform group of councillors in Durham County Council and as the leader of the council.[5][6] Before taking on the role, Husband said in an interview that he wanted to take considered, deliberate actions to provide the public with greater value for money.[26] He was formally appointed as the new leader of the council in its Annual Meeting on 21 May 2025, saying he wanted to "grasp the opportunity that people have given us to make a difference".[27]
Leader of Durham County Council
On 21 May 2025, the day on which Reform assumed full control of the council, it took down LGBTQ+ and Ukraine flags at the council headquarters, which were in solidarity with the Pride movement and Russo-Ukrainian War, respectively. This decision faced criticism, including from Liberal Democrat councillor Ellie Hopgood, Durham Pride chair Mel Metcalf, and Bishop Auckland Pride director Thomas Wales.[28][29][30]
After Reform set up a unit to scrutinise public spending, inspired by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Husband said the unit would be auditing Durham County Council in the future.[31] The Reform party leader, Nigel Farage, had previously said any of the council's staff working "on climate change initiatives or Diversity, Equity and Inclusion...better really be seeking alternative careers very, very quickly" after his party took control of the council.[32] Husband later downplayed Farage's comments, saying the party would take time to carefully review council data before taking any action.[31] However, on the day Reform took control of the council, it renamed several of its departments to remove references to climate change and equality and inclusion.[33]
In April 2026, ChronicleLive reported that Husband had used a homophobic slur on social media during an exchange with a local Labour Party group. While he and Reform declined to comment, Labour described the language as "damaging rhetoric".[34]
Views
Husband has made statements critical of COVID-19 vaccines. The Spectator and Byline Times reported that he had described mRNA vaccines as "the most dangerous product ever forced upon the public" and COVID vaccines as "the greatest crime against humanity".[35][36] The Times reported that Husband had called Charles III a "climate cracker" over his environmental advocacy.[37] The Northern Echo reported that he had described Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine during its war against Russia, as "evil and corrupt".[38]
References
- ↑ "Andrew Husband". Reform North Durham. Archived from the original on 12 August 2025. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
- 1 2 "I have put myself forward to hopefully make a difference". Chronicle Live. 6 December 2019. Archived from the original on 24 Jan 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Pogrund, Gabriel (3 January 2026). "Reform council leader's firms collapsed owing £1.5 million". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ "00355-26 Husband v The Sunday Times". IPSO. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
- 1 2 "County Durham Reform UK party elect leader as Andrew Husband". BBC News. 15 May 2025. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - 1 2 Edgar, Bill (15 May 2025). "Reform UK announces Durham leadership set to run county council". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - 1 2 3 Havery, Gavin (5 July 2024). "'Common sense' - Durham Reform candidate explains voter appeal of Nigel Farage". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Morris, Peter (26 August 2025). "Durham Reform leader's struggles in hospitality". North East Bylines. Archived from the original on 5 Jan 2026. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Edgar, Bill (6 January 2026). "Durham council leader defends huge business debts and blames 'bad government'". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - 1 2 3 4 Haynes, Olly (12 August 2025). "Bankrupt Firm of Reform UK's Waste-Busting Local Government Chief Owes Taxpayer £36,000". Byline Times. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ "Durham Council Leader Facing calls to Step Down after His Business Collapses Owing Huge Debts". The Teesside & Durham Post. 5 January 2026. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
- ↑ "Andrew HUSBAND personal appointments - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
- ↑ "Andrew John HUSBAND personal appointments - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
- ↑ "Andrew John HUSBAND personal appointments - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 2026-08-18.
- ↑ "Nigel Farage's Brexit Party officially changes its name". BBC News. 6 January 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ "Tyneside North parliamentary constituency - Election 2019 - BBC News". BBC News. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ "2019 General Election results - PA". Press Association. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ Edgar, Bill (23 June 2024). "General Election: North Durham candidates outline their campaigns". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ "North Durham - General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ Whitfield, Graeme (5 July 2024). "North Durham general election results 2024 in full". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ Edgar, Bill (29 April 2025). "Full list of candidates standing in Durham County Council election". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ Edgar, Bill (10 April 2025). "Durham County Council local elections 2025 - full list of election candidates". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ Seddon, Paul (2 May 2025). "Reform UK makes big gains in English local elections". BBC News. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ "Durham County election results - 1 May 2025". Durham County Council. 1 May 2025. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ Younger, Owen (2 May 2025). "County Durham local election results 2025 in full". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ Edgar, Bill (18 May 2025). "Meet Andrew Husband - the new leader set to run Durham County Council". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ "News-Council appoints new Leader". Durham County Council. 21 May 2025. Archived from the original on 16 June 2025. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
- ↑ Edgar, Bill (21 May 2025). "Pride and Ukraine flags at Reform-led Durham County Council removed". BBC News. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ Bilalova, Pamela (23 May 2025). "Durham Pride vows to protect event after Reform council removes flag". BBC News. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ Foster, Adam (28 May 2025). "Reform UK respond after party criticised for taking down Pride flag at Durham Council". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - 1 2 Edgar, Bill (4 June 2025). "Reform UK 'Doge' team set to review council spending in County Durham". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ "Farage tells diversity and climate staff to 'find alternative careers' after County Durham majority". ITV News. 2 May 2025. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ Bilalova, Pamela; Edgar, Bill (21 May 2025). "Durham County Council departments renamed as Reform UK takes charge". BBC News. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ Younger, Owen (24 April 2026). "Reform council leader uses homophobic slur three times in social media row". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- ↑ Steerpike (28 June 2024). "Full list: every controversial Reform candidate". The Spectator. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ Haynes, Olly (20 March 2024). "Reform Parliamentary Candidate Who Shared Racist Content Resigns After Questions by Byline Times". Byline Times.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ Scott, Geraldine (1 July 2024). "Reform candidate ranted about women and said Sturgeon should be shot". The Times. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ Edgar, Bill (15 May 2025). "Who is Andrew Husband? Durham Reform leader interested in 'common sense' politics". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)