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Reform UK’s deputy leader on Durham Council, Darren Grimes, is the subject of an official complaint after speaking as a representative of “your Reform county council” in a video that uses fake AI footage of Keir Starmer at the helm of an asylum boat.
In the video on 8 August, the former GB News presenter, who was recently appointed to the party’s national organising board, appears to prejudge an active criminal trial, and attacks those who might complain about his anti-migrant videos.
He speaks to “residents of Durham as one of Reform‘s county councillors” in the video – suggesting he is speaking in a professional capacity as deputy leader of the Reform stronghold, controlled by the party since May.
The video features an AI-generated video of Starmer leading a boat of asylum seekers, with no indication that it was made with video manipulation software.
In the video Grimes talks about the safety of “when our women and girls walked our streets” – using a video of white women in swimwear from the circa-1950s, apparently in contrast to Britain now, with foreign asylum seekers supposedly threatening women’s safety.
The former GB News presenter was previously subject to a sexual harassment complaint while at the broadcaster. Grimes was alleged to to have swarmed a straight young male colleague with “incessant” calls, and messages in which he called him “angel”, and made unwelcome invitations to his hotel room, as Byline Times reported.
Grimes has been repeatedly contacted to comment on the allegations.
In the 8 August video, Grimes also talks of “Sudanese deviants”, Labour being “demented sheep” for promoting diversity, and talks about the active court case of an asylum seeker for alleged sexual offences as representing the “violation of children” by migrants (despite no verdict being given yet). He also mocks those who would complain about his video.
Grimes says: “If you’re a Labour or Lib Dem watching this, thinking ‘oh I want to complain about Old Grimesy getting on his high horse’…I’ll get loads of complaints for saying this by the way. I’ll be hauled in front of all sorts of committees for being willing to speak truth to the powers that be…What horrors have been unleashed because of this inaction?”
He goes on to reference cases of asylum seekers and refugees being accused of sexual assault, ignoring recent cases like an all-white grooming gang being found guilty this April for preying on underage girls, or a (white) former Conservative sex offender who recently joined Reform.
Byline Times asked if the video was acceptable for the council’s deputy leader – speaking in that capacity or otherwise – and if it is being investigated by the council, and was told by a Durham County Council spokesperson: “We are looking into a complaint regarding a Facebook video in line with our code of conduct procedure.”
This outlet has seen a complaint made to the council about Grimes’ video.
It states: “Firstly, the member is posting as a DCC councillor…While invoking Council authority, he uses a fabricated/AI image of the Prime Minister, apparently smiling with glee on a “small boat” with refugees, while he (Grimes) talks about ‘clowns in Westminster cooked up the rules [allowing] smaller HMOs’, and ‘unchecked arrivals from cultures that couldn’t give a flying flamingo about our values’.
“Later on in the clip [he says]: ‘Labour’s complicit elite who bleat on like demented sheep about diversity while our daughters dodge danger every single day on our own streets’. He also makes a negative comment about people who might choose to complain about his video.”
The complainant, who asked to remain anonymous, adds: “In my view, this breaches [the council’s] respect/civility requirements. Members must ‘always treat people with respect’, and avoid personal attacks; debate should be ‘robust but civil’. The use of a falsified image of the PM in this context is disrespectful and inflammatory…
“Members ‘must not bring the role of Member or the local authority into disrepute.’ Using manipulated media while speaking as [from] “your…council” to influence a live consultation risks undermining public confidence in the Council.”
The complaint adds: “It’s inconsistent with the Council’s Social Media Guidance, which emphasises the Nolan Principles (Openness, Accountability, Leadership) and warns that the Code applies to any account linked to a councillor; the most common issues are disrespect and bringing the Council into disrepute. The guidance further stresses being professional, respectful and polite online.
“And let’s not forget that he is deputy leader, which one might expect demands even higher standards.”
The council has so far refused to allow at least one complaint on the issue, as they have been told they cannot remain anonymous unless in “exceptional” circumstances.
The complainant tells Byline Times: “For me, this is becoming as big an issue as the original complaint. Essentially, anonymous whistleblowing isn’t allowed. Only those who are prepared to risk a backlash are admitted to complain.”
Grimes was also this week the subject of a police visit after posting a video on his X account of his brother on a boat trip in Scarborough. The video includes a number of non-white people, including children.
As reported here, in the caption, Grime said: “I had to ask him if he was on a dinghy to Dover, but then I realised there are women and children on board.”
Grimes was accused by Labour North East Mayor Kim McGuinness of “just inciting racism and hate”. He received a police visit but the local force has said no further action will be taken.
Grimes was contacted for comment.
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