Durham County Council's Reform deputy leader, Darren Grimes, has been criticised by local councillors and an MP for using an AI-generated image by him in a blog about other councils shipping families to the region. The Liberal Democrat opposition leader, Amanda Hopgood, described it as "nothing short of disgusting". Green Party councillors claimed it was aimed at sowing racial hatred. Grimes responded by saying critics should focus on County Durham's problems rather than AI's use of it. He previously stated that the image was used for illustrative purposes and did not affect social housing waiting lists.