Durand’s nabob father had been Member for Seaford on the Treasury interest in the Parliament of 1780. He himself purchased some property there and stood with John Leach in 1796, but was defeated. He had joined the Whig Club, 7 Feb. 1792. He persevered at Seaford and hoped to come in at a second attempt ‘by the mere dint of money’, selling his Carshalton property in 1800; but found his prospects poor. Accordingly he agreed, 20 Feb. 1802, to sell out to John Leach (acting as a broker for Lord Pelham and Charles Rose Ellis) for 3,500 guineas after the general election, keeping up a pretence of candidature until two days before the election so as to discourage other adventurers. He gave up earlier than agreed and subsequently made difficulties about the sale of his Seaford property, but it was completed in November 1803.
Durand was returned for Maidstone at the head of the poll in 1802, on the Whig interest. By one account he was picked up in a London coffee house by a deputation from there in quest of a candidate.