EVERYONE walking into the council chamber for yesterday's leadership election knew they were about to witness a dramatic turning point in Stoke-on-Trent's political history.

But few could have guessed just how fundamental the resulting shift in power would turn out to be.

The annual council meeting had begun with a Labour elected mayor at the head of a Labour-led coalition.

But it ended with the election of a Tory council leader who was handed power by Labour councillors.

Conservative and Independent Alliance leader Ross Irving, who heads a group with just nine members, had never been favourite to win the full-council ballot, which was widely expected to see Labour leader Mike Barnes and City Independent Group leader Brian Ward, vying for supremacy.

With a potential 61 votes to be cast, including elected Mayor Mark Meredith's, the first round in the knock-out secret ballot saw Mr Irving take a slender lead over Mr Ward.

Potteries Alliance leader Peter Kent-Baguley, below third left, fell at the first hurdle, with just six votes.

Then, after the second round, the eight BNP members present walked out when group leader Alby Walker, below right, finished last.

Mr Walker said the group felt there was no point in playing any further part in the proceedings as they could not back any of the three remaining candidates.

He said: "Our political differences are so vast that we feel we cannot vote for any other candidates and we don't believe any of them can unite the council."

However, by withdrawing from the election, rather than throwing their weight behind Mr Ward as many had expected, the BNP virtually decided the outcome.

When Mr Barnes secured just nine votes in the third round, Labour gave up their fruitless cause and backed Mr Irving.

The extra eight BNP votes would have catapulted Mr Ward into power, but their absence left him powerless to respond to the late surge in support for his opponent.

The final count was 26 votes for Mr Irving and 21 for Mr Ward, with two spoiled ballot papers and 12 councillors absent. The newly-elected leader immediately vowed to include all political groups – except the BNP – in building on the council's achievements over the past three years.

He said: "I will work with all members present in this chamber today to ensure that the city progresses on the successes achieved under Mark Meredith.

"We have made substantial progress and we need to work together to make sure that continues, because the people of Stoke-on-Trent deserve a better future than they have had in the past.

"I appeal to all members to understand that the fragmentation we have seen in the past few years must be put aside, and that we try to work together to deliver the progress that Stoke-on-Trent needs."

He added: "Although I am a Conservative, and very proud of it, I will try to work as leader of the council very much from the centre ground."

Mr Ward said: "This is a strange one. It's the first time I have seen Labour vote Tory.

"I will say good luck to Ross, and I wish him all the best because he is a competent politician and has been around a long time.

"It is a difficult job and I hope he will get some united support to take the city forward.

"We have had some problems in the past, but whether people think the elected mayor system was a good or bad one is neither here nor there now, so I hope we can unite the council."

Mr Barnes also congratulated Mr Irving and justified his group's decision to support him.

He said: "Despite being on different political sides over the years, Ross has gained a lot of respect from the Labour group members.

"It was very difficult for the Labour group to support a political opponent, but I think it clearly sends a message that we want to work with whoever the leader of the council is.

"From our perspective it was a choice between two Conservatives, and we chose the one we know and the one who has been the more positive over the last few years."

Mr Kent-Baguley urged the new leader to do everything in his power to quell political division and include more councillors in the authority's decision-making.

He said: "I hope he will draw upon his considerable time in the chamber and his experience in the political life of Stoke-on-Trent to reintroduce a degree of genuine co-operation among members and consultation with members.

"I hope that, under the leadership of councillor Irving, we will be spearheading the revitalisation and re-engagement of democracy.

"If the politicians of this council fail to grasp the opportunity that we now have, then we will have let down the people of Stoke-on-Trent very, very badly."

Mr Kent-Baguley, below left, also criticised the BNP and its leader Mr Walker, below right, for abandoning the election.

He said: "I think the behaviour of the group that walked out is despicable and I hope that message gets across clearly to all the residents of Stoke-on-Trent that voting for that kind of group is a redundant way back to the Dark Ages."

Following the meeting, Mr Irving revealed that he will spend the weekend in talks with other political groups about the composition of his cabinet.

The membership of the panel, which can include up to nine councillors, will be announced on Monday.

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STAFFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTION RESULTS