LABOUR: WE'RE BACK ON TOP!
A RESURGENT Labour Party swept their rivals aside to come within five seats of reclaiming control of Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
The party, which had previously slumped to just 14 seats, failed to win outright control of the authority.
But by taking 17 of the 20 wards on offer, the group has defied the national swing to the Conservatives to become the dominant political force in the city once more.
The Tories gained just one city council seat on the back of the General Election mood, at the expense of a shattered BNP which saw its numbers cut to five councillors.
The shock result in the council polls came just hours after Labour had held on to the city's three Parliamentary seats with commanding majorities.
The party also enjoyed successes in Newcastle, retaking two seats and defending seven more.
The gains there were not enough to threaten the ruling Tory-LibDem coalition, but did establish Labour's place as the third biggest group on the borough council.
Labour leaders in Stoke-on-Trent are now confronted with a similar dilemma to that facing Prime Minister Gordon Brown, as they seek out potential allies to form an effective power-sharing coalition.
The group's tally of 26 seats means it may have to revive its controversial 2008 cross-party alliance with the eight-strong Conservatives, as well as the four-member LibDems, in order to achieve a working majority in the 60-seat chamber.
But all of the group leaders were last night keeping their thoughts on the matter to themselves.
Elated Labour group leader, Councillor Mohammed Pervez, pictured left, said: "It is a great day for Labour, but we are not going to make any decisions at this point."
Tory leader Ross Irving remains at the helm for now, but hinted that his position is not secure.
He said: "I'm prepared to work with all groups who are prepared to make the necessary decisions to deliver effective leadership."
Jubilant Labour MP Rob Flello returned to the scene of his Parliamentary victory to watch the local election counts being declared.
He said: "It's a really good win and I'm optimistic we can now get a council which can take the city on."
Former Labour elected mayor Mark Meredith said: "It looks like people have come home to Labour in Stoke-on-Trent.
"We have talked to the electorate and listened to the people and they have seen that we are a party that's worth voting for."
Election round-up: Pages 2-6
10 Comments
by tom, meir
Monday, May 10 2010, 8:51PM
“Is that Mick Penning for real he as done so well at school today he has counted to three that must be worth a gold star for him well done mick is it five what comes next?”
by Mick Penning, Newcastle
Sunday, May 09 2010, 11:49PM
“I went to School today and i counted to 3”
by tom, meir
Sunday, May 09 2010, 9:44PM
“When this council drops us further into the proverbial brown stuff please dont start bleating about it just sit back and think who put them back in.. unbelievable”
by anon, hanley
Sunday, May 09 2010, 1:20PM
“God help us because Liebour won't.”
by Adrian Moorcroft, Trentham
Saturday, May 08 2010, 6:11PM
“Have the people of Stoke - on - Trent that voted Labour back into power never stepped out of the city boundries! Surely if they had done this and experienced the re-generation of other previously deprived cities they would realise that our Labour MP's have NOT fought for the cash and support needed to take this city forward. Wake up!, its too late for most of us, but give our children a chance by voting for change in the next general election. It's probably only 6-12 months away. Make it count!”
by Shocked, Weston Coyney
Saturday, May 08 2010, 4:07PM
“I too cannot comprehend why the people of Stoke would entertain voting in a Labour council. An opportunity has again passed to drag this city out of the dark ages. Perhaps it is because without an incompetent, corrupt, inept council we would have nothing to talk about!”
by nickj, fenton
Saturday, May 08 2010, 3:40PM
“i cant belive that people have voted labour again they have run stoke-on-trent into the ground and now you have give them another 4 years to kill it off and the people of stoke central who voted for someone who does not come from the area one of gordon browns mates who will vote in the commons for labour and not for stoke-on-trent please dont complain when they run it even further into the ground because you voted them in”
by Ron, Blythe Bridge
Saturday, May 08 2010, 1:13PM
“I think we all knew that the BNP would never get any serious votes and amen to that we don't want or need their kind of policies in this country. On the flip side though it is unbelievable that the people of Stoke-on-Trent supported the very councillors that they have complained about through these forums over the last year and beyond. It was clearly a habit vote the ¿well I have always voted labour¿ brigade who have short memories of what these MPs have done to Stoke. At least my vote counted in Staffs Moorlands ward and labour has not got their hands on that. Also the voting system in general elections is in need of a major overall and the first past the post system should be scrapped. The Tories have got the most votes and it is they who should now be forming a government. The country sent out a clear message that Brown and his cronies are not wanted.”
by Ron, Blythe Bridge
Saturday, May 08 2010, 1:11PM
“I think we all knew that the BNP would never get any serious votes and amen to that we don't want or need their kind of policies in this country. On the flip side though it is unbelievable that the people of Stoke-on-Trent supported the very councillors that they have complained about through these forums over the last year and beyond. It was clearly a habit vote the ¿well I have always voted labour¿ brigade who have short memories of what these MPs have done to Stoke. At least my vote counted in Staffs Moorlands ward and labour has not got their hands on that. Also the voting system in general elections is in need of a major overall and the first past the post system should be scrapped. The Tories have got the most votes and it is they who should now be forming a government. The country sent out a clear message that Brown and his cronies are not wanted.”
by Ron, Blythe Bridge
Saturday, May 08 2010, 1:10PM
“I think we all knew that the BNP would never get any serious votes and amen to that we don't want or need their kind of policies in this country. On the flip side though it is unbelievable that the people of Stoke-on-Trent supported the very councillors that they have complained about through these forums over the last year and beyond. It was clearly a habit vote the ¿well I have always voted labour¿ brigade who have short memories of what these MPs have done to Stoke. At least my vote counted in Staffs Moorlands ward and labour has not got their hands on that. Also the voting system in general elections is in need of a major overall and the first past the post system should be scrapped. The Tories have got the most votes and it is they who should now be forming a government. The country sent out a clear message that Brown and his cronies are not wanted.”