Labour crushed after election misery
THE LABOUR Party was reeling today after being hammered at the polls in Staffordshire and losing control of Stoke-on-Trent.
The county council is out of Labour's hands for the first time since 1981 after its 32 seats were cut to three at yesterday's count.
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Farrelly and ousted councillor Sandra Hambleton
Staffordshire is under Conservative rule after the party took 49 out of 62 seats on the authority.
And Labour's once vice-like grip on Stoke-on-Trent, where it held a 60-0 majority in the mid-1990s, is a memory after Conservative and Independent Alliance leader councillor Ross Irving was elected city council leader.
The double blow came as two North Staffordshire MPs turned on Prime Minister Gordon Brown and called on him to resign.
The calls by Stoke-on-Trent Central MP Mark Fisher and Newcastle's Paul Farrelly reflect growing anger within the party over the fall-out from the Parliamentary expenses scandal and Mr Brown's handling of the economy.
Mr Farrelly said: "Labour's loss in Staffordshire is truly staggering.
"It really is time for change right through the Labour Party, for root and branch renewal, so we can reconnect with our voters."
Mr Fisher said: "I think Gordon needs to listen to the electorate – it's time for him to go."
One of the top Labour casualties in Staffordshire was ex-county council leader John Taylor, who said his worst fears were confirmed.
He said: "I thought all the Labour seats were in danger because of the public response to the expenses row.
"The Labour Party has paid the price, but clearly it wasn't just Labour who were to blame."
A furious Sandra Hambleton lost her Labour Bradwell and Porthill county council seat to the UK Independence Party and she challenged Newcastle MP Paul Farrelly during yesterday's count over his disloyalty to Gordon Brown.
She said: "I have been a hard-working councillor for years and this is how I am repaid."
But she refused to blame the election fiasco on the Prime Minister, and said: "I think we should show some loyalty to Gordon Brown as long as he is Prime Minister."
The county's new Conservative leader, Philip Atkins, was delighted by Labour's collapse.
He said: "Eighteen months ago, I thought if we get 36 seats we would be doing well. To end up with 49 is a fantastic result."
Newly-elected Stoke-on-Trent City Council leader Mr Irving, who heads a group of just nine councillors, needed Labour members' votes to emerge victorious after four secret ballots.
The city had previously been run by Labour elected mayor Mark Meredith and a Labour-led coalition with Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.
He said: "I had always hoped that one day we would have a Conservative-led council, but I didn't think it would be me.
"It is certainly a big feather in our cap and I'm sure the champagne corks are popping at Conservative Central Office right now."
Labour suffered humiliation elsewhere, losing control of its three other English county councils; Derbyshire, Lancashire and Nottinghamshire.
Labour crushed after election misery
Irving leads huge shift in balance of power
Tory from Trentham makes unusual choice for Labour
'Potteries lass' Jean sees mayoral role as a privilege
Tory leader summons the winds of change
Brown defiant despite more condemnation
Newcastle: Party veterans sent packing as UKIP celebrates day of success
Moorlands: Winner thinks of Westminster
19 Comments
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by william welsh, madeley
Sunday, June 07 2009, 9:06PM
“it is no suprise to the meany people of staffordshirethat whitnesed the disgracefull treatment of our old people during the care home fiasco thease are the very pol ticians that chose to ignore the many petitions and pleas from the old and infirm to be allowed to live out there final days in homes such as lea house in madeley and to be looked after bydedicated kind caring staff being treated with dignity and respect and not just as anumber to be counted in and out each day in my opinion the changing lives program as taken care provison back 40 years most of us are reminded of this every time we drive past aboarded up ex care home on this subject alone i believe that all those that voted for the changing lives program deserved to lose there seat so in my opinion it was a very local isue that most of them hoped had gone away that cost them there position billy welsh chair lea house action group”
by simon graham, werrington
Sunday, June 07 2009, 8:01PM
“Its not much of a surprise that the labour party suffered so badly; what with the MP expense and the state of all economic matter ( as well as the two war we are still fighting ). The real question is are we the people any better off with a new bunch of councilers? I like many others have their doubts. Just another group of suit uettering empty words that no body believes will ever come to mean anything.”
by Dave, Trentham
Sunday, June 07 2009, 7:30PM
“It's a good job there was no election of Councillors in the Trentham area. It's odds-on that Mr. Irving would have been booted out as a Councillor with a large size 9 up his backside. The people of Trentham have learnt that he does not represent his electorate. He represents himself. The people of Trentham will not forget that you wanted to close our school and then suddenly had a change of heart when you realised you were on the losing side. The clock is ticking Mr Irving, you're on borrowed time.”
by Inspector Clouseau, Westminster
Sunday, June 07 2009, 6:58PM
“Which birnch of myrnkeys will take over? They are all nurts!!!”
by AJ, newcastle
Sunday, June 07 2009, 4:14PM
“Mr Snell,
Was voting for Brighton House and the other Care Homes to close a lie?
Bill Hughes a loyal ex Labour Councillor quit the labour party because of this.
Was UKIP telling us. that with what Mr Leech and co pocketed in expenses and how we get 3 UKIP councillors for the price of one labour councillor a lie when it's been printed in black and white in the sentinel along with other councillors expenses.So it's not all to do with Westminster now is it?
I voted UKIP because they have the best interests of local people.”