Labour crushed after election misery
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.
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
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