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Reporting local life since 1854
Friday, May 6, 2011
Party wins three-quarters of seats in historic
election
LABOUR ROMP HOME PARTY
LABOUR INDEPENDENTS CONSERVATIVE UNAFFILIATED
37p
BIG DAY: Labour candidate Bagh Ali, left, celebrates with supporters. Picture: Shaun Smith
SEATS
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BY RICHARD AULT, ALEX CAMPBELL AND HAYLEY HARP newsdesk@thesentinel.co.uk
LABOUR councillors are today back in overall control of Stoke-on-Trent City Council for the first time in seven years. The party romped to victory with 34 seats in the new 44-member council to give a 24-seat majority. In a night of surprises several leading councillors lost their seats, including Liberal Democrat leader Kieran Clarke, City Independents leader Brian Ward and Community Voice members Mike Barnes, Peter Kent-Baguley and Mick Salih. But former Elected Mayor Mark Meredith returned to frontline politics. The BNP saw its vote collapse as it lost all five seats.
The Liberal Democrats and independent group Community Voice followed suit by being completely wiped out. In Blurton East, defeated Conservative Christine Warren is planning a legal challenge after blaming a boundaries blunder for her defeat by 13 votes. Today’s landmark victory gives Labour leader Mohammed Pervez, pictured below, who won the Moorcroft ward, a massive mandate for the next four years. Although Labour Elected Mayor Mr Meredith ran the council between 2005 and 2009, there was no overall majority in the council chamber. Mr Pervez told The Sentinel: “This result is a clear indictment of the Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition gov-
ernment, which has inflicted brutal cuts on our city. “I had a feeling we could take control of the council. “Quite clearly we’ve done an excellent job in managing a difficult situation and have pulled the council through one of the most difficult times in living memory.” BNP group leader Michael Coleman, who lost his seat, said: “We are not going to fall over and die. “Over the next four years we will go into expose and attack mode. We are going to expose Labour for what they really are. They are not a party for the working classes, they are a party for the establishment.” Council returning officer Paul Hackney is bracing himself for a legal challenge after mistakes with council wards left at least 220 households in the wrong wards.
One of the affected wards was Blurton East, which saw some households in Finstock Avenue voting in Blurton West and Newstead instead, though the exact number involved is unknown. Mrs Warren, who lost to Independent Glenys Ward, said: “It was obvious to me from the start that Finstock Avenue should have been in my ward. “I think it is very remiss of the council to make that error and I will contest it.” Mr Hackney said: “We are reasonably confident that if a challenge is forthcoming it will not be successful because we have acted fully in accordance with electoral rules.” How Labour swept to victory: See Pages 2, 3 and 4 Fred Hughes: Page 10
BACK PAGE EXTRA TICKETS: Stoke City chief executive Tony Scholes.
2,300 more FA Cup tickets for Stoke City fans STOKE City will be roared on by over 2,000 more fans than Manchester City in the FA Cup Final on May 14. Wembley have issued Stoke with an extra 2,300 tickets on top of the original allocation to both clubs of 25,082. Stoke were handed the additional tickets after they were returned to the FA from its so-called wider family of local clubs and representatives nationwide. Stoke enjoyed the windfall instead of Manchester City because the unclaimed seats are adjoining their end of Wembley on the big day. The spare tickets will go on sale from today to those who bought a season ticket for the first time during the recent round of sales for the 2011/12 campaign. Remaining tickets will then be available from tomorrow to those buying a new season ticket at the mid-price cost. Today’s ticket boost comes after Stoke lobbied Wembley for any unwanted tickets in a bid to satisfy demand for Stoke’s first-ever appearance in the FA Cup Final. Stoke’s chief executive Tony Scholes said: “With the extra tickets received from Wembley, we are delighted we have been able to satisfy all our purchasing groups and have therefore guaranteed all our members a ticket. “We have now given careful consideration to how we allocate the remaining tickets. “So we felt the fairest way was to allow those who have already purchased a season ticket for next season, or those willing to make such a commitment, the chance to buy a ticket for the final.” The Wembley Ticket Office will be open in the 1863 Lounge today from 9am to 5.30pm, while FA Cup and season-ticket sales will be in the main Britannia Stadium ticket office tomorrow from 9am to 5pm. Shawcross to start: Back Page
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