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| Local Elections 2023: 'Stoke-on-Trent is a crucial race for Labour' | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| All of Stoke-on-Trent's 44 seats are being contested at the local elections | All of Stoke-on-Trent's 44 seats are being contested at the local elections |
| These are local elections, but nowhere is their national significance more obvious than in Stoke-on-Trent. | These are local elections, but nowhere is their national significance more obvious than in Stoke-on-Trent. |
| All 44 of the city's council seats are up for grabs, and the result here could set the political tone ahead of the next general election. | All 44 of the city's council seats are up for grabs, and the result here could set the political tone ahead of the next general election. |
| Even before the campaign started a Labour staffer told me Stoke-on-Trent will be one of, if not the, "most crucial" race for the party on 4 May. | Even before the campaign started a Labour staffer told me Stoke-on-Trent will be one of, if not the, "most crucial" race for the party on 4 May. |
| There have been no shortage of high profile visits there in recent weeks. | There have been no shortage of high profile visits there in recent weeks. |
| Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves are among those who have visited the Staffordshire city. | Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves are among those who have visited the Staffordshire city. |
| Labour group leader Jane Ashworth is hopeful of taking back control of the city council | Labour group leader Jane Ashworth is hopeful of taking back control of the city council |
| On the day I was in town both the policing minister Chris Philp and shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh were on the campaign trail. | On the day I was in town both the policing minister Chris Philp and shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh were on the campaign trail. |
| Labour group leader Jane Ashworth said the city needed her party to take back control the city council. | Labour group leader Jane Ashworth said the city needed her party to take back control the city council. |
| "We've been talking to perhaps 20,000 people in the last six months, and what they want comes through really, really clearly. | "We've been talking to perhaps 20,000 people in the last six months, and what they want comes through really, really clearly. |
| "They want the city to improve, they want to be listened to. | "They want the city to improve, they want to be listened to. |
| "That's a big order but I'm ready for the challenge," she added. | "That's a big order but I'm ready for the challenge," she added. |
| Talking to people in the city, the same issues come to the fore again and again, prices, energy and asylum seeker hotels, of which the city has two. | Talking to people in the city, the same issues come to the fore again and again, prices, energy and asylum seeker hotels, of which the city has two. |
| "There's a lot of anti-social behaviour and I think it makes people quite worried at times, and I think that's something that needs tackling," said Emily Hughes. | "There's a lot of anti-social behaviour and I think it makes people quite worried at times, and I think that's something that needs tackling," said Emily Hughes. |
| "Nobody trust the politicians and the councillors, they're all out for themselves," said Brian Clarke. | "Nobody trust the politicians and the councillors, they're all out for themselves," said Brian Clarke. |
| But the cost of living and national polling does not mean Labour have a guaranteed path to victory here. | But the cost of living and national polling does not mean Labour have a guaranteed path to victory here. |
| Flipping the council and taking control could be "tougher than maybe people were thinking," one Labour MP told me. | Flipping the council and taking control could be "tougher than maybe people were thinking," one Labour MP told me. |
| In 2019, the Tories won all three of the city's parliamentary seats and one might argue, that here in the Potteries, the tide had turned years before. | In 2019, the Tories won all three of the city's parliamentary seats and one might argue, that here in the Potteries, the tide had turned years before. |
| Since 2009, the rise of well-known local independents and the growth of the Conservative vote gradually diminished Labour's dominance. | Since 2009, the rise of well-known local independents and the growth of the Conservative vote gradually diminished Labour's dominance. |
| The party has not lead the authority since 2015, and has lost three by-elections since 2019. | The party has not lead the authority since 2015, and has lost three by-elections since 2019. |
| Lilian Dodd is an independent councillor in the city and said her party cares more about people on the ground | Lilian Dodd is an independent councillor in the city and said her party cares more about people on the ground |
| City Independent councillor Lilian Dodd said her party was a "force" for the city "because we care more about the people on the ground, the residents and the needs of the residents." | City Independent councillor Lilian Dodd said her party was a "force" for the city "because we care more about the people on the ground, the residents and the needs of the residents." |
| "I think we can make a difference because we're all community-based, we all look after our own community and we look after the city as well. | "I think we can make a difference because we're all community-based, we all look after our own community and we look after the city as well. |
| "We want people to succeed in Stoke-on-Trent, with good schools and good jobs," she added. | "We want people to succeed in Stoke-on-Trent, with good schools and good jobs," she added. |
| For the Conservatives this is also a big test. | For the Conservatives this is also a big test. |
| They currently lead the council in a minority administration, with 22 of the 44 seats, and Stoke-on-Trent was a fairly sizable brick in the now infamous 'red-wall'. | They currently lead the council in a minority administration, with 22 of the 44 seats, and Stoke-on-Trent was a fairly sizable brick in the now infamous 'red-wall'. |
| They were helped by the city's strong vote for Brexit (72%), but also high levels of deprivation and a narrative that suggested the city had been "taken for granted" by Labour. | They were helped by the city's strong vote for Brexit (72%), but also high levels of deprivation and a narrative that suggested the city had been "taken for granted" by Labour. |
| Conservative leader Abi Brown said despite investment in the area, there was still more to do | Conservative leader Abi Brown said despite investment in the area, there was still more to do |
| In 2021 the Conservative leader of the council Abi Brown said the city was the "litmus test" for the government's levelling-up agenda. | In 2021 the Conservative leader of the council Abi Brown said the city was the "litmus test" for the government's levelling-up agenda. |
| The city has secured various funding allocations since that time, but public perception of success in this area could prove critical. | The city has secured various funding allocations since that time, but public perception of success in this area could prove critical. |
| She said she was "really pleased" with investment in the area, but there was "still more to do" | She said she was "really pleased" with investment in the area, but there was "still more to do" |
| "I definitely have an appetite to crack on and to deliver for residents as we have over the last few years. | "I definitely have an appetite to crack on and to deliver for residents as we have over the last few years. |
| "We've brought in unprecedented levels of funding across the city and we're started to see things happen - cranes on the skyline down in Stoke and new things and developments coming forward right across the city," | "We've brought in unprecedented levels of funding across the city and we're started to see things happen - cranes on the skyline down in Stoke and new things and developments coming forward right across the city," |
| Much rides on this north Staffordshire race, the result of which will be felt much further afield. | Much rides on this north Staffordshire race, the result of which will be felt much further afield. |
| Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk | Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Conservative Party | Conservative Party |
| Stoke-on-Trent | Stoke-on-Trent |
| England local elections 2023 | England local elections 2023 |
| Labour Party | Labour Party |