Politics
The local council has traditionally been dominated by the Labour Party. However, in the 2006 local elections a coalition of Conservative and Liberal Democrat councillors gained a majority.
The United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) also made gains in 2007 and 2008 but in 2011 and 2012 losing all seats they were defending, including their Group Leader, Derrick Huckfield.
The Council was led between 2006-2011 by Conservative Councillor Simon Tagg. Stephen Sweeney served as the Conservative Leader from 2011-2012. .
This Labour Party regained its majority on the Council in 2012. The Council is now led by Labour Councillor Gareth Snell.
After the 2012 Local Elections there were 33 Labour Party Councillors, 11 Liberal Democrats, 16 Conservatives and 0 from UKIP.
Read more about this topic: Borough Of Newcastle-under-Lyme