Labour's Gareth Snell: Stoke is 'much more than the capital of Brexit'

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Gareth Snell says Stoke is 'much more than the capital of Brexit'. Credit: ITV News Central

Stoke Central's new Labour MP Gareth Snell says the politics of 'hope not hate' defeated UKIP Leader Paul Nuttall in the by-election.

The former Labour Councillor and Trade Union representative thanked his family and said he was honoured to have made Stoke his home as he made his victory speech from the stand.

He also said the politics of 'hope not hate' had prevailed in the city, and it was "so much more than the capital of Brexit". The city voted 69% in favour of Leave during the referendum, one of the highest proportions in the country.

In the end, Labour's majority was halved, from more than 5,000 in 2015 to 2,620. However, the result will be a relief to the party and for Leader Jeremy Corbyn. Labour has held Stoke Central since the seat was created in 1950, and defeat to UKIP would have been seen as a body-blow to Corbyn's authority.

There was also a low turn out, common for by-elections and the extreme weather caused by storm Doris blowing over Staffordshire may have convinced many of the electorate to stay at home.

Paul Nuttall insists he will not be resigning as UKIP Leader, despite the by-election defeat. Credit: PA

Nuttall was defiant after the result was announced, saying he had no intention of resigning as party leader. A position he took on barely a few months ago.

The results in full ...

  • Gareth Snell (Lab) 7,853 (37.09%, -2.22%)

  • Paul Nuttall (Ukip) 5,233 (24.72%, +2.07%)

  • Jack Brereton (C) 5,154 (24.35%, +1.80%)

  • Zulfiqar Ali (LD) 2,083 (9.84%, +5.67%)

  • Adam Colclough (Green) 294 (1.39%, -2.22%)

  • Barbara Fielding (Ind) 137 (0.65%)

  • The Incredible Flying Brick (Loony) 127 (0.60%)

  • David Furness (BNP) 124 (0.59%)

  • Godfrey Davies (CPA) 109 (0.51%)

  • Mohammed Akram (Ind) 56 (0.26%)