Reform Win Redraws Newcastle’s Political Map
Plus two Staffordshire companies recognised In King’s Award for Enterprise, Dimbleby Ceramics opens in Longton, and volunteers wanted for community garden
Today, The Knot is brought to you by Hanley Economic Building Society, which offers mortgages, savings accounts including ISAs, insurance, and more
Election News & Good News 🎉
🗳️ Reform Takes Control of Newcastle Borough. Whatever your politics, you can’t ignore Reform’s growing presence across our region. Last year, it took over Staffordshire County Council and in 2026, it’s Newcastle Borough’s turn to capitulate to the Reform political juggernaut. Farage’s party took 27 of the 44 seats available (23 were needed for a majority), the Tories were beaten into second place with 15 seats, while Labour secured just two. Among those elected was former Tory MP for Stoke-on-Trent North Jonathan Gullis for Kidsgrove and Ravenscliffe following his defection to Reform last year. Current council leader Simon Tagg retained his Westlands seat while Labour group leader Dave Jones kept his Keele seat. You can find a list of all the new councillors here.
🏺 THE KNOT’S PERSON OF THE WEEK – Kaytea Budd-Brophy 🏺
Award-winning ceramic artist Kaytea Budd-Brophy has just embarked on a five-week residency at the University of Staffordshire and plans to scale up her work there as part of an ongoing partnership with the British Ceramics Biennial (BCB). She is one of four artists awarded the Fresh Talent Prize at the 2025 British Ceramics Biennial, with each prize including an artist residency at a leading academic institution. During her residency, supported by MA Ceramics course leader Alison Rafferty, Kaytea will expand her collection while drawing inspiration from our heritage.
💷 Empowering Change: the Hanley’s Visit to Disability Solutions. Hanley Economic Building Society recently visited Hartshill-based charity Disability Solutions to present them with a cheque for £2,200, which has helped fund two new laptops to support their work. These devices will play a key role in advancing their technology, enabling them to continue delivering vital services to those who need them most. Disability Solutions provides support, advice, and resources to people with disabilities, helping them live more independent and fulfilling lives. Its work spans advocacy, employment support, and improving digital access.
👩🌾 Wanted: Volunteers for Community Garden. Green-fingered? You could help out at an award-winning community garden in Clayton managed by Better Together Community Support Group as Our Secret Garden CIC. Open every Saturday between March and October (weather permitting), it is maintained by a small team of volunteers, who have helpeddevelop it into an oasis for nature and hosted events in partnership with Staffordshire Breathe Easy, the Dove Service and NHU social prescribers. The plans include developing the nature area and improving the paths as well as introducing activities around healthy eating and reducing food waste. Available to help out on Wednesdays 10am-2pm and Saturdays 1pm-3pm? Call Jess on 07388 436 964 for more info.
👔 Two Staffordshire Companies Recognised in King’s Award for Enterprise.
Stone’s Woolcool, the only packaging company using a range of sheep’s wool insulated packaging on a commercial scale, and Chesterton lighting manufacturer Lyngard were both victorious in the International Trade category as the prestigious business award celebrated its 60th anniversary. Hand sculpted by designer Carmen Lynguard, each of its lampshades is slip-cast in fine bone china and the solid brass components are made from 78% recyclable material (we love this Claret Epoque Florale Campell Pattern wall light for the bathroom and the Campbell Fine Bone China Wall Light with Delft Hand-Painted Trim). The companies will receive their awards later this year via the Staffordshire Lieutenancy on behalf of the King. More details on this year’s winners here.
🪴 Dimbleby Ceramics Opens in Longton. Husband and wife firm Dimbleby Ceramics has expanded its presence in Longton by opening an additional space next to its sister property, Kiln at Number 12, at 10 Bennett Precinct. If you’re interested in learning to make your own ceramics with resident master potter Mathew, then head to the workshop page to book courses including Throw a Ramen Bowl, Pottery Painting and Throw a Bubble Vase.
Congrats to Dimbleby Ceramics, which recently opened an outlet next to sister business Kiln at Number 12 in Longton
🥨 A word from Helen, editor/writer at The Knot
Defined by the runaway success of the self-styled “turquoise wall”, the election has left Newcastle Borough Council firmly in Reform’s hands. It was a resounding victory for Nigel Farage’s party, with more than 61.36 per cent of voters — almost two in every three — backing Reform candidates at the ballot box.
Before last Thursday’s vote, Reform held just one seat on the council; it has now gained 26 more. The Conservatives, meanwhile, have fallen from 26 seats to 15, while Labour’s representation has collapsed from 17 seats to just two, as many Newcastle residents appeared to use the election to voice their frustration with Westminster.
Martin Rogerson, chairman of Reform UK’s Newcastle-under-Lyme branch and the newly elected councillor for Talke and Butt Lane, said the party was “delighted and humbled” that residents had placed their trust in Reform following its seismic victory and added that the party would “get to work straightaway delivering local services.”
One of the most significant challenges facing the new administration will be the reorganisation of local government. Westminster is expected to decide this summer on a new model for local government in Staffordshire, with the new unitary authorities due to take over in 2028. This would mean that the newly elected borough councillors in Newcastle may serve only half of their intended four-year terms.
Reform’s preferred proposal for local government reorganisation would divide the county along along East-West lines. The proposed East Staffs authority would include Stoke, Staffs Moorlands, East Staffs, Lichfield, and Tamworth, while West Staffs would cover Newcastle, Stafford, Cannock Chase, and South Staffordshire.
In contrast, Stoke-on-Trent City Council supports the establishment of a North Staffordshire unitary authority that combines Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle, and Staffordshire Moorlands, with a separate authority covering the south of the county.
What do you think about the local election results and the proposed reorganisation of local government? Let us know in the comments below.
Really Good News 🎉 Your favourite news from the last week
🏥 Stoke’s New Diagnostic Centre Welcomes First Patients: It’s at the former Sainsbury’s site in Hanley and offers services including X-rays and ultrasound
🎸 Urban Rock Festival Hits Stoke: Celebrate Lemmy in Burslem on 23/05
🍛 All Aboard the Bombay Express: Feast on Indian fare aboard the Churnet Valley railway this July and August – dates and more info here
Weekly Weather (Stoke-on-Trent):
Mon ⛅️ 11° (4°) Tue ☁️ 13° (6°) Wed 🌦️ 12° (5°) Thu 🌦️ 12° (5°) Fri 🌧️ 13° (6°)
Sat 🌦️ 14° (7°) Sun 🌦️ 14° (8°).
Sunrise 11/05: 05.17 ☀️ Sunset 11/05: 20.53 🌅
I think that Reform's view of local government reorganisation is utterly bizzarre , and like the rest of their divisive agenda totally out of touch with reality . The logical future for the area is a North Staffordshire Economic area that includes the areas where money from people who work in Stoke and Newcastle choose to live so that we have a much more balanced political area that has a vested interest in seeing the whole area thrive .