A new political party has been launched to represent North Staffordshire residents – and it already had its first councillor.

The Potteries Party was founded by three former Labour members who left the party feeling that it was letting local people down and not listening to their concerns.

Party leader Andy Polshaw, James Bradbury and Paul Shipstone say their party will be run by and for the residents of North Staffordshire, and they are aiming to field candidates in future elections in the area.

They already have their first elected member, with Stoke-on-Trent city councillor David Mountford announcing on Thursday morning that he had left Labour and joined the Potteries Party.

Mr Polshaw, who stood as an independent candidate for Stoke-on-Trent Central in last year's general election, says the party stands for inclusivity, local representation and public advocacy.

But he insists that beyond those 'core principles', the party's policies and direction will be driven by its local supporters.

Mr Polshaw said: "As a party we're going to be guided by what residents want. We will take ideas from the left, right or wherever, as long as they align with our core principles, such as inclusivity.

"We are different to Reform UK, because we believe in inclusivity. We want to represent everybody who lives and works in North Staffordshire – it doesn't matter where they come from. We are also local – we don't have to answer to a national party.

"We're called the Potteries Party but we represent the whole of North Staffordshire – we just felt the name Potteries Party rolled off the tongue."

The party's three founding members were active members of the Labour Party in Stoke-on-Trent, but left following an internal row relating to the way Stoke-on-Trent Central candidate Gareth Snell – now MP – was selected.

Mr Polshaw said: "I joined the Labour Party in 2015, and we remained members after Keir Starmer became leader. But we became unhappy with the top-down way the party was being run. It seemed that the national party could get away with breaking their own rules."

Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire have seen various local political groups come and go over the years.

The City Independents were one of the most successful, gaining 14 seats on Stoke-on-Trent City Council in the 2015 local elections and subsequently forming a ruling coalition with the Conservatives, with group leader Dave Conway becoming council leader.

But the group lost seats in the 2019 elections, and was reduced to a single elected member in 2023, as Labour swung back into power.

Cllr Mounford, who was elected as a Labour councillor for Great Chell and Packmoor in 2023, believes that voters in Stoke-on-Trent want a local party that will listen to them.

He said: "I think there is a hunger for a more collaborative approach to politics, rather than the 'he said, she said' you get with Labour and Conservatives always blaming each other.

"We want to listen to what residents want and create a platform for them, rather than being a party that tells people what they should want."

The Potteries Party, which is planning to field candidates in future elections in North Staffordshire, is organising a 'social gathering' for supporters and residents at The Glebe Inn, in Stoke, on Sunday, September 21, at 7pm. The event will feature food, live music and speeches.