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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Colin Drury

Tears, tea and a seat won by drawing lots: How Tories took key red wall council

Independent

The barman at the stately Keele Hall looked on bored. He’d been told he wasn’t allowed to serve alcohol all day. “I don’t know why,” he shrugged. “Some people here look like they need a drink.”

Thus went the Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough council election count – a poll that was both as tight as you like and of a political importance that will now resonate all the way to Westminster.

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