British National Party Stoke councillor Alby Walker has announced that he will compete to become the next leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

Speaking after it emerged that voters had chosen to scrap the position of elected mayor, Mr Walker said: “I will throw my hat into the ring right now.”

He said that the referendum — in which residents opted for a leader and cabinet to run the council — had been “flawed” because of the way the Government put the question to voters. The turnout was particularly low, at 19.23 percent. A majority of those who did vote, voted to abolish the office of mayor.

He added: “The whole thing has been flawed because of the way that the Government has written the question intentionally to confuse the issue.

“There was confusion and apathy combined in the vote, and I think it was a kickback against the current elected mayor who has not got a political mandate.”

Earlier, a survey of councillors by a local newspaper indicated that Mr Walker was the front runner of potential candidates.