He spoke of his party’s desire to “look at waste” if they take control of the authority in 2027.
“We need to look at what it’s spending money on because people are struggling at the moment. That’s the issue that kept coming up on the doorstep,” he added.
This by-election was called after the ward’s previous Labour councillor, Steve Blakemore, was disqualified when he became a city council employee.
He worked for Unitas, the authority’s housing repairs company, which was independent of the council until it was taken back under its control in April.
Labour remain in control of the authority, holding 28 out of 44 seat, but council leader Jane Ashworth said the government needed to do more for people in the city.
“I think this shows that people in this city have had enough of politics that do not deliver for Stoke-on-Trent,” she added.
“Since 2010 we’ve just had cuts, cuts and more cuts.
“The Labour government has delivered more funding, in addition to what we can raise through council tax, and I understand the financial situation they inherited was never going to be fixed in one budget, but it’s clearly not enough.”
The government said in February councils in England would have £69bn to spend this financial year.
