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Of course there’s a Plan B – it’s Curzon Street in Eastside

Lord Snape, a former MP for West Bromwich East and chairman of Travel West Midlands, says the region needs to be more ambitious when considering its future with regard to rail travel. Read

Why we’re all between a Rock and a hard place now

Charles Cattaneo, partner at Grant Thornton in Birmingham, says that trading conditions are going to be demanding for those involved in the financial markets. Read

Stay positive and beat the credit crunch

Professor Mike West, an organisational psychologist, and Executive Dean of Aston Business School, says people should think positively if they want to overcome economic woes. Read

I lost my Britishness at the Bestival

Shahid Naqvi experiences the delights of a music festival, at Camp Bestival in Dorset. Read

'Sorry, your child has cancer'

Teenage and cancer are two words one never hopes to hear in the same sentence. Solihull banker Diane Watt explains how her personal experience has led her to become a lifelong campaigner in helping improve provisions for teens with cancer Read

Tradition should not trump rights of the individual or law of land

Some cultural attitudes and practices need to be tackled as part of a revolution in equalities because our children deserve nothing less, says Joy Warmington Read

West must stop appeasing Iran's oppressive regime

With Iran’s nuclear intentions still under suspicion, the EU must get its act together says Birmingham peer Lord Corbett of Castle Vale Read

West must stop appeasing Iran's oppressive regime

With Iran’s nuclear intentions still under suspicion, the EU must get its act together says Birmingham peer Lord Corbett of Castle Vale Read

Why would you want to put yourself through the misery?

There’s the mud, blisters, climbing barren hillsides and sleeping in leaky tents to look forward to. So why would anyone want to put themselves through the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme? Becky Pile thinks she’s found the answer. Read

Rebuilding Afghan state key to British role in country

British forces have been in Afghanistan for seven years but there is still long way to go if the war-ravaged nation is to be rebuilt. Andrew Mitchell, the shadow International Development Secretary and Conservative MP for Sutton Coldfield, reflects on his recent visit to the country. Read

Big decision: job search or university and debt

It’s a tough choice facing students - go to university and end up with an academic qualification but tens of thousands of pounds in debt, or opt for the job search. Jill Foster considers her options. Read

Police selection just political correctness gone mad

We might all be equal in the eyes of God, but when it comes to the real world treating people fairly rather than equally is more important says Roshan Doug Read

Why NHS Cinderella service is now so down in the mouth

Tim Lee, a founding partner in city centre solicitors Young and Lee, is feeling down in the mouth as he gets his teeth into trying to help prevent the crisis in NHS dentistry getting even worse Read

Madrasas are more centres for religion than fanaticism

Are madrasas a breeding ground for Islamic extremists or schools that provide religious and moral teaching? Mohammad Ali Salih explains his father’s madrasa past and how it gave him conviction without fanaticism. Read

Grace Academy creating a brighter future for Solihull

Improving the educational opportunities for young people lies at the heart of a £1.8 billion project to transform deprived areas of Solihull. Kate Ankers, a teacher at the Grace Academy explains why it appealed to her. Read

Clinics threaten human face of doctor-patient relationship

The National Health Service is 60 years old but the latest government reforms in the form of Lord Darzi’s NHS Blueprint leaves it at risk of losing its human face, argues Dr Peter Patel. Read

"I was ashamed of the state of medical care before the NHS"

In our series marking the 60th anniversary of the NHS, Elinor Corfan explains what life was like before there was free healthcare for all. Read

From Nightingale nurse to high tech wards of today

From Nightingale nurse to high tech wards of today Medical and technological innovations over the past 60 years have led to major advances in health care since the NHS was created. Health Correspondent Emma Brady asked staff and volunteers what changes have had the biggest impact. Read

Stories of staff: 60 years of the NHS

Medical and technological innovations over the past 60 years have led to major advances in health care since the NHS was created. Health Correspondent Emma Brady asked staff and volunteers what changes have had the biggest impact. Read

Changing priorities for the NHS

In our continuing series on the 60th anniversary of the NHS, Health Correspondent Emma Brady discovers how public awareness in the West Midlands has changed over the decades. Read

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Digital: Power or Powerless?

Be a part of The Big Debate by joining our live blog this Monday at 12.30pm.Read

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