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Jacqui Smith's speech on gang culture

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said gang violence could be beaten, when she spoke at Villa Park in Birmingham on Thursday - and she urged mothers to discuss the dangers with their children. Here is a transcript of her speech Read

Just because abortion is legal, it doesn't mean it's moral

After two days of debate and votes in the Commons on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, the Archbishop of Birmingham, the Most Rev Vincent Nichols says the results mean the killing of innocent human beings will continue. Read

Democracy needs to be reinvigorated

This is an abridged version of the Annual Denis Howell Address, hosted by the Birmingham Centre for Business Ethics, given by Edgbaston MP Gisela Stuart. Read

Eco towns offer a unique opportunity

They've sparked local opposition and protests but proposed eco-towns in Warwickshire and Staffordshire will only go ahead if they come up to scratch, says Housing Minister Caroline Flint. Read

Polluters must be hit in the pocket to tackle climate change

Climate change reflects a market failure. We need to kick-start the market to correct this, says MEP Neena Gill. Read

Lord Mayor's year of meeting Birmingham's heroes

Proud son Simon Brew here pays tribute to his father and mother, the outgoing Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Birmingham, and praises our city's unsung heroes. Read

High court offers new hope for Iran

A decision to remove an Iranian opposition group from the UK terror list offers a new solution to the Iran crisis, says Birmingham peer and former MP for Erdington Lord Corbett Read

Why Burma needs the disaster experts - now

Aid supplies are desperately needed in Burma following Cyclone Nargis but getting them there is easier said than done, as Will Tucker, Birmingham Campaigner, Oxfam, explains Read

Birmingham City board paid the price for not splashing the cash

Birmingham City Football Club has paid the price for not investing in top players - relegation. Professor John Samuels looks at how a lack of quality has cost the Blues. Read

Mistrust will not allow peace to flourish in Israel

During a visit to Israel 60 years after it became a nation-state, Paul Bradley discovered that prospects for peace in the troubled Middle East are still far off Read

We can kick out monster of domestic violence for good

Conservative MP Theresa May, the shadow Minister for Women, calls for tougher action against domestic violence. Read

Time for the EU to back our creative industries

Culture and creativity has become increasingly important for the West Midlands economy, which is why we must foster it for the benefit of the region, says Neena Gill. Read

We need a strong lead on allergy diagnosis

Professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya, director of Warwick Manufacturing Group, shared his experience during an allergies debate in the House of Lords Read

Asian politics and the battle for Aston

Allegations of dirty tricks marred last week's Birmingham City Council elections. Public Affairs Editor Paul Dale reports from the battleground of Aston. Read

Localisation is a lesson we can learn regionally

As global factors push up the price of food and fuel, localisation will become increasingly important in safeguarding our standard of living, says Andrew Lydon. Read

Culture's attraction is its subversive appeal

The Government recently announced proposals to develop cultural activities in schools. Roshan Doug argues that it involves too much action and too little thought Read

Election disaster likely to be the end for Brown

As he reflects on Labour's disaster at the polls, the Prime Minister would do well to try and restore integrity to the electoral process says Chris Game. Read

Labour MP Ken Purchase on how the party lost its way

Ken Purchase, Labour MP for Wolverhampton North East, explains why he has decided to stand down. Read

How Tibet protests have dented Chinese pride

Be careful what you wish for. These words could well be reverberating in the collective consciousness of China's increasingly rattled political elites, says University of Birmingham Professor Mark Beeson. Read

Don't criminalise my students for smoking cannabis, Mr Brown

Legalise it, classify it or reclassify it? Everyone has an opinion on cannabis. Chris Game says his students shouldn't be criminalised if they're ever tempted to use it. Read

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