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Sion Simon's big gamble in bid to become Mayor of Birmingham Feb 05 2010

The debate about how Birmingham should be governed has been simmering for years. It appears clear that it will never be resolved until the city’s residents are given a choice on whether they want an elected mayor or not.Read

Birmingham still a sick council six years on Jan 29 2010

It was a somewhat chastened Alan Rudge, Birmingham cabinet member for human resources and equalities, who this week admitted that it is proving difficult to reduce the city council’s appalling staff sickness record to less than 10 days a year per employee.Read

Cadbury and the chocolate soldiers Jan 21 2010

The near certainty now of Cadbury being taken over by American foods giant Kraft is not quite as joyous an occasion as is being claimed by the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which in its latest comment on the issue suggests we should be proud that a British firm is so successful that it is being swallowed up by a far larger foreign predator.Read

Council gets ahead of the cuts game Jan 14 2010

The certainty of savage public spending cuts to come, regardless of whichever political party wins the General Election, is beginning to concentrate minds at Birmingham City Council.Read

Distractions won’t solve our woes Jan 07 2010

The West Midlands still has the highest unemployment rate in the country – and jobless figures rose last month.Read

Happy new year? Don't bank on it Dec 30 2009

It has not, as the Queen reminded us in her Christmas message, been a very good year. The worst recession in living memory, soaring unemployment and eye-watering government debt, not to mention a renewed terrorism threat, suggests that 2010 is unlikely to be much better.Read

No masterplan and no mastermind Dec 23 2009

The tectonic plates of regeneration are at last shifting in Birmingham, judging by the new partnership between the owners of the Bullring shopping centre and American property giants Hines.Read

Inconvenient truth for the West Midlands public sector Dec 17 2009

The rapid changes that have taken place to the West Midlands economy since the 1970s, based on the collapse of a once-proud manufacturing heritage, have long been something of an inconvenient truth for governments to explain away.Read

Tough fiscal decisions kicked into long grass Dec 11 2009

The Lib-Dems’ soundbite master, Vince Cable, summed it up as a “good Budget for bingo and boilers”.Read

Post Comment: Biggest threat to green belt since 1940s Dec 03 2009

With a General Election looming, it is hardly surprising that West Midlands Labour MPs in marginal seats are becoming increasingly nervous about the likely impact of the Government’s drive to force local authorities to plan for record numbers of new houses to be built over the next 17 years.Read

Decision to condemn Birmingham library the right one Nov 27 2009

There can be no plausible excuses for the length of time it took the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to decide that the Birmingham Central Library was not worthy of being listed as a building of special architectural or historic importance.Read

Birmingham International Airport £120 million runway extension must be backed by robust business case Nov 12 2009

Birmingham International Airport chief executive Paul Kehoe has always been refreshingly frank about challenges facing the aviation industry, so when he talks about the severe difficulties involved in pressing ahead with a long-awaited runway extension it is advisable to sit up and listen.Read

Birmingham needs another Clive Dutton Nov 06 2009

Apparently, the business community is “relaxed” about the tortuous process Birmingham appears to be going through in deciding when, or even how, to select a replacement for regeneration director Clive Dutton.Read

We must ensure automotive industry helps drive recovery Nov 06 2009

The economic crisis may have begun in the financial markets, but it has hit manufacturers hardest of all.Read

Demand for better leadership must act as wake-up call for Birmingham Nov 05 2009

Today’s comments by the chairman of the West Midlands councils leaders’ board, which put briefly amount to a call for Birmingham to pull its socks up, will inevitably be regarded in some quarters as an unwarranted declaration of war.Read

Council must hear out cultural message Nov 04 2009

Last night Birmingham reggae legends UB40 played a gig to a local crowd the size of which they probably haven’t seen since they formed in the late Seventies.Read

Will minister’s tough talk really force Phoenix Four’s hands? Nov 04 2009

Former MG Rover workers were promised more than four years ago that they would receive financial support, following the closure of the vehicle manufacturer they worked so hard to support.Read

Birmingham's revival requires leadership - and a new regeneration chief soon Nov 03 2009

There was much gnashing of teeth last week as the United Kingdom was forced to wait another quarter to see if it has emerged from the current recession.Read

Time for answers over Be Birmingham Nov 03 2009

There is clearly an element of political point-scoring behind Communities Secretary John Denham’s attack on Birmingham City Council for its failure to make sure that the £115 million Working Neighbourhoods Fund is spent quickly and efficiently . Read

Cross-party consensus needed on high speed rail link between London and Birmingham Nov 02 2009

There is no doubting the commitment of Transport Secretary Lord Adonis to plans for a high speed rail link between London and Birmingham.Read

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