Politics news & West Midlands local government news

Birmingham MP calls on HMRC to scrap 'rip-off' premium rate helpline May 16 2013

The taxman is ripping people off by making them dial a premium-rate phoneline for advice, a Birmingham MP has warned.Read

Council election candidate who lied on nomination forms is sentenced May 13 2013

A former Labour council election candidate fainted in the court where he was given a suspended prison sentence after lying to potential voters.Read

Tories hoping to wipe out memories of Solihull election losses May 09 2013

It was a huge shock to the Conservative Party when it lost its iron grip on the safe Solihull seat back in 2005 when Lib Dem Lorely Burt replaced John Taylor as MP.Read

Council leader Sir Albert Bore to quit as Birmingham hospitals chairman May 06 2013

Birmingham City Council leader Sir Albert Bore is to stand down as chairman of University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust, according to reports.Read

UKIP council election success just the start, says MEP Mike Nattrass May 04 2013

UKIP’S West Midlands Euro-MP has called on the main political parties to wake up and take notice after the anti-EU party gained its first local council seats – winning a quarter of the vote nationally.Read

Vince Cable dismisses Heseltine's LEP vision of regional economies May 03 2013

Plans to revive the West Midlands economy by handing billions to Local Enterprise Partnerships have been thrown into confusion after Business Secretary Vince Cable ruled them out.Read

SMEs may be put off Birmingham City Council Contracts says Tory May 02 2013

Small and medium sized businesses could miss out on Birmingham City Council contracts thanks to an “unnecessarily bureaucratic” new policy designed to help them, it has been claimed.Read

Union blasts Tory chief for 'ducking out of' visit to Smethwick Jobcentre Apr 29 2013

Government cabinet member Iain Duncan-Smith has been accused of dodging angry anti-cuts protesters after pulling out of a visit to Smethwick Jobcentre. Read

Time for an English electoral revolution Apr 26 2013

With the counties going to the polls on May 2, Chris Game argues for an overhaul of the electoral system at local level.Read

Stop Beautiful bank being leased to pubs, clubs and restaurants say Birmingham Conservatives Apr 25 2013

A landmark building must not be allowed to be turned in to yet another Broad Street pub, club or restaurant.Read

Government U-turn over changes to planning policies Apr 19 2013

Ministers were forced into a U-turn over proposals to relax planning rules over home extensions following a threatened rebellion by MPs.Read

Margaret Thatcher Funeral: A final farewell to the Iron Lady Apr 17 2013

Political editor Jonathan Walker reports from London on Baroness Thatcher’s final journey.Read

John Clancy to challenge Albert Bore for Birmingham council leadership Apr 16 2013

A Labour backbencher has launched his second bid to become Birmingham City Council leader with a pledge to get the city building and invest in small businesses.Read

What did Mrs Thatcher do for the West Midlands? Business leaders debate her legacy Apr 11 2013

The death of the former prime minister this week has reignited the debate about her legacy for manufacturing and commerce in the West Midlands.Read

MPs cut Easter break short for Margaret Thatcher tribute Apr 10 2013

MPs and members of the House of Lords will cut short their Easter break to return to Parliament and pay tribute to Margaret Thatcher today.Read

How Margaret Thatcher changed the UK mining industry forever Apr 09 2013

Jon Griffin looks at one of the issues Margaret Thatcher will be most remembered for – miningRead

Midlands business leaders divided over Margaret Thatcher legacy Apr 09 2013

Business leaders in the West Midlands paid tribute to Baroness Thatcher after her death – but views on her legacy are mixed.Read

Margaret Thatcher: The leader who transformed a nation Apr 08 2013

Margaret Thatcher was the woman who, virtually single-handed and in the space of one tumultuous decade, transformed a nation.Read

Margaret Thatcher dies aged 87 Apr 08 2013

Baroness Thatcher died this morning aged 87 following a stroke, it was announced today.Read

Birmingham MP Liam Byrne battles Labour left over welfare reforms Apr 01 2013

One of Labour’s most senior MPs in the Midlands is at the centre of a major row with activists and union leaders after he refused to vote against the Government’s “workfare” plans in the Commons.Read

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