Mike Whitby's style too much to bear for Birmingham's backbench Tories
would have to mend his ways by becoming more inclusive. A senior Tory who spoke at the group meeting said: “Whitby stood up and claimed we had agreed to the bank by supporting a Liberal Democrat motion in the council chamber.
“I made the point that we don’t vote for Liberal Democrat motions in order to support the Liberal Democrats; we vote with them to keep Mike Whitby in a job.”
One Tory backbencher said: “Whitby has done little to address our concerns. There was a promise that he would change but he is carrying on as before.
“He clearly thinks he is untouchable but this is a serious bid to topple him.
“It’s too soon to say what might happen but it is entirely possible that Coun Brew could do it.”
One of the most senior Tory councillors outside of the cabinet said: “The £20 million loan to the cricket club really annoyed people and the council leader’s failure to attend a scrutiny committee made matters even worse.
“We were all told when the cabinet system came into existence that scrutiny committees would be able to hold cabinet members to account but we are simply being ignored by the council leader who presumably feels he is free to do whatever he wants.”
Coun Brew, a chartered accountant who built up his own business, first clashed swords with Coun Whitby in May 2007 upon becoming Lord Mayor.
A furious row broke out behind the scenes over Coun Whitby’s successful attempt to change the council constitution to state that the Lord Mayor must not take a lead or civic role in matters that are in the interests of the leader of the council or any other cabinet member.
Labour, and many Tories privately, claimed the change was designed to allow the council leader to overshadow the Lord Mayor at civic and council functions including royal visits.
Coun Whitby has yet to make any kind of comment about the leadership challenge in the hope, presumably, that the Tory group AGM on May 18 will deliver a resounding humiliation to the usurper.
If that really is his view, he could be making a fatal mistake.
This is a challenge that has been plotted for more than a year. Brew first considered running against Whitby this time last year but did not do so in order to fulfil a pledge to serve as deputy lord mayor.
A former deputy leader of the Conservative group from 1991 to 1995, Randal Brew is well respected by most of his colleagues and, perhaps crucially, is just about the only serious contender who could hold together the Tory-Liberal Democrat coalition that has been running Birmingham since 2004.
One of Brew’s closest council colleagues said: “There have been soundings taken before about a challenge but it always boiled down to the usual suspects who put their names forward but then withdrew.
“This time it is far more serious. There are a range of issues that the group is unhappy about, all to do with Mike’s style of leadership.
“Decisions are being taken by the cabinet, public money is being spent and we are never consulted. The first we know about it is when we read it in the newspapers.”
There is no doubt that pressure will be applied by Tory whips over the next fortnight in an attempt to shore up support for Whitby.
Alan Rudge, the combative cabinet member for equalities and human resources, was first off the starting blocks. He presented an image of Brew as a well-meaning but slightly naive and inexperienced politician who couldn’t quite make his mind up on big issues.
Rudge added: “I can’t see that Randal has the qualities necessary to replace Mike.
“He’s a nice enough guy, I’ve known him for years, but being a nice person doesn’t make you a good leader and doesn’t mean he is capable of doing it.
“I sometimes think he is a bit weak. You have to have a clear line on what you are thinking on policies. He sounds like he is equivocating. You need some clear and basic principles, you have to believe in what you are saying and know you won’t please everyone.”
The problem here is that it is precisely Whitby’s gung-ho determination and self-belief that he is right on every issue that has prompted a leadership challenge.
If Randal Brew can present himself as a team player keen to involve all his colleagues in decision-making, his time may have come.
