Politics news & West Midlands local government news

Ed Balls: Labour can't promise a reverse to current spending cuts Feb 15 2013

Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls tells Political Editor Jonathan Walker that Labour is in no position to promise a reverse to current spending cuts.Read

Labour targets Birmingham Yardley seat of Lib Dem MP John Hemming Feb 11 2013

Labour Party bosses are gunning for 15 key seats across the West Midlands at the next General Election, it has emerged.Read

Bore hits back at Pickles for 'misleading' public on Birmingham finances Feb 11 2013

Birmingham City Council leader Sir Albert Bore has hit back at local government secretary Eric Pickles for making ‘misleading’ statements about the city’s finances.Read

'Accept gay rights or face oblivion', Conservative MP tells fellow Tories Feb 08 2013

The Conservative Party must embrace equality including gay rights or risk permanent electoral oblivion, a Midland MP has warned.Read

Sion Simon bid for West Midlands candidate for 2014 European Parliamentary elections Feb 08 2013

The MP who quit Parliament for an ill-fated campaign to become the first elected mayor of Birmingham is now bidding for a return to frontline politics with the European Parliament.Read

Birmingham City Council budget reveals host of cuts Feb 07 2013

One of the most feared budget announcements in Birmingham's history revealed job cuts, axed childrens homes and a £35 per year charge grass cuttings charge as the council struggles to cut more than £100 million off the budget.Read

Pickles attacks councils for cutting jobs and services while hoarding cash Feb 05 2013

Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles has claimed local authorities in the UK are sitting on cash reserves of £16 billion.Read

Ed Miliband in Birmingham to launch Labour's Youth Jobs Taskforce Jan 31 2013

Labour leader Ed Miliband is calling on the Government to give local councils more powers to create jobs, as he visits the West Midlands.Read

Liam Byrne's opposition to Birmingham HS2 depot branded 'a betrayal' Jan 30 2013

A rail lobby group has condemned Liam Byrne’s opposition to the construction of a HS2 depot in Birmingham – branding it a “betrayal" of the city's people. Read

Labour threatens last-minute changes to HS2 plans in depot row Jan 25 2013

A Labour government would reverse controversial plans to create a rail maintenance depot in east Birmingham which some politicians claim could cost 7,200 jobs, MP Liam Byrne has announced.Read

Birmingham City Council leader Sir Albert joins 'supercabinet' to fight funding cuts Jan 25 2013

Birmingham’s council leader Sir Albert Bore has joined forces with the leaders of seven other big cities to form a “supercabinet”Read

Council calls on Birmingham businesses to help tackle youth unemployment Jan 25 2013

Birmingham’s council leader has admitted the city has one of the worst youth unemployment rates in the country – but pledged a new £15 million campaign will make a huge difference.Read

Supporters of EU can win British referendum, insists Worcestershire MP Luff Jan 25 2013

Supporters of the European Union can win a referendum on British membership, a pro-EU Conservative MP has insisted.Read

HS2 depot would destroy east Birmingham economy, says city MP Liam Byrne Jan 25 2013

A planned high speed rail depot in Birmingham could “destroy” the economy in the eastern part of the city, the House of Commons is to be told.Read

Birmingham's mayor making dinner to be cut by £15 per head Jan 25 2013

The cost of Birmingham’s annual mayor making dinner will be slashed by £15 per head and the guest list shrunk by more than 200 following revelations it cost a staggering £27,000 last year.Read

Neil Elkes: Council tax dilemma for Labour at Birmingham City Council Jan 25 2013

Council tax has become a pivotal issue of the first budget of Sir Albert Bore’s administration, with a decision over whether or not to freeze it in Birmingham for the third year running hanging in the balance. Read

UKTI needs greater powers, says Shrewsbury MP Jan 25 2013

The official agency dedicated to helping British firms export to new markets needs more funding and more publicity, a Shropshire MP has warned.Read

MP John Hemming threatens court action over council’s 'poor' tax Jan 18 2013

An MP has threatened to take Birmingham City Council to court as Labour and the Coalition parties fight an increasingly bitter war of words over who is to blame for the decision to make some of Birmingham’s poorest residents pay council tax.Read

Birmingham City Council contracts boss warned not to create red tape Jan 18 2013

Birmingham City Council's new cabinet member for contracts and commissioning has been warned not to create too much red tape for small and medium enterprises in his new social charter.Read

Ex-journalist Lord Fowler backs calls for press regulator Jan 18 2013

A Midland peer and former journalist has criticised newspaper standards and claimed a "deeply rotten culture" has been allowed to develop in some parts of the press.Read

Quick Links

Get Involved

We want your local stories, videos & pics.