Politics news & West Midlands local government news

Bob Jones elected Police & Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands Nov 16 2012

Wolverhampton councilllor Bob Jones has been confirmed as the new Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands. Read

PCC elections dubbed 'farce' after 12% turnout at West Midlands polls Nov 16 2012

Just 12.31 per cent of eligible voters bothered to turn out for the West Midlands police and crime commissioner elections it has been confirmed. Read

Vince Cable to intervene over fears of HS2 threat to Jaguar Land Rover Nov 16 2012

Business Secretary Vince Cable is to intervene in a row over claims Midland manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover is threatened by plans to turn its rail terminal into a construction depot for the planned high speed rail line.Read

Equal pay case makes mockery of law says former Birmingham City Council HR chief Nov 15 2012

The £757 million equal pay bill faced by Birmingham City Council has made a mockery of the legal system, according to the former head of the authority’s human resources department.Read

NHS facing crisis after loss of 1,600 nursing jobs, claims RCN Nov 15 2012

The Royal College of Nursing has warned that the NHS is “sleepwalking into a crisis” after hundreds of nursing jobs were lost in the West Midlands.Read

MP Tom Watson warned of threats after making No.10 paedophile allegation Nov 04 2012

A Midland MP said he had been warned of threats to his safety over allegations that a paedophile ring stretched into 10 Downing Street.Read

Heseltine's vision for Birmingham and regions: Drop Whitehall to unlock growth Nov 02 2012

Big changes affecting schools and businesses - and several other issues in between - could be in the pipeline if Lord Heseltine gets his way. Political Editor Jon Walker examines the idea to hand power from Whitehall to the regions.Read

Council Tax has little support and little benefit Nov 02 2012

Council Tax Support is one headache councils could do without, says Chris Game.Read

Lord Heseltine wants cabinet minister for Greater Birmingham Nov 01 2012

A Cabinet Minister would become regional minister for “Greater Birmingham” if Lord Heseltine gets his way.Read

City children's services bosses grilled following damning Ofsted report Nov 01 2012

Birmingham’s troubled child protection services escaped direct Government intervention because of sweeping changes at the top of the city council, it has been claimed.Read

Staffordshire MP calls for end to 'beer tax' Nov 01 2012

An “unfair beer tax” has been criticised by MPs who warned it was costing jobs across the Midlands.Read

Midland MPs call for EU cuts alongside rebels Nov 01 2012

David Cameron suffered his first significant Commons defeat after Midland MPs demanded a tougher line on European Union funding.Read

Coventry and Black Country invited to sign "city deals" with Government Oct 29 2012

New ‘City Deals’ creating thousands of jobs in Coventry and the Black Country could be signed with the government after ministers invited the regions to draw up ambitious plans for transport, skills and boosting the economy.Read

Britain's big cities must lead economic growth, says Nick Clegg Oct 29 2012

Britain has to depend on major cities such as Birmingham to revive the economy, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has insisted.Read

Plans to shake up spending in Black Country, Coventry and Warwickshire announced Oct 29 2012

Government plans to hand more local authorities, including in the Black Country, Coventry and Warwickshire, wider spending powers are set to be announced.Read

Birmingham MP calls on city housing chief to resign over ASBO case Oct 26 2012

A Birmingham MP has demanded the resignation of the city's head of housing after accusing Birmingham City Council of deliberately dumping a “neighbour from hell” on an unsuspecting housing association.Read

Andrew Mitchell to give pay-off to Sutton Coldfield charities Oct 26 2012

Sutton Coldfield MP Andrew Mitchell is to donate all his £8,250 pay-off from leaving the Government to good causes, it has been revealed.Read

Property owners and tenants set for £1bn HS2 compensation Oct 25 2012

More than a billion pounds could be paid out in compensation to homeowners, tenants and businesses affected by the planned high speed rail line between Birmingham and London, Ministers have announced.Read

HS1 architect Mark Bostock: HS2 heading in wrong direction Oct 25 2012

The architect of Britain’s first high speed railway has said the proposed HS2 route is flawed because it has become overly politicised.Read

Ministers vow to speed up Regional Growth Fund Oct 25 2012

Ministers have vowed to speed up the distribution of Regional Growth Fund cash after West Midlands firms were awarded £124 million in the final round of the Government scheme designed to create jobs.Read

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