March 2012

Byrne’s Brum bid: what the papers say

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Published March 29, 2012, in Politics

  • The is worth reading on Friday morning – Jon Walker has a sit-down interview with Liam Byrne in which the shadow Work and Pensions Secretary explains why he wants to be Brum’s mayor. There’s a teaser piece online  and the full piece will no doubt be online at some point, but I for one will be in the newsagents first thing!
  • The Independent dwells on the impications for Ed Milliband’s senior team, saying:

The departure of Mr Byrne, currently Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary would surprise many Labour MPs and would disappoint fellow Blairites, some of whom are unhappy with the party’s direction under Ed Miliband.

  • weighs up Byrne’s chances against Labour rivals:

The Labour vote will take place in May, and Byrne’s opponents will argue that he may not have given himself enough time to mount a campaign capable of defeating rivals who have been working for nearly a year to garner support. He will remain in the shadow cabinet in the interim.

Sion Simon camp ‘unfazed’ by Byrne mayoral bid

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Published March 29, 2012, in Elected mayors

Liam Byrne’s dramatic announcement that he is to run for mayor of Birmingham had been half expected by Sion Simon’s backers.

With his Hodge Hill seat set to disappear at the next General Election, and his attempts to find an alternative constituency having failed, Mr Byrne’s only chance of remaining anywhere near the top table of politics was likely to revolve around running Birmingham.

But friends of Mr Simon were quick to claim that “this

Continues…

Byrne’s bid moves mayoral race up a notch

By:
Published March 29, 2012, in Elected mayors

Liam Byrne MP (Photo credit: Community Links)

Mayoral campaign veterans, the Lords Heseltine and Adonis were banging the drum as enthusiastically as ever during this afternoon’s debate staged by the Institute for Government when the Twitter-fed rumour mill announced Liam Byrne was stepping forward as a candidate.

Labour hopefuls Sir Albert Bore and Gisela Stuart were seen deep in conversation on the fringes of the event, their furrowed brows indicating something was afoot.

Continues…

Cameron boosts chances of Birmingham getting a mayor – but has he handed an opportunity to Liam Byrne?

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Published March 29, 2012, in Councils, Elected mayors, Politics

Birmingham’s mayoral debate has moved a long way in a comparatively short space of time.

A few months ago talk was confined to how on earth enough people would be persuaded to vote yes in the referendum when the Government stubbornly refused to specify the additional powers and budgets that cities would gain if they opted for a mayor.

There were desperate-sounding hints from Ministers that cities voting against a mayor could still qualify for “City Deals”, based

Continues…

Lib Dem Peer and former city leader is mayoral convert

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Published March 28, 2012, in Opinion

Lord Shipley: Mayoral convert

The key question being addressed by the Warwick (University) Commission on Elected Mayors and Civic Leadership could hardly be more topical or, as Referendum Day rapidly approaches, more urgent: In the circumstances, it is perhaps a little disappointing that we’ve heard even less from the Commission than we have

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Tory and Lib Dem manifesto no-show helps to make the case for elected mayor of Birmingham

By:
Published March 28, 2012, in Councils, Elected mayors, Politics

Mike Whitby

The local government elections on May 3 are likely to mark the end of an era in Birmingham.

If a referendum to be held on the same date steers the city in the direction of having a mayor, the annual contest to choose 40 of the 120 city councillors may never again enjoy the same prominence.

The mayor, who will be elected once every four years by 720,000 registered voters, will call the shots in future. The mayor will:

Continues…

Mike Whitby photobombs No10′s mayoral launch – and PM promises a cabinet of the mayors

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Published March 27, 2012, in Opinion

BIRMINGHAM’s Tory leader Mike Whitby will complete his oil tanker u-turn on elected mayors with articles in the national press and the Birmingham Post this week to declare his bid to be the Conservative candidate in the city.

The ebullient Cllr Whitby ensured he was at the very front of the crowd at this afternoon’s Downing Street reception to hear the formation

Continues…

Don’t elect a pig-in-a-poke – Guest post by Cllr Michael Wilkes

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Published March 26, 2012, in Opinion

A guest post by Michael Wilkes, Lib Dem councillor for Hall Green and former Lord Mayor.

There is a very powerful case, some of which I have set out elsewhere that Birmingham does not need a directly elected, executive mayor. And my colleague Cllr James Hutchings has with great eloquence established the case against in public fora. I hope that with these and other contributions people will find the ‘no’ case convincing.

The imported concept of a city boss for Brum is a not

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Labour pledges baccalaureate exams to produce “Birmingham’s entrepreneurs of tomorrow”.

By:
Published March 26, 2012, in Councils, Elected mayors, Politics

Sir Albert Bore

Labour will encourage schools to replace GCSEs with a Birmingham Baccalaureate, equipping pupils with “the skills required by today’s employers”, if the party takes control of the city council in May.

The initiative is to be developed in partnership with Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and the city’s universities, Labour group leader Sir Albert Bore confirmed when launching his manifesto for the local elections.

Other pledges in what Sir Albert called the most comprehensive set of policy proposals to be put before the electorate by Labour in a generation include:

  • Building 70,000 new public and private sector homes by 2026 to meet the needs of a fast-growing population.
  • Appointing a ‘Victims Champion’ to work with the new Police and Crime Panel, standing up for the rights of those affected by crime.
  • Expanding Birmingham’s network of extra care villages for elderly people.
  • Negotiating with the Government for the power to directly manage Whitehall transport funds.

Labour had already announced previously plans to create 6,000 manufacturing jobs at the former Alstom/LDV site in Washwood Heath, as well as

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Hopes rise for Birmingham Wholesale Markets rescue plan

By:
Published March 21, 2012, in Councils, Politics

Birmingham Wholesale Markets

Birmingham’s historic Wholesale Markets may be able to remain on its existing city centre site as part of a multi-million regeneration deal.

Consultants hired by the market traders say they are talking to a prospective developer and are confident that an agreement can be reached to provide a modern market building and meet redevelopment guidelines for the area laid down by the city council.

The future of the markets and the 21 acres it occupies on the edge of the city centre has placed council leaders in a difficult position.

The Pershore Street operation makes a £500,000-a-year loss for the council, the buildings are unfit for purpose and the valuable site has been earmarked by the local authority for

Continues…

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