Getting something to the Commissioners is as I have experienced virtually impossible. The bureaucracy has a way of stalling and stalling. As to Freedom of Information requests I made one in April and I am waiting, despite a promise to provide it after the election. Democracy is a precious commodity but once lost it is hard to restore. But do not blame the Commissioners. They are the executioners. They are not the guilty party… the last administration is to blame, both the politicians and the council officials who allowed it, who permitted it, to happen. The first group are no longer there… the second group remain in place still. Yes politicians make the decisions that caused the bankruptcy but they take advice and that advice was either taken or ignored. Either way officials share blame. From my limited knowledge a lot of what went on before the election reveals a laxity in governance, which is at the heart of the problem. Unfortunately there is no commissioner to oversee governance.
Now to the Liberal Green coalition… those with a keen eye on the past will remember the first Labour government in 1924. At that time Labour had 58 MPs in a Commons of over 650. It lasted nine months. It lasted because the dominant party, the Tories, were divided. Obviously the result on May 7 resulted in no dominant party but the refusal of the other parties to engage with the largest elected party is similar to the refusal of free traders in the Tory party to engage with the protectionist majority. So what we have is the Liberals, who lost vote share throughout Birmingham and a seat in 2026, leading the council. This is of course an affront to democracy as it was in 1924. The Liberals though have form when it comes to losing and then wanting power. In 2010 they entered government with the Tories yet today criticise the austerity of which they were a part. Abroad, in past coalitions eg. In Germany, Liberals desire power without responsibility. That is the nature of junior partners in coalitions. What is perplexing is the big winner in 2026, besides Reform, were the Greens. Surely they should have taken the Council Leadership as the senior partners?
As to social housing… forget it. A Council that is broke in a country that is broke cannot afford to build properties that lose it money. Borrowing to build might be, in some peoples’ minds, desirable but when no one wants to lend you money or the interest too high it is not viable. As for an approach to the Secretary of State…mmm…two years through this government and less than 25% of the 1.5 million new houses promised. Indeed most of the completed new build were planned under the last administration. And where are these social houses to be built? Where is there an abundance of council land? I would like to know… Sutton Park? I wonder!
Perhaps a letter to Steve Reed, Secretary of State @ Housing, Communities and Local Government to supplement your FOI request? After all I expect his department appointed the commissioners and someone in the maze receives their reports. Might a Labour MP for a Birmingham constituency also ask a question?
I'm thinking of doing just that - despite knowing he or his office won't reply - sadly it's the Labour (and in all fairness other parties) way. If it's a nice story about tea and cucumber sandwiches with the crusts cut off - they reply anything with a bit of a sting - under the duvet they go.
Getting something to the Commissioners is as I have experienced virtually impossible. The bureaucracy has a way of stalling and stalling. As to Freedom of Information requests I made one in April and I am waiting, despite a promise to provide it after the election. Democracy is a precious commodity but once lost it is hard to restore. But do not blame the Commissioners. They are the executioners. They are not the guilty party… the last administration is to blame, both the politicians and the council officials who allowed it, who permitted it, to happen. The first group are no longer there… the second group remain in place still. Yes politicians make the decisions that caused the bankruptcy but they take advice and that advice was either taken or ignored. Either way officials share blame. From my limited knowledge a lot of what went on before the election reveals a laxity in governance, which is at the heart of the problem. Unfortunately there is no commissioner to oversee governance.
Now to the Liberal Green coalition… those with a keen eye on the past will remember the first Labour government in 1924. At that time Labour had 58 MPs in a Commons of over 650. It lasted nine months. It lasted because the dominant party, the Tories, were divided. Obviously the result on May 7 resulted in no dominant party but the refusal of the other parties to engage with the largest elected party is similar to the refusal of free traders in the Tory party to engage with the protectionist majority. So what we have is the Liberals, who lost vote share throughout Birmingham and a seat in 2026, leading the council. This is of course an affront to democracy as it was in 1924. The Liberals though have form when it comes to losing and then wanting power. In 2010 they entered government with the Tories yet today criticise the austerity of which they were a part. Abroad, in past coalitions eg. In Germany, Liberals desire power without responsibility. That is the nature of junior partners in coalitions. What is perplexing is the big winner in 2026, besides Reform, were the Greens. Surely they should have taken the Council Leadership as the senior partners?
As to social housing… forget it. A Council that is broke in a country that is broke cannot afford to build properties that lose it money. Borrowing to build might be, in some peoples’ minds, desirable but when no one wants to lend you money or the interest too high it is not viable. As for an approach to the Secretary of State…mmm…two years through this government and less than 25% of the 1.5 million new houses promised. Indeed most of the completed new build were planned under the last administration. And where are these social houses to be built? Where is there an abundance of council land? I would like to know… Sutton Park? I wonder!
Perhaps a letter to Steve Reed, Secretary of State @ Housing, Communities and Local Government to supplement your FOI request? After all I expect his department appointed the commissioners and someone in the maze receives their reports. Might a Labour MP for a Birmingham constituency also ask a question?
I'm thinking of doing just that - despite knowing he or his office won't reply - sadly it's the Labour (and in all fairness other parties) way. If it's a nice story about tea and cucumber sandwiches with the crusts cut off - they reply anything with a bit of a sting - under the duvet they go.