New ⁦@UKandEU⁩ report on ‘Manufacturing after Brexit’ just out co-authored by ⁦@UoB_Business⁩ @dgbailey & Ivan Rajic ukandeu.ac.uk/research-paper…

Surely it has imploded 😳

Ironically, Diane and Majid now have more influence as independents than as Labour Councillors since Labour refused any coalition. Good to have more experience in the ranks of the independents. Might be better for Birmingham if other experienced Labour Councillors resigned too.

Monday

For transparency, I want to share the letter I sent to the regional Labour Party explaining my decision to resign my membership in full 👇🏽 This was not an easy decision. Labour was once more than just a political party to many of us. It was a movement rooted in solidarity, justice, compassion, and standing up for ordinary working people and communities like ours. However the response to Gaza, increasingly punitive immigration and asylum policies that too often scapegoat people seeking sanctuary rather than addressing the structural causes and humanitarian responsibilities, the silencing of members, the growing obsession with control and “falling into line”, and now local deals with Reform in Birmingham for influential committee positions - these were lines I could no longer ignore, both as a member and as a councillor entrusted to represent my community with honesty and integrity. During the election campaign in Bromford and Hodge Hill, countless people I have known my whole life told me they no longer felt represented by Labour. Many who supported me made it clear they were voting for the person, not the party. People often ask why I stayed for so long. I stayed because I genuinely believed change from within was still possible. I fought for that change for as long as I could because I never wanted to walk away from the values that first brought me into politics. But there comes a point when staying silent risks making you complicit. I reached that point. So, with a heavy heart but a clear conscience, I resigned from the Labour Party. My commitment to the community, to justice, and to standing up for the people of Bromford and Hodge Hill has not changed and it never will ♥️

One of Britain's great triumphs and economic advantages is fading away cc @KanishkaNarayan arguably.uk/p/the-quiet-coll…

The stupidity of, and damage done by, stamp duty is being recognised by more and more people. I’ve said it before and l’ll say it again: any govt which cared about economic growth and people’s welfare would abolish it. thetimes.com/article/026bd67…

My first in a series of World Cup collages in today’s @guardian 👇👇 theguardian.com/football/pic…

🚨 BREAKING: Manchester United legend Lou Macari has been awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours. The former United striker has been recognised for his outstanding work with the Macari Foundation, which has helped tackle homelessness in Stoke-on-Trent over the past decade. A fantastic honour for a true footballing great 👏

Remarkable information!

‘I think about him every time I go swimming’: David Hockney remembered theguardian.com/artanddesign…

University of Birmingham begins process to sell its former Selly Oak campus thetab.com/2026/06/12/univer…

“The UK's Local Government Pension Scheme’s assets are now over £0.5 Trillion. Its management expenses hit £3Bn 2025-26.” Greater Manchester’s £32Bn fund is the biggest with a £10B surplus. Unlocking this UK Secret Wealth Garden, & its taxpayer-owned surplus of £250 billion &putting it to work at the most local levels in the UK economy is a radical policy waiting to happen.” @AndyBurnhamGM blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/b…

Amazing: KPMG wrote a report describing the successful use of AI by businesses. But the case studies turned out to be AI hallucinations. giftarticle.ft.com/giftartic…

After considerable reflection, I have decided to resign my membership of the Labour Party with immediate effect. I joined and supported Labour for the best part of my life because I believed in a political movement rooted in working people, strong local democracy, equality, justice, fairness and genuine internal pluralism. I no longer believe it reflects those principles. I also wish to place on record my serious concerns about the current state of the Birmingham Labour Group. Far too often, questions from members are ignored or left unanswered, and there is little to no meaningful feedback loop between leadership and those expected to deliver decisions on the ground. This is not an isolated issue but a consistent culture of avoidance and opacity. In my view, the current local leadership lacks the experience, judgement, and political competence required to effectively manage a group in a city as complex and demanding as Birmingham. These are matters of personal experience and perception, but they have contributed to a loss of confidence in internal processes and accountability. I, like my ward colleague were troubled by expectations placed on representatives to support the elevation of councillors from Reform UK into influential committee positions. Many residents view Reform UK as a party that has contributed to hostility toward Muslims and minority communities. I am also deeply concerned by the direction of Labour’s immigration policy, which appears increasingly shaped by political expediency rather than principle or long-term vision. In conversations with residents in Bromford and Hodge Hill, this has been a recurring concern, with many expressing anxieties about how recent policy shifts are being communicated and implemented, and a sense that communities like ours are often talked about rather than listened to. Most recently, I was deeply disappointed by Andy Burnham’s refusal to describe the events unfolding in Gaza, Palestine as a genocide, despite the scale of devastation and civilian loss that has shocked people across the world. I am also dismayed by the refusal of many senior Labour figures to clearly acknowledge the scale of the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, Palestine. The most recent reports suggest more than 72,991 Palestinians have been killed. This has not been an abstract debate but a deeply felt rupture for many people, particularly within Muslim communities, who feel their concerns and humanity have not been properly recognised or reflected. This growing disconnect is also increasingly reflected in recent survey evidence. A Muslim census report found that only 7% of the Muslim respondents in its local election sample reported voting for Labour. It is apparent where Labour support does persist, it is often closely tied to established family, friendship or local political networks rather than broader political engagement with the party. I no longer recognise the Labour Party as a genuinely broad, democratic political movement. It has become more managerial, centralised, and constrained in its tolerance of internal difference, both locally and nationally. For these reasons, I can no longer remain a member in good conscience. There remain many committed individuals within the party who continue to serve their communities with integrity and dedication, and I wish them well. I also hope that serious reflection takes place on the direction the party is travelling in and the values it now represents. My views no longer fit comfortably within a Labour Party. Ultimately, the Labour Party has left me, not the other way around. I will continue to work to represent the people of Bromford and Hodge Hill with my ward colleague Cllr Diane Donaldson and to stand up for the communities and values that first led me into public service.

Burnham's backyard blunder? The Scandal Nobody Noticed: £10.4B surplus in the Greater Manchester Pension Fund, starved from GM Economy. blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/b… Time for Action, Man. Get the money back to GM &get Makerfield its £420m. Questions for @AndyBurnhamGM @MayorofGM to answer and ask.@MENnewsdesk

Video of visually impaired Palestinian boy crying over broken glasses draws global attention theguardian.com/world/2026/j…

The Day Birmingham Broke Starmer

Pretty sure this letter wasn’t hurriedly written after interview with @cathynewman - has been coming all day. That’s two Birmingham Labour MPs now done with @Keir_Starmer (also @jessphillips ) All eyes now on @ShabanaMahmood…

🚨John Healey gone from the cabinet. Still no Defence Investment Plan. "What is going on in regard to yet another delay on the DIP is fast becoming a national disgrace. Make no mistake jobs and skills are at risk" @UniteSharon bbc.co.uk/news/live/cgqeg09p…

Must read! Great @olleyatGRIT piece raising big questions about @BrumLabour in the wake of the departure of the brilliant @Diane4HodgeHill & concerns raised by @CllrMajid: midlandsgrit.co.uk/p/the-whi… @JaneRockHouse @LewisJWarner