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Neil Elkes

Neil Elkes

We'll freeze out Ebanks

BIRMINGHAM'S political leaders are plotting to silence new BNP councillor Sharon Ebanks. Read

Fraud probe candidate's early exit

THE Liberal Democrat candidate at the centre of a postal vote fraud allegation did not hang around to hear he had lost his bid for a council seat. Read

Police fear vote fraud after study

POLICE in Birmingham have uncovered 190 cases of suspicious voter registration in the run-up to tomorrow's local election. Read

Council veteran hits out at blame culture

A FORMER councillor who stepped down after a political career spanning four decades claims that local government has been overtaken by the blame culture. Read

Election chaos as Lib Dem is arrested

BIRMINGHAM'S Liberal Democrats today insisted their candidate would still stand in next week's local elections - despite his arrest in a postal vote fraud inquiry. Read

Councillors left offline after fire

THOUSANDS of City Council staff and councillors have been left fuming after four days without email or computer network access. Read

Labour happy to see councillor go

A CITY councillor who switched parties following a disciplinary bust-up was today told "good riddance" by Labour. Read

Fight to curb youth gangs

A HIGH-profile police office is needed to combat youth crime and anti-social behaviour on a troubled city estate, it was claimed today. Read

Battle to rein in cowboy clampers

BIRMINGHAM today demanded tough new laws to rein in cowboy car clampers preying on city motorists. Read

Stop dumping my brother's war memorial

THE sister of a young Birmingham soldier who lost his life during World War II has rescued his memorial - from a skip. Read

Councillor set to quit Labour party

A BIRMINGHAM Labour councillor, stripped of the party whip over allegations of bullying a colleague, is believed to have entered talks over a switch to the Liberal Democrats. Read

CCTV cameras saved from switch off

EMERGENCY measures were put into action to ensure more than 600 security cameras would not have to be switched off after a delay securing vital licences. Read

Problem pub drops late night plan

FAMILIES are celebrating after a rowdy pub, which has been the scene of numerous booze fuelled fights and other anti-social behaviour, backed down from plans to open late at night. Read

Plan for Tolkien tribute unveiled

AN EYE-catching new plan for a 20ft tree statue tribute to Lord of the Rings writer JRR Tolkien has been unveiled. Read

City genius addeds to Wall of Fame

GIANT of the industrial revolution Matthew Boulton is the latest addition to Birmingham's Regional Wall of Fame. Read

City schools to be rebuilt

TWELVE city schools are to be rebuilt after education chiefs signed a £326 million private finance initiative. Read

Little miracles are a picture of health

THEY'VE beaten the odds to survive and are looking a picture of health! Read

Louts storm school site

A GREAT Barr school has stepped up security following a series of raids by gangs of louts looking to cause trouble. Read

Hospital in car park plan row

BOSSES at Good Hope Hospital today unveiled controversial plans to tear down a social club and replace it with money-spinning car parking spaces. Read

Councillor turns down pay rise

A SENIOR Lib Dem councillor in Birmingham has turned down a £5,468 pay rise following a row over allowances. Read

Author Profile

A local news reporter in the Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield and south Staffordshire area since 1995, Neil Elkes is the local government correspondent covering the activities of Birmingham CIty Council - Europe's largest local authority. An avid reader and collector of comics Neil is writing a column on this for the Birmingham Mail website.

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