Updated 4:00pm 21 March 2010:

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Mike Olley

Mike Olley

Nice work if you Cannes get it... Mar 15 2010

This week is a red letter week for many top people in Birmingham and around the globe.Read

Mike Olley

Boasting is a risky idea in politics Mar 08 2010

HAROLD Wilson famously said that a week in politics is a long time. The clear implication, of course, is that things can change and do so at a fast pace.Read

Mike Olley

If anyone knocks Wolves it will be us Mar 01 2010

AN MP has won his battle against lawyers who tried to gag his criticisms of a property developer following a row over a Birmingham shopping centre.Read

Mike Olley

We can teach US about healthcare Feb 22 2010

THE NHS is Labour’s greatest ever achievement. In the run up to the General Election, Labour has promised even more from the NHS.Read

Mike Olley

Capital gains so taxing, Mr Cameron Feb 15 2010

BIRMINGHAM and the West Midlands is a pretty unique place. Nottingham has the river Trent, Paris the Seine, New York the Hudson.Read

Mike Olley

Right this wrong against gay men Feb 08 2010

THE anti-Communist McCarthy era of the 1950s nowadays appears more than a tad ridiculous.Read

Mike Olley

Not a 'boot boy' but a local hero... Feb 01 2010

FOR your average Brummie to ask “Who the hell is Ian Austin?” would not be unreasonable.Read

Mike Olley

Board couldn't resist cash and promises Jan 25 2010

SO WHAT act allowed our beloved Cadbury to be taken over by the soulless foreigner Kraft? Who had their sticky fingers on the trigger which once pressed sealed the deed?Read

Mike Olley

Blazing row over fire stations axe Jan 18 2010

THERE appears to be a very interesting border dispute erupting along the West Midlands, Warwickshire boundary.Read

Mike Olley

There's snow excuse for closing Jan 11 2010

THE Labour landslide in the so-called Khaki Election of 1945 was so great that it should by any measure have delivered a minimum of two or more terms.Read

Mike Olley

Bailey's the bloke for Birmingham Jan 04 2010

THE job of replacing Clive Dutton as head of regeneration and planning is dragging on and has been for a while now.Read

Mike Olley

The monster Saddam had to go Dec 21 2009

I REALLY am at a loss to understand what the Iraq Inquiry is all about.Read

Mike Olley

It's all guns blazing in Culture bid Dec 14 2009

IT’S official, Birmingham is a contender for the status of UK City of Culture 2013.Read

Mike Olley

Hands off our free bus passes Dec 07 2009

MRS Olley, the elder, may not be a natural Gordon Brown fan. In confidence, I can tell you that I suspect she will be propping up the Lib Dems in Solihull.Read

Mike Olley

Bring women into balance of power Nov 30 2009

REPORTS in the media over the state of businesses in the West Midlands caught my eye the other day.Read

Mike Olley

Gary’s keeping Midlanders moving Nov 23 2009

YOU MAY never have heard of Coun Gary Clarke. Yet this man from Walsall effects most moves you make every day.Read

Mike Olley

Cadbury loses local roots Nov 16 2009

ANYONE into their middle age will recall the wealth of manufacturing that Birmingham could once boast.Read

Mike Olley

Tory MP Andrew has a Royal passion Nov 09 2009

ANDREW Mitchell, the Sutton Coldfield MP, is one of the nicest blokes you can ever get to meet. He looks every part the officer and a gentleman that he is.Read

Mike Olley

Don't judge until you've seen the film Nov 02 2009

The new film 1 Day is a certificate 15 film set around gang culture in Birmingham.Read

Mike Olley

Tough-tackling Khalid in front row of politics Oct 26 2009

LOOKING at the current Birmingham MPs, who in 20 years’ time will still feature on the political radar?Read