http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/ Our columnist, The Stirrer campaigns for consumer rights and discusses politics and his pick of the latest news in Birmingham and across the UK. en-gb Birmingham Mail no Our columnist, The Stirrer campaigns for consumer rights and discusses politics and his pick of the latest news in Birmingham and across the UK. The Stirrer, consumer rights, news in Birmingham http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/2009/11/19/actions-speak-louder-than-words-97319-25204807/ Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:20:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/2009/11/19/actions-speak-louder-than-words-97319-25204807/ THE most tear-jerking story of the week is the Australian government’s acknowledgement that thousands of post-war British youngsters transported Down Under were grievously mistreated. The Stirrer http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/2009/11/12/pm-knows-the-agony-of-loss-97319-25150804/ Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:25:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/2009/11/12/pm-knows-the-agony-of-loss-97319-25150804/ IS THERE any force of nature as strong as a parent grieving for the loss of a child? The Stirrer http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/2009/11/05/johnson-picking-a-futile-drugs-fight-97319-25097881/ Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:20:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/2009/11/05/johnson-picking-a-futile-drugs-fight-97319-25097881/ WAS Home Secretary Alan Johnson on the wacky baccy when he picked a fight with his chief drugs adviser? The Stirrer http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/2009/10/29/lights-camera-brum-97319-25042028/ Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:14:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/2009/10/29/lights-camera-brum-97319-25042028/ IN TROUBLED times we need big hopes and bright dreams, and visions don’t come more technicolour than Jonathan Stuart Brown’s bold plan to make the West Midlands the UK’s movie capital. The Stirrer http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/2009/10/22/should-we-revive-death-penalty-debate-97319-24988197/ Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:20:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/2009/10/22/should-we-revive-death-penalty-debate-97319-24988197/ BROADCASTER Ludovic Kennedy who died this week was a great campaigning journalist. The Stirrer http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/2009/10/15/caught-out-jacqui-should-quit-immediately-97319-24938047/ Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:44:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/2009/10/15/caught-out-jacqui-should-quit-immediately-97319-24938047/ WHEN Villa supporting ex-teacher Jacqui Smith became the first female Home Secretary 12 months ago, she had no shortage of well-wishers – especially here in the West Midlands. The Stirrer http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/2009/10/15/caught-out-jacqui-smith-should-quit-now-97319-24932076/ Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:00:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/2009/10/15/caught-out-jacqui-smith-should-quit-now-97319-24932076/ WHEN Villa supporting ex-teacher Jacqui Smith became the first female Home Secretary 12 months ago, she had no shortage of well-wishers – especially here in the West Midlands. The Stirrer http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/2009/10/08/heads-must-roll-in-care-scandal-97319-24882637/ Thu, 08 Oct 2009 08:33:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/2009/10/08/heads-must-roll-in-care-scandal-97319-24882637/ THIS week’s devastating report into Birmingham’s children’s services department pulls no punches. The Stirrer http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/2009/10/01/roman-must-face-music-97319-24827000/ Thu, 01 Oct 2009 08:38:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/2009/10/01/roman-must-face-music-97319-24827000/ OSCAR-winning director Roman Polanski has always been a great fantasist. The Stirrer http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/2009/09/24/postal-voting-system-s-just-bananas-97319-24771064/ Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:27:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/2009/09/24/postal-voting-system-s-just-bananas-97319-24771064/ THE judge who complained a few years ago that voting fraud made Birmingham look like a banana republic was obviously being unfair – to banana republics! The Stirrer http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/2009/09/17/our-freedom-to-enjoy-life-like-floyd-97319-24714617/ Thu, 17 Sep 2009 09:57:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/2009/09/17/our-freedom-to-enjoy-life-like-floyd-97319-24714617/ KEITH Floyd’s premature death at the age of 65 will doubtless be taken as further evidence of the dangers of a boozy lifestyle. The Stirrer http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/2009/09/10/protesters-should-come-in-peace-97319-24654061/ Thu, 10 Sep 2009 07:25:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/2009/09/10/protesters-should-come-in-peace-97319-24654061/ AFTER three men were convicted of a terrorist plot this week that would have outdone 9/11 in its murderous scale, few people would deny that Islamic extremism remains a threat to Britain. The Stirrer http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/2009/09/03/curious-case-of-a-terrorist-set-free-97319-24598469/ Thu, 03 Sep 2009 07:24:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/2009/09/03/curious-case-of-a-terrorist-set-free-97319-24598469/ AFTER the row about expenses, politicians have become such a discredited species that an old joke about lawyers has now been transferred to the Palace of Varieties at Westminster. The Stirrer http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/2009/08/27/landlords-must-take-blame-for-bad-boozers-97319-24544153/ Thu, 27 Aug 2009 07:33:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/2009/08/27/landlords-must-take-blame-for-bad-boozers-97319-24544153/ THE great British boozer is apparently in terminal decline with 52 pubs closing every day. The Stirrer http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/2009/08/20/there-s-an-alternative-to-confrontation-97319-24487222/ Thu, 20 Aug 2009 07:15:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/2009/08/20/there-s-an-alternative-to-confrontation-97319-24487222/ SENIOR Birmingham MPs and councillors have pledged their support to a campaign I launched earlier this week on my Stirrer website to celebrate Birmingham’s great multicultural heritage. The Stirrer http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/2009/08/06/why-must-we-tolerate-louts-march-97319-24331431/ Thu, 06 Aug 2009 07:13:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/2009/08/06/why-must-we-tolerate-louts-march-97319-24331431/ THIS weekend a self-confessed group of ex-football “casuals” are heading into Birmingham for a protest against Islamic extremism. The Stirrer http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/2009/07/30/taxi-drivers-deserve-proper-protection-97319-24275323/ Thu, 30 Jul 2009 07:20:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/2009/07/30/taxi-drivers-deserve-proper-protection-97319-24275323/ EVERY reader will have been appalled by the death of taxi driver Mohammed Arshad last week, but it hit me particularly hard because I regularly use the Kings Norton cab firm he worked for. The Stirrer http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/2009/07/23/dave-s-fighting-a-losing-battle-97319-24222149/ Thu, 23 Jul 2009 08:35:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/2009/07/23/dave-s-fighting-a-losing-battle-97319-24222149/ DAVID Cameron obviously lacks a sense of irony. The Stirrer http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/2009/07/09/school-row-mum-s-no-criminal-97319-24113308/ Thu, 09 Jul 2009 08:36:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/2009/07/09/school-row-mum-s-no-criminal-97319-24113308/ WHEN Mrinal Patel tried getting her five-year-old son into a decent school recently, she was hauled before the courts. The Stirrer http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/2009/07/02/gordon-revisits-the-80s-for-solutions-97319-24056540/ Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:05:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/the-stirrer/2009/07/02/gordon-revisits-the-80s-for-solutions-97319-24056540/ I NEVER had Gordon Brown marked down as a New Romantic, but I reckon the Prime Minister will be breaking open the eyeliner and donning a frilly shirt any day now. The Stirrer