Politics

From the car you drive to the school your child attends, politics plays a part in every aspect of West Midlands life and the Birmingham Mail offers daily in-depth analysis and reaction to Town Hall decision-making and debate across the region. Birmingham is covered by Birmingham City Council, which is the largest local authority in the UK, employing thousands of workers in numerous areas.

Harry PotterSir John Hurt shone on a spotlight on the injustices of the Birmingham pub bombings

His bravest role was arguably in the TV drama Who bombed Birmingham?

PoliticsHS2 unveils new chief executive

Mark Thurston will take over the top job in the spring and lead the delivery of the high-speed line between Birmingham and London

EconomyNew Black Country enterprise zone to create 7,000 jobs

Communities Secretary Sajid Javid unveils location of West Midlands' latest zone which is targeting growth among tech firms and manufacturers

John LewisWhy Birmingham's Labour councillors are a little anxious right now

The redrawing of boundaries and post-Brexit uncertainty has plunged them into disarray

Birmingham Museum and Art GalleryCouncil bosses warned over 'detrimental impact' of planned arts cuts

Stark warning to council chiefs over potential cuts to Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery

The QueenFind out what happens when the Queen dies: From stock exchange shutdown to axing comedy programmes

There was a fake media report over the festive season suggesting that the monarch had died

European UnionMPs given five days to debate Brexit bill

Debate on Government law allowing Prime Minister to trigger Article 50 begins on January 31

Birmingham Pub BombingsPub bombings: Major boost as Government changes law to allow funding

Government bows to #Justice4the21 pressure to support the families of the 21 people killed in the Birmingham pub bombings

PoliticsWorking class people still get paid less even when they're in a top job

People in the same profession, with the same qualifications and the same experience, can get paid different amounts

EducationWe've been betrayed over school closure say parents

Protest planned as Schools Commissioner visits threatened Baverstock School in Druids Heath

Birmingham AirportBirmingham Airport 'needs a fair deal' to compete with Scotland

Tax on air travel is being cut in Scotland and MPs from both major parties say Birmingham Airport needs a level playing field.

NHSCouples turned away for fertility treatment as local NHS managers scramble to save money

Health Minister promises to act after Labour and Tory MPs warn couples desperate for a child are being denied treatment for no good reason

PoliticsRough Sleeping in Birmingham increases by 53 per cent in a year

Official figures reveal 55 people were sleeping rough in city on a single night last November.

West Midlands PoliceWest Midlands Police Commissioner buries hatchet with former deputy

PCC David Jamieson and Yvonne Mosquito reach an 'amicable' settlement almost a year after her suspension for misconduct during a murder inquiry

Sutton ColdfieldFight to save Sutton Coldfield Library gets a major boost

Town Council agrees to put £150,000 on the table to fund under threat Sutton Coldfield Library

Politics£392 million planned for transport, jobs and investment in the Midlands

Departments across Government are working on the "Mldlands Engine" strategy, say Ministers

Bordesley Green and Small HeathFury as stinking rubbish - including a SOFA - piled high on Bordesley Green street

Residents say they could smell the filth before they saw it

Handsworth and SohoMaking young girls wear hijab is 'as bad as pole dancing or spray tans' for kids

Muslim campaigner speaks after girl of four banned from wearing headscarf

Birmingham City CouncilWest Midlands United - all mayoral candidates link in support of pub bombings families

Fair inquest funding MUST be found for relatives, they say

Centenary SquareStop talking rubbish, this tree is not an ISIS terror threat says business chief

Westside business district manager Mike Olley says council should just say the historic London Plane Tree is ugly and in the way rather than blame the Metro or ISIS

EducationRow breaks out after four-year-old told not to wear hijab to Catholic school

Senior councillors in row over whether Christian faith school is allowed to impose no headwear policy on Muslim child

Sutton Coldfield£150,000 Sutton Coldfield Library rescue plan put forward

Sutton Coldfield Town Council to debate putting up cash to save the town centre library

EmploymentLabour accuses Theresa May's national industrial strategy of neglecting the West Midlands

Prime Minister accused of "kick in the teeth" for the West Midlands as 'national' strategy has massive cash windfall for the North

EU Referendum43 Labour MPs condemn Theresa May's 'hard Brexit' plan

Birmingham MP Jess Phillips is among MPs arguing that the UK must stay in the single market