Birmingham Council coalition not ruled out by Lib Dems

Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Lib Dems nationally, was in Brum today to launch his party’s campaign for the local elections in the city, which will see all 101 council seats up for grabs.

The election on May 7 comes at a critical time for the Labour-run council, which has been shaken by the fallout of a financial crisis and the ongoing bins strike.

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During his visit to Birmingham, Davey hit out at both Birmingham Labour’s ‘failure to do the basics right’ as well as the ‘divisive politics’ of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.

With the election set to be played out on a fractured political battlefield involving the likes of Reform and independent candidates, there is a possibility Birmingham Council could be left with no party having overall control.

Davey was asked today whether the Lib Dems would be open to a coalition with either Labour or the Conservatives in Birmingham, depending on the results of the election.

“Roger Harmer [the leader of the Birmingham Liberal Democrats] has basically said he doesn’t want to do a deal with Reform,” he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service [LDRS].

“Reform are completely opposite to our values and we won’t touch them.

“We want to oppose them strongly. We want people to vote Liberal Democrat in large numbers.

“We think we are the opposition to Reform, the opposition that can also get Labour off the council.”

He continued: “I’ll leave it to Roger to decide what happens after the votes are counted.

“But the best way to make sure we have a strong, new, fresh, non-Reform council in Birmingham is to vote Liberal Democrat.”

Lib Dem group leader Roger Harmer said this week he thought the elections could result in a “hung council” in Birmingham.

“I think Labour are going to do disastrously badly,” he said. “Beyond those predictions, it’s very hard to tell [what could happen].

He was also asked by the LDRS whether the Lib Dems would consider a coalition with Labour or the Conservatives in Birmingham.

“I think the first step is to see what the electorate gives us,” he said. “They are the masters of this situation, not us.

“We’ll see what we’re given, work with that, and try to create a stable administration that can deliver.”

‘Reform are about importing Trump’s divisive politics’

At today’s launch event, the Birmingham Liberal Democrats set out their platform to deliver a cleaner Birmingham, provide safer streets and parks, tackle the housing crisis and let local communities set priorities.

Davey also set out his party’s proposals for an emergency support package for families across the country amid fears over the fallout from the Iran war.

Speaking in Birmingham, he slammed Labour’s management of the city council and said the bins strike has been “so damaging” for the city’s reputation.

“Isn’t it shocking that in this great city, Labour’s failed to do the basics right,” he said.

“We listen to communities. I’m very confident that if people vote Liberal Democrat on May 7 here in Birmingham, they will get local champions who will get the basics right and rebuild this great city.

“It needs rebuilding, it needs regenerating because of the failures of Labour.”

Davey also took the opportunity to criticise Reform, saying: “Farage and Reform are about importing the divisive, nasty politics of Donald Trump in the UK.

“It does not sit well with an amazing city like Birmingham.

“I couldn’t think of anything worse than Reform getting lots of councillors in Birmingham.”

“If you vote Liberal Democrat you will see a new dawn for Birmingham,” he added. “You will see a bunch of fantastic people who will work with the communities for the communities and make Birmingham great again.”

The blame game over the council’s ‘bankruptcy’ saw Labour politicians partly blame the impact of ‘austerity’ measures introduced during the previous Conservative government.

But Birmingham-specific issues, such as the equal pay and Oracle debacles, also played a critical role in the council’s financial turmoil.

Birmingham Council leader John Cotton has this year argued that the ‘bankrupt Birmingham’ tag has been ditched after a £300m budget gap was closed.

But the bins strike remains a pressing issue for the Labour-led council.

Striking workers have claimed they face a pay cut of £8,000 but the council has disputed this figure and insisted a fair offer had been made.

Reform has previously insisted it wants to show the party would represent people of all backgrounds and faiths.