Birmingham Labour leaders ‘have lost grip on power’, union at centre of bin strikes claim
The union at the centre of the bins strike dispute has argued that Birmingham Labour has ‘lost its grip on power’ following a tense vote.
The city council’s ruling Labour group dramatically lost a vote at the most recent full council meeting following recent resignations, a defection and absences.
A number of councillors who have quit the party have expressed deep concern over the council’s direction, with a financial crisis and bins strike casting a shadow over the city in recent months.
Labour have also recently lost a seat in the Moseley ward to the Liberal Democrats following a by-election where the strike became a major talking point.
The vote, concerning council representation on a West Midlands Combined Authority scrutiny committee, was initially a tie between Labour and opposition councillors.
The Conservatives were arguing that “current proportionate representation” should be retained.
Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Labour councillor Zafar Iqbal, had the deciding vote and was told that ‘convention’ dictated that he should vote ‘with the status quo’ in such situations.
Coun Iqbal therefore went with convention and voted with the opposition, a moment which meant Birmingham Labour had lost the vote and sparked cheers and applause among the other parties.
In the aftermath, Unite the union argued the loss was the result of a “failed leadership that has betrayed the bin workers and the people of Birmingham”.
The industrial action was triggered by a dispute between the council and Unite over the loss of the Waste Recycling and Collection Officer (WRCO) role.
It has brought turmoil to Brum; left heaps of rubbish outside homes and inflicted a financial cost of at least £14 million to the crisis-hit council.
“After so many councillors quitting Labour, losing the Moseley by-election was the tipping point that has broken their grip on power,” a Unite spokesperson said.
“It’s time for those Labour councillors who still have principles, and who care about the party’s future, to stand up and get their leader to end this dispute.”
Coun John Cotton, leader of Birmingham Council, recently told the BBC that the local authority remained “firmly” focused on delivering for the people of Birmingham after four councillors quit Labour last month.
“Working hand in hand with our Labour mayor and Labour government, we’re already turning the tide after 14 years of Tory decline,” he said.
“Labour is ambitious for Birmingham, and I look forward to working with our fantastic fresh team of Labour candidates to win in 2026 [in the all-out council election in May] and secure a fairer future for our city.”
Several issues contributed to the financial misery at the council, including the equal pay debacle, inadequate budget setting, poor service management, demand led pressures and the disastrous implementation of a new IT system.
Labour councillors have also pointed the finger at funding cuts during the previous Conservative government.
In recent months, Coun Cotton has insisted the Labour administration at the council has made progress in the authority’s recovery journey.
“My focus over the last couple of years has been dealing with that situation; dealing with the equal pay liability; the reimplementation of Oracle and tackling the huge budget deficit,” he told the full council meeting.
“I’m focused on the practicalities of ensuring we build a stable financial future and sort out issues that have inflicted this organisation for far too long.”
During the bins strike, striking workers have repeatedly raised concerns about pay while the council’s leadership has argued that a “fair and reasonable” offer had been made.
