'We’ve got to look at fighting Reform in the next election': Former Walsall Council leader returns vowing to unite Conservative group

Councillor Mike Bird has been elected as leader of the Conservative Group at Walsall Council.

It marks the sixth time that Councillor Bird has served as group leader since becoming a councillor for Pheasey Park Farm in 1980.

The news follows the sudden resignation of former leader, Councillor Garry Perry, on May 21.

Councillor Perry said he left the role after experiencing ‘political attrition, deliberate undermining, and bullying dressed up as politics’.

Following the resignation, deputy leader Councillor Adrian Andrew took on the role as acting leader until a new one was chosen by the Conservative Group.

The vote took place on May 5. Councillor Suky Samra also stood for the post of group leader.

Before Councillor Bird can become leader of the Conservative-led authority, a vote involving all elected members of Walsall Council must take place. This meeting is scheduled for June 10.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Councillor Bird said: “We need to unite the group and unite the council, for the benefit of the people of Walsall. Those are the people who elect us and those are the people we should represent.

“Quite genuinely, I think there has been a disconnect over the last, well, basically since the pandemic, between officers and elected members. We need to bring that back because without that cooperation, we can’t deliver correctly for the people of Walsall.

“One thing I do know is that we’ve got to look at fighting Reform in the next election, come what may. No matter what party you’re in, we’ve got to see them as a common enemy.

“From a policy point of view, we need to make sure that we protect our front-line services and to do that, we have to make sure we keep our hands on the public purse and make sure our money’s being spent wisely.”

Councillor Bird was previously leader of Walsall Council until June last year. He was suspended by the Conservative party and later stepped down as leader of the council.

The Conservative party never confirmed the grounds of the suspension but councillor Bird said accusations of him being a racist were proven false, and that his suspension was due to a failure to control a 2022 Conservative Group AGM.

Councillor Bird had hoped to become leader of the Conservative Group at a meeting last month but was deemed ineligible to stand. The existing leader at the time, Councillor Perry, was not contested.

It is understood that Councillor Bird’s sanction has lapsed in the time since the original meeting took place and leader’s resignation.

In response to Councillor Perry stepping down, Councillor Bird said: “We’re all aware that tensions rise and it’s how you handle it really. I wouldn’t say that my last leadership was without similar problems but you have just got to rise above it and stand firm.

“Garry’s choice to resign was personal to him. I think no doubt all will become clear in the future, but as I have said, it’s a matter of uniting our group and not fighting with each other, but fighting a common enemy.”

Once leader, Councillor Bird said he will review the grass cutting and mandatory food waste collection schemes.

He said: “I always say, if the lights are on, the potholes are fixed, the grass is cut and the bins are emptied, the people of Walsall are relatively happy.

“I’m not against rewilding, it has a place. I don’t think we needed to go to the extreme that we did. We need to utilise the new planning policy that has been forced upon us by the government, biodiversity net gain.

“We will be looking at alternatives for the ‘slop bins’. They will be totally and utterly unpopular with the public. Yes, I have a thing about pyrolysis and anaerobic digestion and now that sounds quite technical, but it’s something that could prove to be one of our saviours and indeed save us money.

“At the end of the day, it’s a matter of revisiting those things that were unpopular. Grass cutting was probably top of the agenda.”

Councillor Bird has expressed thanks to those who supported him. He added: “I take on the role with great responsibility and a lot of pride.

“My group – not all of them, I wouldn’t say it was a unanimous vote at the end of the day – but for those who voted for me, thank you very much, for those who didn’t, hopefully, I can bring them on board and unite the whole group to do the job we are elected for. That is to represent the people of Walsall.”