Birmingham Post

Your Song: Sir Elton Wows the Crowds at Nec

Bush and Blair Hail Early Iraq Handover

Tony Blair and George Bush last night hailed the birth of a 'sovereign and free' Iraq after the US-led coalition unexpectedly handed over power to the new government in Baghdad two days earlier than planned. The surprise move was intended to pre-empt any plans by anti-coalition militants to mark the scheduled June 30 transfer date with a series of bloody terrorist 'spectaculars'. But even as the news filtered out from Baghdad, it was confirmed that one British soldier had been killed and two ...

Labour's Legacy Is Pounds 43m Council Tax Debt

Council tax arrears in Birmingham have hit pounds 43 million despite a high-profile campaign to chase non-payers. The figure reflects the total amount owed by individuals since the community charge, or poll tax, was abolished 15 years ago.

Another Music Milestone As Top of the Pops Goes Into Cyberpsace

In 1952, what is commonly accepted to be the first UK singles chart -recording the sales of 78s -appeared, followed three years later by the first global No 1 pop hit, Bill Haley's Rock Around The Clock. In three months' time, pop music will reach another milestone with the UK's first chart to track music bought on the internet.

Fears As Green Belt Is Sold Off

Investors have been snapping up land in the green belt between Birmingham and Solihull in the hope they will be allowed to use it for residential development. The flurry of investment in so-called 'hope-value land' has raised fears that local authorities may eventually give in to pressure for new housing.

Davis Was Offered Seat in Lords to Avoid by-Election Test

The extent of Labour concern over the Hodge Hill by-election has been revealed after it emerged Terry Davis, who represented the seat for 25 years, was offered a peerage in a bid to encourage him to stay on. Mr Davis turned down the offer and took up a job with the Council of Europe, leading to the by-election.

Tory Hopefuls Out to Bridge Some Gaps

A s exchanges between politicians and members of the public go, it was a classic. A local Conservative representative bent down to present a copy of the party's hastily produced newsletter flagging up its joint control of Birmingham City Council to a pensioner in an electric wheelchair.

Ex-Hostage Stands for Respect

Yvonne Ridley, the journalist held hostage by the Taliban in Afghanistan for ten days, today launched her campaign as candidate for the Leicester South by-election. The former Sunday Express chief reporter will represent Respect, the anti-war party founded by ex-Labour MP George Galloway, in the July 15 poll.

Pensioners Facing Huge Rise in College Fees

Pensioners on adult education courses run by Birmingham City Council face fee rises of up to 800 per cent next year. The authority said it could no longer afford to continue offering subsidies to senior citizens under 65 who previously only had to pay a nominal pounds 10 fee for a year or nothing at all.

Profits Help Top Schools

Financial aid totalling pounds 160,000 is to help eight Midland secondary schools establish Specialist School status. The Thomas Telford School donated the money following the success of its online courses and resources which are used in about 1,000 schools across the country. The profits from the enterprise have been ploughed back into helping other schools in the area provide a better education for their students.

How Do You Cope If Stress Is Way of Life? ; a Centre Providing What Is Claims Is a Unique Approach to Treatment for Anxiety and Panic Sufferers has Opened in the Midlands. Health Correspondent Sophie Blakemore Reports

Sweaty palms, palpitations, hot flushes and heightened senses. Unpleasant but common reactions anybody who has had a sudden fright or been in a threatening situation will have experienced.

Too Many Questions Are Bad Form -Mps

Public services should stop making people fill in long and complicated forms, Midland MPs have demanded. They want applying for benefits or requesting a new passport to become less of a chore. It follows a detailed investigation into Britain's official forms by a Commons committee including Sion Simon (Lab Erdington) and Brian Jenkins (Lab Tamworth).

Bike-Death Accused at Secret Home

A motorcyclist accused of causing the death of a woman at an unofficial bikers' gathering in north Warwickshire has been bailed to a secret address. Sandra Brown, a 42-year-old mother-of-two, of Chestnut Drive, Erdington, Birmingham, died in Good Hope Hospital the day after the incident at the Bassett's Pole island near Coleshill in May.

Chancellor Launches Hunt for Region's Capital of Enterprise and Job Creation

Chancellor Gordon Brown has launched a competition to find the most enterprising town or city in the West Midlands. Advantage West Midlands, the regional development agency, will identify the place doing the most to promote business start-ups and job creation. According to Treasury estimates, the region is missing out on more than 9,600 new business startups each year.

Rural Matters: Urban Regeneration so Important to Our Countryside

Why does urban regeneration matter to the countryside? It's a question I'm often asked when, as regional policy officer for the Campaign to Protect Rural England, I talk about the importance of creating green, attractive and compact cities.

Rural Matters: Council Acts Over Plastic Tunnels

Tougher rules are set to be imposed on farmers in a bid to control the controversial use of polytunnels in Herefordshire. The council is to strengthen its current code on the structures following concerns they were ruining the attractiveness of the countryside.

Rural Matters: Police Accused Over Travellers' Problem

Landowners are paying thousands of pounds to get illegal travellers off their land because police are failing to tackle the problem, a countryside organisation claimed yesterday. The Country, Land and Business Association said police forces were ignoring new legislation giving them powers to evict travellers by claiming they did not have such authorisation.

Rural Matters: Hobby to Rule Roost

Keeping chickens has become the fastest growing hobby in the UK. The Poultry Club of Great Britain has recorded a 15 per cent increase in membership over the last year and, as a result, breeders and poultry equipment businesses are reporting a boom in sales. Due to the growing interest, a poultry marquee will be open for the four days of the Royal Show at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire. Visitors will be able to see 30 different breeds of large fowl and bantams along with waterfowl and turkeys.

Rural Matters: Forest Becomes National Treasure

The Government yesterday announced that the New Forest is to become the country's newest and smallest national park in a bid to protect its unique character. The decision, announced by Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael, comes after a sevenmonth public inquiry.

Rural Matters: Farmer Defiant After Pounds 3,000 Fine for Operating Illegal Slaughterhouse

A farmer fined yesterday after admitting running an illicit slaughter house called for the multi-million pound 'smokies' meat trade to be legalised. Carmello Gale (54), warned that farmers were missing out on lucrative life-line business to the UK's ethnic African population. Gale, of Llandysul, west Wales, was fined pounds 3,000 after previously admitting operating an illegal slaughter house.