Birmingham Post

Brum 'Let Down by Its Leaders'

One of the Midlands' leading academics last night became the latest in a long line of public figures to openly criticise the leadership of Birmingham City Council. Lord Kumar Bhattach-aryya, head of the Warwick Manufacturing Group, suggested the Conservative-led council had failed to deliver on a pledge for sweeping reform in the manner of Joseph Chamberlain.

Top Head Tells Teachers: Stop Moaning or Get Out

"Disillusioned" teachers should stop moaning and concentrate on their teaching, Britain's top primary school head said yesterday. Tracy Stone, head of Rookery Primary in Handsworth, Birmingham, said she had no time for whingers in her school.

Clowning Is No Laughing Matter for Refugees

Young refugees and asylum seekers in Coventry are to be given free lessons in clowning. Circus and clowning workshops, aimed at boosting the confidence and social skills of refugees aged 12-25, will be offered by the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry.

Markets Make Way for Pounds 200m City Re-Build

Birmingham's wholesale markets are on course to move from Digbeth to a site close to the motorway ring - paving the way for a pounds 200 million city centre redevelopment scheme. City Council leaders are determined to press ahead with the relocation of the 21-acre market complex, which has been on its present site since 1974 and is the largest of its kind in the UK.

Government Optimistic About State of British Motor Manufacturing

The Government is "optimistic" about the state of British motor manufacturing despite the latest closures in the West Midlands, Trade Minister Margaret Hodge insisted yesterday. She was responding to a Commons debate in which Peugeot was described as "brutal", "callous" and "insensitive".

News Digest: Reid Quiz Target

US government investigators want to question would-be shoe bomber Richard Reid because they believe it is likely he has "important information" about terrorist activities. Reid, a self-confessed follower of Osama bin Laden, pleaded guilty in 2002 to trying to blow up a transatlantic flight with explosives hidden in his shoes. He is now serving a life sentence at a maximum-security federal prison in Florence, Colorado.

News Digest: Transport Signing

News Digest: Youth On Fire

Police are appealing for witnesses after a Staffordshire teenager was set alight as he walked to a friend's house. The 13-year-old, who has not been named, was walking across open land near Dundalk Lane, in Cheslyn Hay, Walsall, at about 8.30pm on Tuesday.

News Digest: Ransom Reserve

As Easy As Falling Off a Blog

How was October 17 for you? Fifty years on from now history buffs will know that for Roger Turner of Staffordshire at least, it was something of a red letter day.

Top Bosses Victims of Id Theft

Bosses of some of Britain's top companies have had their identities stolen and personal investments cashed in by audacious thieves, it was revealed yesterday. Directors of blue chip companies have had pounds 1.5 million stolen so far and police believe the potential losses could have run into many millions.

Pc Sobs As She Recalls 'Terrifying' Death of Colleague During Armed Robbery

A police officer broke down in tears yesterday as she described to a jury the "terrifying" moment her colleague, Sharon Beshenivsky, was gunned down in front of her during a bungled armed raid at a travel agents. Pc Teresa Milburn sobbed as she recalled seeing the woman's head "flop" to the side before she collapsed in front of her.

News Digest: Asylum Review

News Digest: Victims Suffering

News Digest: Pm's Apology

News Digest: Europe Veto

News Digest: Mps' Top Dog

News Digest: Pac Attacked

A senior MP criticised a prestigious Commons committee yesterday for failing to get out of Westminster and lacking "expertise" in its chosen subjects. The attack on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) followed its report on Tuesday which claimed nearly a million children were being failed by inadequate schools.

Tories Plan to Stop Taxing the Poorest

Up to 2.5 million people could be lifted out of income tax totally under plans published by the Conservative Party yesterday. The party's Tax Reform Commission, appointed by former leader Michael Howard, has proposed abolishing the ten per cent starting rate of income tax altogether.

Reforms 'Will Close More Post Offices'

A Midland postmaster warned he will be forced to close unless the Government backtracks over controversial reforms to pensions and benefits. Lakhvir Randhawa, of Tamworth, Staffordshire, was one of thousands of subpost-masters who gathered in London for a rally yesterday.