Birmingham Post

Six Months of M6 Chaos

Major road works planned for the Midlands' busiest motorway this summer could cost Birmingham's economy pounds 10 million a day, business leaders have warned. Companies and commuters have been told to prepare for congestion to worsen on the M6 this summer during the second stage of a road works blitz aimed at combating an epidemic of potholes.

Spring Kick-Starts House Sales

The number of homes changing hands in the Midlands soared by more than a third as the property market showed signs of picking up, figures revealed today. A total of 19,671 properties were sold in the region during the three months to the end of March, 37 per cent more than in the same period in 2005, according to the Land Registry.

Pounds 10,000 Cost of Election Re-Run

The Birmingham council election at the centre of a British National Party votes mix-up may have to be re-run - at a cost to the taxpayer of pounds 10,000. Claims that BNP councillor Sharon Ebanks was incorrectly elected in Kingstanding last Thursday after more than 2,000 votes were double counted are to be examined by the High Court sitting as an election court.

News Digest: Police On Trial

Ten police officers appeared in court yesterday charged in connection with the death of a father of three. Michael Powell, aged 38, died after he was arrested outside his home in Lozells, Birmingham, on September 7, 2003 and taken to nearby Thornhill Road police station.

News Digest: Pub Stabbing

News Digest: Motorbike Crash

News Digest: Shotgun Raiders

Staff at a Nuneaton pub were threatened with a shotgun and knives by three masked raiders who forced the manager to open a safe. The robbers also took cash from the tills at the Griffin Inn in Coventry Road after entering the pub through a rear door.

City Says Farewell to a Colourful Political Son

The city of Birmingham yesterday said goodbye to one of its favourite politicians, the outspoken and colourful Sir Anthony Michael Beaumont-Dark. MPs and councillors joined friends and family at a service of thanksgiving for his life and achievements at Birmingham Cathedral.

Beaumont-Dark Told Thatcher Poll Tax May Be Like the Titanic

Tony Beaumont-Dark was as famous for his witty comments as he was for his dedication to the West Midlands. His political career began as a member of Birmingham City Council in 1956. One of his early controversial comments included the suggestion that Catholics should pay more for housing because of their rejection of contraception.

Pounds 14bn High-Speed Track Would Link London to Scotland in 2hrs 35mins

A north-south high-speed rail line could cost pounds 14 billion and have 186mph trains, according to Network Rail. Trains on such a route - which has yet to get the go-ahead - would cover London to Glasgow or Edinburgh in two hours 35 minutes, said NR's deputy chief executive Iain Coucher.

Invest for Success, Urges Report

Investment in key infrastructure including roads and rail could boost Birmingham to become a world-class global player, a new study claims. A cross party commission appointed by the Town and Country Planning Association said that despite the success of the nation's economy, regional disparities continued to deny mil-lions of people the opportunity of a good job and a decent home.

Road Charging Not Right for Region, Say City Bosses ; the West Midlands May Not Be the Best Place to Trial a Road Pricing Scheme, According to Business Leaders. Sarah Probert Reports

Three decades of under investment and the transport system is crumbling. An ailing New Street Station, a congested road network, falling bus passenger numbers and a desperate need for a Metro extension has resulted in a pounds 2.5 billion loss to the region's economy each year.

Business Demands Action to Upgrade Railway Signals Which Cause Delays

Business leaders have called for action to upgrade old-fashioned signals that are delaying rail services across the Midlands. The West Midlands Business Council has written to Network Rail calling on it to upgrade the signals around Droitwich, Worcestershire, which it claims have delayed services to and from Herefordshire and Worcestershire to Birmingham. According to the WMBC, an umbrella group representing independent business organisations, this was having a knock-on effect and delaying se...

Walsall Artist Shortlisted

A portrait of Lucian Freud's first wife painted by a Midland artist has been shortlisted for the BP Portrait Award. Painter Andrew Tift's previous subjects include Tony Benn and the Kinnocks. Mr Tift's progress on the Kinnocks portrait was filmed for a Channel 4 documentary.

'Killers' Bought One-Way Pakistan Tickets

Two days after a man was stabbed to death during a race riot in Birmingham his alleged killers all bought one-way tickets to Pakistan from a city travel agents, a court was told. Isiah Young-Sam was chased, surrounded and stabbed through the heart on October 22 last year after violence broke out in the Lozells area of the city.

Mps Debate 'Should He Stay or Should He Go'

Tony Blair conceded he would not serve a full third term yesterday, as backbenchers warned they were "sick and tired" of speculation about the Labour leadership. In a meeting with Labour backbenchers last night, he said he would stand down in time for Gordon Brown, the Chancellor, to establish himself as leader before the next election.

Bnp Asks Police to Investigate 'Secret' Recount

Police have been asked to investigate a "secret" election recount in Birmingham which resulted in the British National Party being told that its candidate had not topped the poll after all. BNP leaders yesterday lodged a formal complaint following events in King-standing at the city council elections when, after three counts, their candidate Sharon Ebanks was told her votes had been cut from 2,310 to 1,329 - which meant that Labour's Cath Grundy was the winner.

Pm Gifts Top Jobs to Mps From Region

West Midland MPs have been appointed to key positions in Tony Blair's Government team. A number of the region's politicians received Government jobs, received as details of the reshuffle below Cabinet level were confirmed. Liam Byrne (Lab Hodge Hill) was promoted to a senior Minister in the Home Office, where he will be responsible for Government policy to fight anti-social behaviour. He was previously a junior health Minister.

Cameron to Create a Minister for Birmingham

Conservative leader David Cameron is to appoint a "Minister for Birmingham" as part of a campaign to improve Tory prospects in the country's big cities. He also announced plans to hold a series of policy seminars outside London.

City Must Be Free From Interference

Cities such as Birmingham must have more freedom to make their own decisions without interference from London, the former chief executive of the city council has warned. Sir Michael Lyons has been commissioned by Chancellor Gordon Brown to look into ways of improving local government.