Birmingham Post

Birmingham Brand Failing City, Says Industry Expert

One of the country's leading brand experts has urged Birmingham to put creativity at the heart of its policies or be left trailing in the wake of rival cities. Michael Wolff, co-founder of brand agency Wolff Olins, described the "b in Birmingham" logo as "like a bus stop without the details of the bus service".

Tories May Ban Scots Mps From Voting On English Matters

Scottish MPs could be banned from voting on English matters at Westminster if the Conservative Party wins the next election, it emerged yesterday. Tory leader David Cameron is considering backing a proposal for a new English Grand Committee in the Commons - open only to English MPs - which would deal with matters such as schools and hospitals.

Mp Defends Private Equity

A senior Midland MP and Government Minister today defended the private equity industry, saying it could boost the UK's ability to turn scientific and technological advances into successful new products and services. Science and Innovation Minister Ian Pearson (Dudley South) said private equity was a key part of the "life blood" of the UK's "innovation ecosystem", and claimed it had been unfairly maligned by those with vested interests.

Staffs Police Out On the Beat After Three Killings in 24 Hours

An increased police presence was visible in a Staffordshire town over the weekend following the murder of three people in a space of 24 hours. Staffordshire Police stressed that the discovery of the body of a 30-year-old woman in a lay-by last Thursday was not connected to the murder of an elderly couple whose bodies were found in a scrapyard a mile away on Friday.

Autumn Babies the Choice of Middle Class Couples

Middle class parents may be timing the birth of their babies to improve their children's chances of doing well at school, according to Government-backed research. A major study found children born at the beginning of the academic year in September perform far better in exams than pupils who are "young for their year", those born in July or August.

Fifty Years On and These Schoolchildren Will Be Meeting Up to Swap Memories

In 1957 these 40 or so children from Mr Shovelton's class left Four Dwellings Primary School in Quinton, Birmingham. Now more than half of them have got back in touch, thanks to Friends Re-united, and they propose to meet up, swap memories and pictures, and enjoy a great weekend at The Innkeeper's Lodge in Quinton (formerly The Hollybush) on November 16 to 18. Are you in the picture or do you recognise anyone? Do you want to join them? At least one person is coming down from the Orkneys, othe...

British Asian Awards Mark Contribution to the Uk

A Midland awards ceremony last night celebrated the success and contribution of the British Asian community in the UK. The British Asian Hafta Awards at the ICC, welcomed guest of honour Gloucester MP Parmjit Dhanda, the Minister for Cohesion and Neighbourhoods in the Department of Communities and Local Government.

Campaign for Community Day

The Government has been urged to introduce an extra bank holiday to celebrate the work of the UK's 20 million volunteers. The TUC and voluntary sector groups said a new day off would encourage people to take part in community activities such as volunteering in a local hospital and helping voluntary groups publicise their work.

Supermarkets Face Being Accused of Building Up Land Banks to Stifle Competition

The competition watchdog is expected to accuse supermarkets of building up land banks in a bid to keep rivals out of local markets when it reports on the sector this week. The Competition Commission will call for changes to planning regulations to make it easier for new stores to open in areas where competitors already have a foothold, and it will also recommend the appointment of an independent ombudsman to protect small suppliers, according to reports yesterday.

Fine-Dodging Brummies Best at Not Paying for Parking

Motorists in Birmingham have some of the best chances anywhere in the country of avoiding paying parking fines, new figures have shown. Eight out of ten appeals to the Independent Parking Adjudicator last year resulted in pounds 60 fixed penalty notices being quashed.

Unknowns Go From Myspace to Screen Stars

Ten unknowns, including a West Midlands woman, have landed film roles alongside Hollywood star Simon Pegg after auditioning on MySpace. Faintheart, billed as a romantic comedy set in the world of battle re-enactments, is due to hit cinema screens next summer.

Copper-Cladded Coach Station to Open in 2009

It's famous for presenting a dismal welcome to Birmingham. That will change when Digbeth Coach Station gets its pounds 15 million makeover. More than 20 years after council leaders first began to talk about improving a major gateway into the city by replacing the outdated post-war building, the National Express Group has lodged proposals for a "shimmering metallic" structure wrapped in copper cladding.

Keith Richards Just Can't Get No Hospitalisation

Rolling Stone Keith Richards joined a protest march to campaign against possible cuts to a hospital close to his country home. The 62-year-old rock star marched alongside thousands of other people through Chichester, West Sussex, on Saturday to protest against proposed changes to St Richard's Hospital.

Out-of-Hours Care 'Inadequate'

Patients are forced to go to hospital for reassurance because out- of-hours care is largely inadequate and inflexible, according to a new report. The study also said sick people should be directed as soon as possible to the most appropriate doctor who can diagnose their condition quickly.

Politics: Labour 'Failing Its Heartlands' ; Benefits

Labour was accused yesterday of failing its heartlands after figures revealed more than 2.4 million people have been claiming benefits for more than five years. The figure is 600,000 higher than in 1999 and Tories claim the Government has failed to "get to grips" with the problem.

Politics: 28-Day Limit Is 'Not Sufficient' ; Terrorism

The 28-day limit on holding terror suspects without charge may not be sufficient, a key Government adviser said yesterday. Lord Carlile of Berriew, Gordon Brown's terror law watchdog, said there were a "small number" of cases where the period may not be long enough. Tory leader David Cameron yesterday vowed to oppose any increase unless there was new evidence to justify it.

Politics: Cable Boycott ; Saudi Visit

Liberal Democrat acting leader Vince Cable will boycott the state visit to Britain of Saudi King Abdullah. The Saudi monarch arrives today in London at the start of a four- day visit which will include a banquet held by the Queen in his honour at Buckingham Palace.

Politics: Pounds 150m Jail Costs ; Prisons

The Government has spent more than pounds 150 million in the last year shuffling prisoners between the UK's overcrowded jails, the Liberal Democrats claimed. Figures showed the cost of prisoner transfers and court escort services had leapt from pounds 105.1 million in 2001/02 to pounds 150.5 million in 2006/7 - a 43 per cent increase.

Politics: Scottish Mps Face Ban From Voting On English Issues

Tory leader David Cameron is being urged to back a radical plan to strip Scottish MPs of the right to vote on English matters at Westminster. The scheme is designed to address the perceived growing constitutional imbalance which has grown up since devolution to Scotland and Wales.

Politics: City Mp Backs Newspaper's Mayor Campaign

The organisers of a petition demanding a referendum on whether Birmingham should be governed by a directly elected mayor are performing a public service, a city MP admitted yesterday. John Hemming said the campaign by The Birmingham Mail, sister paper of The Birmingham Post, would give people the chance to say once and for all whether they wanted a mayor.