Birmingham Post

Midlands in Spotlight As Brown Starts Fight for His Political Future

Gordon Brown launched the fight for his political life in the West Midlands yesterday, following Labour's humiliating electoral defeat in Glasgow East. The Prime Minister took on union barons by making it clear that he will not give in to demands for a shift to the left - and warned that the Conservatives would win the next election if Labour changed course.

'Pointless' to Argue Over Dead and Buried Eastside Station

Plans to build a Grand Central railway station at Eastside are dead and buried and the scheme's supporters should stop engaging in "pointless" arguments about what might have been, Birmingham City Council chief executive Stephen Hughes said last night . Mr Hughes waded into the debate about whether the pounds 600 million New Street Gateway scheme would meet growing demand for travelling by train, adding that the project's opponents would never admit they were wrong "to the day they die".

Second Bbc Screen Plans to Carry Olympic Torch for City

A second big screen is being planned for Birmingham even though the existing facility in the city centre is still switched off because of a noise dispute. On August 24, the BBC is planning a nationwide celebration and broadcast to mark the official handover of the Olympic flag from China to Britain, marking the start of the UK's tenure as Olympics holders.

Ferry Denies Hunt Attack ; Courts

Rock star's son Otis Ferry yesterday denied attacking a hunt monitor and robbing another while they were trying to film him at his sport. Countryside campaigner Ferry, 25, of Eaton Mascot, Shropshire, appeared at Gloucester Crown Court to answer charges of robbery and common assault. Dressed in a dark grey striped suit, Ferry, who previously gave his full name as Charles Frederick Otis Ferry, denied robbing Susan Grima of a Samsung video camera on November 21 last year at Lower Swell, near Ch...

Curry Record Hot Potato ; Food

A restaurant has failed in its attempt to create the world's hottest curry on the grounds that it could lead to an unbreakable record being set. The Cinnamon Club in London created the lamb- based Bollywood Burner - a curry so hot it comes with a health warning - using some of the fieriest ingredients in the world. Diners are required to sign a disclaimer saying they are aware of the risks involved with tasting the curry before eating it. But the dish's creator, chef Vivek Singh, missed out o...

Residents Evacuated ; Fire

Monarch's Seal of Approval for Banquet Fit for a Queen

A unique exhibition which recreates the splendour of a glittering Buckingham Palace state banquet has been given the royal seal of approval. The Queen has toured the display, which will allow visitors to experience being a guest at an event normally reserved for visiting presidents, royalty and dignitaries.

Popular 15-Minute Train Route Facing Axe in Favour of 40-Minute Bus

A West Midlands rail commuter link could be axed even though the number of passengers using it has grown to 60,000 a year. Transport Minister Tom Harris said he would cut funding for the Walsall to Wolverhampton line, suggesting customers could catch the bus instead.

To the Left, to the Left - Unions Cry ; Gordon Brown the Prime Minister Was in the West Midlands Yesterday, Licking the Wounds of Labour's by-Election Defeat in Glasgow and Attempting to Rally the Party Faithful. Political Editor Jonathan Walker Analyses the Difficulties Facing Gordon Brown.

To hear Gordon Brown speak at Warwick University, you'd think it was business as usual. Glasgow East, loyal to Labour for 60 years, had just returned an SNP MP in an humiliating by-election defeat for Labour.

Cabinet Rallies Round Embattled Prime Minister ; Gordon Brown

Senior ministers last night rallied round Gordon Brown after he suffered the humiliation of another catastrophic by-election defeat. Following the dramatic loss of Glasgow East - Labour's 25th safest seat - Cabinet ministers rejected claims it was time for a change at the top.

Cameron Calls for a General Election As Tories Come Home Third ; Gordon Brown

Gordon Brown brushed off the threat of a leadership challenge after the disastrous defeat of Labour in the Glasgow East by- election. The Prime Minister insisted he was "getting on with the job" after seeing Labour's third safest seat in Scotland fall to the Scottish National Party with a massive 22 per cent swing.

Forget Calls to Stand Down, Heed Message to Take Action ; Gordon Brown

First Minister Alex Salmond said there were no safe Labour seats in Scotland in the wake of the SNP's victory in Glasgow East. Mr Salmond hailed a "sensational" by-election victory for his party, with Nationalist John Mason overturning a Labour majority of 13,507.

Honorary Fellowship Was Teamwork, Says Gerrard ; Sport

England and Liverpool football star Steven Gerrard collected a university honorary fellowship yesterday and said he wouldn't have got the award if it wasn't for his teammates. The 28-year-old midfielder, who was awarded the (VIBE last year, also received a cheer from students graduating at the same ceremony when he congratulated them and said the day belonged to them.

Teen Serious After Assault by Gang in Park ; Attack

A teenager suffered serious head injuries after he was attacked in a park by a group of youths, police yesterday said. The 13-year-old boy was repeatedly kicked and punched during the beating on Wednesday afternoon in a park in Rainham, Kent.

Drugs Smuggled in Children's Treat ; Crime

Immigration officers had a 'Kinder surprise' when they discovered a woman smuggling drugs using a plastic container from one of the children's treats. The traveller arrived at Birmingham Airport with 30g of cannabis hidden in a container from the chocolate egg - normally used to hold a plastic toy.

The Underground's Your Oyster As Pay System Fails ; Transport

London's Oyster card ticket system failed on the Underground yesterday for the second time in two weeks. The latest problem affected pay-as-you-go Oyster customers and led to every Tube station having to keep its ticket gates open during the morning rush hour.

Concrete Barrier Could Have Saved Teacher's Life, Says Wife

The family of a popular Birmingham head teacher who died when a van carrying beer barrels careered across the central reservation of the M5 and smashed into his car believe stronger crash barriers could have saved him. Daniel Slinn, former head of Calshot Primary School in Great Barr, was killed in the head-on collision near Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, on May 27.

Death Crashes Involving Police Drop by More Than a Third

Deaths in road crashes involving the police have fallen by more than a third, an independent watchdog said yesterday. A total of 23 people died in England and Wales in the year ending in March, compared to 36 the previous year.

Alexandra Hospital in Redditch

Five people were injured in a four-vehicle pile-up on the M42 yesterday. The accident occurred just after 11 am on the northbound carriageway between junction two and three near Bromsgrove.

Curfew Already Having Positive Impact

A voluntary curfew in which hundreds of parents have been asked to keep their children off the streets at night is already working ahead of its launch today, organisers said last night. The scheme, Operation Goodnight, is to run over the school summer holiday period until September 7.