Birmingham Post

Tories Offer Bank Crisis Talks

Tories offered cross-party talks with Gordon Brown over plans to safeguard Britain's banks last night, following the failure of a pounds 700 billion rescue package to support the US economy. Speaking in Birmingham last night, George Osborne, the Shadow Chancellor, called for a ceasefire in hostilities between his party and the Government, allowing them to work together on legislation to protect British banks.

Conservative Council Tax Freeze Could Mean Pounds 200 a Year Off Bills

More than half a million Birmingham households could enjoy a cut in their council tax as the result of a Conservative initiative to offer families a small measure of relief from the worsening global financial crisis. Shadow Chancellor George Osborne delighted the Tory conference yesterday by outlining plans to encourage councils to freeze bills for two years.

Britain Must End Its Dependency On Debt, Says Osborne

Britain must end its dependency on debt, Shadow Chancellor George Osborne has warned. He confirmed plans to create an independent watchdog to oversee Government borrowing.

Central Tv Staff Await Their Fate in Shake-Up

ITV's regional news staff, including Central Tonight anchors BobWarman and Joanne Malin, will today learn of their fate in the shake-up of the broadcaster's regional news services. ITV is holding a meeting with 130 news staff in its Central region following TV regulator Ofcom's approval last week of plans to merge most of its news coverage across the East and West Midlands.

Democratic Speaker 'Poisoned' Rescue Debate ; Finance

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi "poisoned" the debate over a pounds 380 billion rescue package for the United States' economy and caused the bill's failure, Republicans said. John Boehner, the Republican minority leader in the US House of Representatives, blamed the Democrat's speech for introducing partisan politics into a bipartisan effort to approve the bill.

City Braces Itself for Worst As Us Eur700bn Bail-Out Rejected ; Finance

The City was this morning bracing itself for further pain when the markets open following the rejection last night of a EUR700 billion (pounds 385 billion) bank bail-out. Experts suggested that the FTSE could drop a further 200 points when London opens, wiping a further pounds 48 billion off the value of blue chip stocks - adding to the pounds 64 billion loss yesterday.

Bradford & Bingley Sell-Off Fails to Raise City Sentiment ; Finance

The global credit crisis claimed its latest victims yesterday as the Government seized control of ailing mortgage lender Bradford & Bingley. The second nationalisation of a UK bank in seven months came alongside a state bail-out of Belgium's Fortis and a takeover of US bank Wachovia by Citigroup.

Heseltine Back at Millennium Point to Celebrate Its Success ; Tories

When Lord Heseltine first stood on the site of Millennium Point it was nothing more than a field, but as the then Deputy Prime Minister he shared the vision of creating a unique museum and gave a cheque for pounds 50 million towards it. Now 12 years later, Lord Heseltine returned to that field to find Millennium Point, an iconic building visited by more than a million people every year and a status symbol for the city.

How West Midlands Could Lose Out to Manchester Over Autonomy ; Tories

West Midlands councils could miss out in Tory plans to give local authorities more autonomy, according to the head of a controversial think-tank. But Greater Manchester could be set to enjoy greater freedom from Whitehall control, said Dermot Finch, director of the Centre for Cities.

Czech Mate for Mr Cameron and It's 'Avs and 'Av Nots for Mr Osborne ; Tories

An excellent question from the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, who strolled on to the conference platform just when everyone was looking forward to shadow Chancellor George Osborne's big speech. "I expect you are wondering what this Czech person is doing here?" he asked, reasonably enough.

Shortage of Apprenticeships 'Will Threaten' High Speed Rail Link ; Tories

Achronic shortage of apprenticeships in building trades could make it difficult for a Conservative government to fulfil a pledge to build a high speed rail link between Birmingham and London, the shadow Secretary for Skills admitted. David Willetts said a generation of school leavers had been "betrayed" by Labour because no proper pathway for vocational education existed. Promising to create 5,000 skills apprenticeship university sandwich courses, Mr Willetts said it was a scandal that eight ...

Top Quotes ; Tories

Snippets, live blogs, twitter and more: Birmingham City Council leader Mike Whitby is the eternal optimist, but his latest pronouncement left officials reeling.

Skilled Staff Will Be Key to Future of Manufacturing ; Tories

Manufacturing will continue to play a key role in Britain's economy, shadow Trade Secretary Alan Duncan has pledged. AConservative Government would support manufacturers to ensure they were able to recruit skilled staff and invest in new techniques, he said.

Former Official Queries Tory Liberal Values ; Tories

David Cameron's credentials as a liberal Conservative yesterday came under fire from a former Tory official who said the party's "elitist" leadership "looked like something out of a 1960s American boardroom". Claims the party had changed to such an extent that it could now occupy such ground were "absurd", according to former press officer Ashish Prashar.

Battlefield to Classroom Plan for Soldiers ; Tories

Ex-soldiers would be encouraged into teaching with the promise of free training under Conservative plans unveiled yesterday. The move would help improve order in the classroom, according to shadow schools secretary Michael Gove.

We Need to Grasp Severity of Looming Energy Gap, Says Duncan ; Tories

The Tories yesterday put forward plans to tackle the "looming energy gap" with a range of carbon-friendly fuels. Shadow business, enterprise and regulatory reform secretary Alan Duncan warned: "Too few people have grasped the severity of the threat we face.

Birmingham Pioneering Project Befriending Estate Elderly Praised ; Tories

Apioneering project in Birmingham which "buddies up" pensioners and teenagers has been praised at the Conservative conference. The initiative on the Welsh House Farm estate in Quinton was held up during a public debate as a model of how to bridge the generation gap.

'Stop Talking and Deliver Pensioners From Poverty' ; Tories

Tory leader David Cameron was yesterday told to stop talking and start delivering policies to lift pensioners from poverty. The ultimatum came from charity Age Concern as the man likely to be the next Prime Minister outlined his aims for helping people in old age.

David Cameron ; Tories

Yes, It's a Mannequin Inside a Birdcage. But Is It Art?

A mannequin perched on the toilet is at the centre of this year's Turner Prize exhibition. Homer Simpson and scenes of a woman smashing china tea cups to the floor also feature in the show. Another artist has eschewed complete originality to recreate textile displays made by a designer almost 80 years ago. The annual show at Tate Britain features work by four artists shortlisted for the controversial prize.