Future visions & present tensions

PART TWO IN OUR LOOK AT THE STORIES WHICH DOMINATED THE HEADLINES IN 2025

- JANE HAYNES News Reporter

THE first half of 2026 will be dominated by two major political issues in Birmingham - the ongoing bins strike, and the local elections that will give residents their say over the city's future.

But before we turn to what's ahead, I've been looking back at the main stories that exercised my time and dominated the headlines in the second half of 2025.

There's only one place to begin - and it's rubbish.

In an exclusive conversation with Unite's General Secretary Sharon Graham, a series of revelations emerged about private negotiations that had taken place aimed at getting a 'compensation' deal agreed for affected bin workers that did not also jeopardise the council's equal pay liabilities.

We learned that bin workers had allegedly been offered £10,000 compensation to 'go quietly' and end the strike.

Graham also produced private WhatsApp messages between her and council chief executive Joanne Roney which she claimed proved that commissioners had interfered to thwart the planned deal. Soon after all negotiations between the two parties were ended. They have not resumed in the six months since.

The bin strike has had huge ramifications inside the city council, with fingers pointed at the Labour leadership for their failure to end the dis pute.

There were more barbs for the current leaders when a list of their selected candidates was revealed to stand in the 2026 election for Labour. Several veteran councillors were axed in a cull, triggering defections and fury. Questions were also asked about the credibility of some of those who had been chosen to stay and fight for Labour.

Sitting MPs were accused of influencing the choices unfairly with Erdington MP Paulette Hamilton among those later accused of exercising nepotism to get relatives and allies chosen for seats deemed 'safe' for Labour.