Labor now leads all three tiers of government in Birmingham and ‘will bring change’ – new MPs

A new era for Birmingham is underway, with all three tiers of government in Labor hands. The party is responsible at city, regional and national level. Al Carns, a former marine and new Selly Oak Labor MP, said he was optimistic the “triumvirate” would bring the change Brummies wanted.

Speaking at the election count on Thursday, July 4, he said: “We’re going to go further by delivering change – change at a national level and we’re going to drive that right down to the local level. We listen to people and listen to what they need, our change programs are in line with their needs.”

He added that the first year would likely be difficult, but voters were aware of the challenge. On the doorstep they said ‘we get it, we just want some hope and some change’,” he said.

READ MORE: Full list of all new MPs elected in Birmingham amid upset

Mr Carns gave up a 24-year stint in the army, leaving as a colonel, to join the Labor Party as a future MP and said he enjoyed seeing the accuracy and organization of the election count up close. “After 24 years of protecting this (democracy) to see it in action is a privilege.”

He added: “People believe in change. Democracy is happening here… it’s time for serious politics and serious players to move the country forward.”

Mr Carns is now part of a strong Labor group in Parliament, while locally the Labour-led council continues to face significant challenges. It has to make £365m of cuts over two years and has raised council tax by 10% as it faces an equal pay fiasco and the disastrous implementation of a new IT and finance system, as well as demand growing services.

Mr Carns added: “The reality is you now have a Labor government, which values ​​those councils (like Birmingham), a Labor mayor and a Labor council – the triumvirate of those three things will mean we can bring about change,” Mr Carns. Carns said. “We also have Joanne Roney (as managing director) from Manchester who will really help the council run and fire on all cylinders.

“I have spoken to the mayor and John Cotton (leader of Birmingham City Council) and we will work collaboratively to move forward.” During his victory speech on the night, Laurence Turner, the new Labor MP for Northfield, said many had voted for his party for the first time for “stability, national governance and better public services”.

“I give you my word, I will do everything I can to bring about the change you voted for,” he said. Cllr Cotton also attended the general election count and said growing the economy in the city and country, as well as focusing on public services, should be a “top priority” for a Labor government.

Sharon Thompson, the council’s deputy leader, spoke of her optimism in the wake of Thursday night’s exit poll, saying there had been “14 years of chaos” under the Tories and she wanted to see the “city engine start again”.

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