Birmingham,The Stirrer, Black Country

news that matters, campaigns that count

for Birmingham, the Black Country and beyond

January 09

Weekend Footy Round-Up

VILLA STUMBLE, WOLVES BACK ON TRACK

31-01-2009

Villa stayed on course for the Champions League despite failing to beat Wigan in a lively goalless draw – while in the Championship, leaders Wolves reignited their faltering challenge, defeating Watford 3-1. more


BIRMINGHAM CONVENTION ON APOSTROPHES IN PLACE NAMES

31-01-2009

After years of producing press releases about reducing graffiti, litter and dumped rubbish, Martin Mullaney produces one about apostrophes and the world goes mad. To stop this happening again, Martin proposes a ‘Birmingham convention on apostrophes in place names’ – a convention to be adopted across Britain. more


Stay in more – DVD review

THE WIRE - DVD BOX SET

31-01-2009

It has been called the greatest TV series of all time. Various critics have said it is better than the Sopranos or Six Feet Under. Yet this TV series has never been shown on terrestial TV in the UK. With the DVD box set of its five series now released, Martin Mullaney reviews it first series and gives it a big thumbs up. more


BNP LEADERS SORRY STORY

30-01-2009

There's an internet campaign calling on BNP leader Nick Griffin to apologise for Holocaust denial. Stirrer editor Adrian Goldberg – whose Jewish grandparents perished at the hands of the Nazis – explains why he’s signing up. more


Get Out More.......................................Film Review

FROST/NIXON

30-01-2009

The unlikely tale of how a lightweight British chat show host managed to pull off the political TV interview of the 20th Century. Stirrer editor Adrian Goldberg enjoys the view. more


Audrey's "Grow Your Own" Blog

THE PLOT THICKENS

30-01-2009

The latest installment of Audrey Miller's guide to growing your own fruit, veg and herbs. more


Dave’s Villa Blog

“JAMMY VILLA” – NOT FROM WHERE I’M SITTING

30-01-2009

Stung by The Stirrer’s claim that Villa are “jammy” Dave Woodhall puts the case for the defence. And the occasional, lightning quick, breakaway attack. more


Kingy’s Wolves Blog

THE CASE FOR THE DEFENCE

30-01-2009

It’s one of those weakness that’s obvious to the fans – but to which the management are apparently blind. As Brendan King observes, Wolves can’t defend for toffee. more


ARTS COUNCIL’S “GOOD NEWS” SNUB FOR PUBLIC

29-01-2009

In a snatched conversation, the boss of The Public in West Bromwich described the Arts Council’s decision to reject a revised business plan as “good news”. Whatever good he mean? more


CHILES BLASTS “BARKING MAD” CLOSURE

29-01-2009

Top telly bloke Adrian Chiles has described the plan to close Haybridge Sports Centre in his old stomping ground Hagley as “barking mad”. Here’s a message he sent to Stirrer blogger and campaigner David Nicholl ahead of last night’s meeting to discuss the plan. more


Get Out More..............................Gig News

NEW TOWN HALL/SYMPHONY HALL SHOWS

29-01-2009

Left wing comic Mark Thomas is among the new acts confirmed for Birmingham’s Town Hall and Symphony Hall. Other additions include Al Stewart, Imelda May, and comic Tim Minchin. more


Terry’s Baggies Blog

REFFIN’ HELL

29-01-2009

Saturday sees Albion facing a relegation crunch against Hull, but Terry Wills is still getting over an abject refereeing performance during the Baggies mideweek match against Manchester United. more


Barbara’s Blog

BRIDGING THE GAP

29-01-2009

The forgotten communities in our midst are overlooked by conventional economics observes Barabra Panvel. more


Martin Longley's Music Blog

ROOTED SOUNDS: NEW YORK (PART 3)

29-01-2009

Our occasional taste of the Big Apple, from Great Wyrley's musical missionary Martin Longley. This time around, Jerry Douglas, The Campbell Brothers, The Klezmatics and Kinky Friedman. more


Doc Dave’s Blog

BAD SPORTS

28-01-2009

The scandalous story of how a sports centre could be closed to public use – even though that was a condition of an £800,000 grant. Dr David Nicholl reports. more


ARTS COUNCIL SHUNS THE PUBLIC

28-01-2009

West Brom’s Public Arts Centre faces an uncertain future after one of its key funders refused to back a new business plan. The Centre – seen as a cornerstone of regeneration for the Black Country town – had requested an extra £500,000 a year in support from the Arts Council. more


Exclusive

BIRMINGHAM LOSES ITS APOSTROPHE'S

28-01-2009

The Stirrer can reveal that Birmingham officially wants to lose its apostrophe's. Place name's like King's Norton, King's Heath and Acock's Green will now be published in a gramatically incorrect way on all Council signposts. more


BRUM’S GAZA MARCH: A SORRY STORY

28-01-2009

Ever since we revealed that West Midlands Police over-ruled senior councillors in Birmingham to allow a Gaza protest march in the city centre, our Forum has been buzzing with claim and counter claim. Now Sparkbrook councillor Salma Yaqoob enters the fray. more


Last Night’s Footy

HESKEY FIRES VILLA TO RECORD

28-01-2009

Former Blues star Emile Heskey fired Villa to a record sixth consecutive away win on his debut for the club, just days after signing for £3.5 million. Villa are now in third place, level on points with Liverpool. more


Sammy's Music Blog

CANDI STATON

28-01-2009

She's playing Birmingham Town Hall on February 21, and Paul Samuels will be there to enjoy a classic Southern soul crooner. more


PUBLIC FUTURE STILL IN THE DARK

28-01-2009

Staff at the controversial Public Arts Centre in West Bromwich were still in the dark about its future this morning after a crunch meeting in London yesterday. more


MANDY'S BAILOUT TOO LATE FOR GKN

28-01-2009

The Stirrer’s been rounding up local reaction to the £2.3 billion aid package for the motor industry announced yesterday by Business Secretary Lord Mandelson. His initiative was enough to stop Redditch-based components maker GKN announcing around 200 redundancies. more


MP USES EXPLOSIVE TNT

28-01-2009

Whoops! Tamworth MP Brian Jenkins has been caught using Dutch firm TNT for his latest mailshot. The Tories have accused him of "letting down the Post Office". more


EDGBASTON NIGHT FLIGHT

27-01-2009

The Stirrer revealed earlier how members of Birmingham Council tasked with examining Warwickshire Cricket Club’s application for permanent floodlights visited Edgbaston during the day. Not the ideal circumstances, we suggested. more


YAQOOB DENIES "SELF INTEREST" OVER GAZA

27-01-2009

Birmingham councillor Salma Yaqoob has hit out at suggestions that she’s been trying to make capital out of the Gaza crisis. The accusation was made by the city’s deputy leader Paul Tilsley, in an email leaked to The Stirrer. more


SHINING A LIGHT ON EDGBASTON

27-01-2009

Can this really be true? The Stirrer has been told that councillors and officers representing Birmingham Council’s planning department checked out plans for permanent floodlighting at Edgbaston cricket ground – by visiting the site during broad daylight. more


SMETHWICK SUPERHOSPITAL FUNDING DOUBT

27-01-2009

Patients waiting for a new superhospital for Sandwell and West Birmingham shouldn’t hold their breath - construction of the new £370 million facility, due to be completed by 2015, could be delayed by the credit crunch. more


LETTER FROM GAZA

27-01-2009

UK-based charity Forward Thinking aims to bring reconciliation in the Middle East and reduce the isolation of Muslims in the UK. Here’s a despatch from their director Oliver McTernan, whose spent the last week in the conflict zone. more


BEEB PULLS PLUG ON ASHLEY AFTER WOUNDING CHARGE

27-01-2009

BBC presenter Ashley Blake has been taken off screen after being charged with wounding, possession of an offensive weapon and affray. It follows an incident at his restaurant in Sutton Coldfield the Place 2B late on Saturday night. more


Richard Lutz's Blog

REAL LIFE DRAMA

27-01-2009

The nature of reality – even the good bits – can be mundane observes Richard Lutz. But it can still be stranger than fiction. more


TILSLEY SPLITS CABINET TO SUPPORT GAZA MARCH

26-01-2009

The Stirrer can reveal the vital role of Birmingham Council’s deputy leader Paul Tilsley in ensuring that a protest march about Gaza went ahead last weekend – in the face of opposition from colleagues in the city’s ruling coalition. more


BLACK COUNTRY PEER NAMED IN SCANDAL

26-01-2009

Lord Snape of Wednesbury – the former West Bromwich MP Peter Snape – has been named in a scandal alleging that peers were willing to use their parliamentary influence in exchange for cash. He’s denied any wrongdoing. more


PUBLIC BOSS "FEELING POSITIVE" OVER CASH CRUNCH

26-01-2009

The boss of West Brom’s Public arts centre insists he’s “more positive” than ever about its future – despite an Arts Council meeting tomorrow which could pull the plug on the £60 million project. more


50 MPS BACK BURDEN NOT BEEB OVER GAZA

25-01-2009

More than 50 MPs from all three main political parties have backed Birmingham MP Richard Burden’s call for the BBC to screen a charity appeal for the people of Gaza. more


Weekend Footy Round-Up

BLUES FANS FLIPPIN’ ECK

25-01-2009

Villa and The Baggies have both pulled potential plums in the 5th Round of the FA Cup…but the biggest story of the weekend is the growing disenchantment of Blues fans with manager Alex McLeish aka Big ‘Eck. more


BRITAIN’S GOT COWELL

25-01-2009

Has Britain got talent? After watching an audition for the TV variety show at the Alex Theatre in Birmingham, Richard Nevin sadly knows the answer. more


BBC SO UNAPPEALING OVER GAZA

24-01-2009

Shame on the BBC. By refusing to broadcast an appeal for the stricken people of Gaza, they have shown that they are more bothered about their precious “reputation” than saving human lives. more


MAN WOUNDED IN ANOTHER INNER CITY SHOOTING

24-01-2009

A man has been wounded after being shot in Hockley yesterday – the latest victim of a recurring gun crime problem in the area. The 20-year old is being treated in hospital for hand and shoulder wounds. more


Dave Woodhall’s Villa Blog

THE PASSING OF A GOLDEN AGE

24-01-2009

Dave Woodhall reflects on the sad loss of two great Villa servants. more


Get Out More..........................................Comedy News

JOHN SIMMIT (Wolves Civic Bar, 20 Feb 09)

24-01-2009

What do you do when your career as a Teletubby dries up? Why, you your return to your first love, stand-up, of course. more


THE LATEST CREDIT CARD SCAM

24-01-2009

We don't usually flag up scams, since we reckon you're old enough and ugly enough to be wise to the ways to the world. But this one arrived in our in-tray from a contact in the business world, and we reckon you could easily be taken in. more


ST. GEORGE'S CRUSADERS IN WEST BROM

23-01-2009

The future of West Brom’s St George’s Day Parade and Festival – unofficially regarded as the biggest in the country – still hangs in the balance after claims that it’s been infiltrated by the far right. Organiser Jeff Collins insists all people are welcome regardless of race and colour. more


MPs OPEN UP ON EXPENSES – WELL, ALMOST

23-01-2009

If Gordon Brown hadn’t performed a spectactular U-turn and decided that MPs should reveal the full details of their expenses after all, would our elected representatives have been forthcoming with the information? We can tell you. more


FOXTROT OSCAR

23-01-2009

Slumdog Millionaire is the favourite to win the Best Film gong in this year’s Oscars – you’ve got to be kidding, right? Stirrer editor Adrian Goldberg says don’t believe the hype. more


“30 NEW HOMES” AS SQUATTERS FIGHT EVICTION

23-01-2009

Members of Justice Not Crisis, Birmingham’s social housing campaigners, have successfully fought off an attempt to evict them from the Firebird pub in Balsall Heath – and say they’re hopeful of securing an agreement to build 30 new homes on the site. more


STIRRER HOSTS HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL

23-01-2009

Stirrer editor Adrian Goldberg will be compering Birmingham’s National Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony in Birmingham on Sunday. There are also events in Sandwell and Wolverhampton. more


Get Out More...............................Comedy News

DAME EDNA/SIR LESS PATTERSON (NIA Academy 22/9)

23-01-2009

Unmissable we’d say. The first national tour in 28 years for the best Aussie “duo” since Kylie and Jason. (Actually, Edna and Les came first, but we’ll let that pass…) more


BRUSSELS SPROUTS EXPENSES SECRECY

22-01-2009

After the government’s humiliating climbdown over publishing MP’s expenses, the battle for accountability moves to Brussels, with demands for MEPs to show the same level of transparency as their Westminster counterparts. more


GET OUT OF MY FACEBOOK

22-01-2009

A bullying Facebook group has been taken down after being highlighted on The Stirrer Forum. more


JUSTICE NOT CRISIS FACE EVICTION

22-01-2009

Members of social housing campaign group Justice Not Crisis, currently squatting at The Firebird pub in Balsall Heath, face eviction proceedings today. Their case will be heard at 2.30 in the County Court. more


Laurence Inman’s Blog

A DICKENS OF A MESS

22-01-2009

Worried about the current credit crunch and impending recession? Laurence Inman reckons we’ve seen it all before. more


Get Out More.................................Gig News

WOLVES CIVIC LISTINGS

22-01-2009

Forthcoming shows at the Wolves Civic coomplex include The Nightingales, Ned's Atomic Dustbin with their original line-up and an evening with Joe Calzaghe and Sir Henry Cooper - presumably not trying to knock seven bells out of each other. more


Barbara’s Blog

MAKING THE ECONOMY WORK

22-01-2009

With unemployment heading towards the 2 million mark, where now for the economy. Barbara Panvel goes back to basics. more


Get Out More...................................Film News

BIRMINGHAM INTERNATIONAL FILM SOCIETY

22-01-2009

Want to know the origins of the Israel/Palestine conflict? Then BIFS have the movie for you – tonight. Here’s their full programme. more


OBAMA'S DAY OF PRIDE AND LIBERATION - FOR BRUM

21-01-2009

Barrack Obama’s election as American president has been welcomed by Birmingham’s black communities who claim his inauguration could inspire a new generation of political activism in the city. more


EXPENSES ROW SPLITS ON PART LINES

21-01-2009

Solihull MP Lorely Burt MP is giving up her regular constituency day on Thursday to stay behind in Westminster and vote against government plans to exempt MP’s expenses from Freedom Of Information – a sure sign that the row is starting to split on party lines. more


SOUR SWEETMAN BRINGS OUT WOLVES PROTESTORS

21-01-2009

More than 40 protestors turned out in Wolverhampton last night to protest against the closure of the city’s Adult Learning Centre in Sweetman Street – another element of proposed cost savings of £40 million. more


POLICE OVER-RULE COUNCIL OVER GAZA PROTEST

21-01-2009

The Gaza protest on Saturday in Birmingham attended by more than 5,000 demonstrators took place in the face of opposition from Birmingham City Council, The Stirrer has discovered. The local authority was over-ruled by West Midlands Police who ensured the event went ahead. more


Terry’s Baggies Blog

BORO BAMBOOZLED

21-01-2009

With Albion just two points off mid-table – despite lying bottom of the Premiership – these are heady times at The Hawthorns. As Terry Wills reports, they’re even getting lucky now. more


Obama In, Bush Out

HAIL TO THE THIEF

20-01-2009

Their foreign policy widely discredited, their economic policy in tatters, George W. Bush and his Neo-Conservative cronies finally leave office today. Change we need? You bet says Steve Beauchampé. more


FIRE SERVICE LISTENS TO PUBLIC SHOCKER

20-01-2009

The future of Smethwick’s threatened fire station – featured extensively on The Stirrer – has been assured after West Midlands Fire Service backtracked on plans to close it. Four other fire stations have been saved too. more


Get Out More......................Gig News

PJ HARVEY (Town Hall, 22/4/09)

20-01-2009

The wonderful PJ Harvey heads to Birmingham Town Hall later this year with long time collaborator John Parish. Other new dates released at Town Hall/Symphony Hall include Grammy award winning saxophonist Kenny G, world famous South African acappella group Ladysmith Black Mambazo and American crooner Jack Jones. more


CONFESSIONS OF A BRUMMIE MUMMY – PART 19

20-01-2009

Ooh-er. It’s getting steamy now - and not just beacuse Brummie Mummy is making mulled wine for the Xmas party. more


Richard Lutz’s Blog

I RAN...TO IRAN

20-01-2009

It's not the most obvious tourist destination, but Richard Lutz is unbowed by allegations that he's supporting terrorism and supporting an "Evil Empire". He's off to Iran... more


Kingy’s Wolves Blog

WOLVES QUICK ON THE DRAW

20-01-2009

Despite seeing his team chuck away a two-goal lead at the weekend, Brendan King is positive about Wolves recent results - and up for the Cup at the weekend. more


THREE STARS - BUT "NO RESTAURANT SCENE"

19-01-2009

Birmingham has just astonished the restaurant world by scooping three Michelin stars – but the editor of one of Britain’s top gastro guides reckons we shouldn’t kid ourselves that it amounts to a “restaurant scene”. more


AN OPEN LETTER TO ISRAEL

19-01-2009

Are there comparisons between the Israel/Gaza situation and Britain’s relationship with Northern Ireland? Birmingham councillor Martin Mullaney thinks so as he explains in this open letter. more


BLUES AND CARDIFF PUT THE BOOT IN

19-01-2009

It’s just like the 1980s all over again. For the second time in less than a week, Birmingham City fans have been involved in disturbances following a home game at St Andrews. more


1,300 SIGN UP AGAINST WOLVES CARE HOME CLOSURE

19-01-2009

More than 1,300 people have signed a petition to keep open a Wolverhampton care home threatened with closure as part of a £40million cuts package. more


RECORD FOR REP AS LION ROARS

19-01-2009

Birmingham Rep has just announced a record breaking Christmas season with takings in excess of £750,000 for “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe”. Next year’s two festive shows have also been announced. more


CHILDRENS' "HIT SQUAD" CLAIMS RUBBISHED

19-01-2009

Claims that the government has sent in a “hit squad” to sort out Birmingham’s Childrens’ Services following the suspicious deaths of ten children in three years have been rubbished by the Council. more


Doc Dave’s Blog

A GREAT DAY FOR JUSTICE

18-01-2009

This weekend saw a great day for justice. As Dr David Nicholl reports, an innocent man has spent his first night of freedom in Birmingham despite being held in a high security prison for 18 months. more


Stirrer Audio Special

5,000 GATHER FOR GAZA DEMO

18-01-2009

Around 5,000 demonstrators gathered in Birmingham’s Victoria Square yesterday to protest at the ongoing conflict in Gaza. In case you missed it, The Stirrer offers you an exclusive opportunity to hear speeches by John Hemming and Salma Yaqoob. more


Weekend Footy Round Up

JAMMY VILLA STAY IN EURO HUNT

18-01-2009

After “Lucky Arsenal”, how about “Jammy Villa?” Martin O’Neill’s band of fast-breakaway merchants remain in the top tour of the Premier League and on course for a Champions League spot after a typically flukey win at Sunderland. more


ONE LAW FOR THEM….?

17-01-2009

Caught red-handed – the Birmingham traffic warden issuing tickets while being illegally parked himself. We received this anguished correspondent from “Gary” who could barely contain his anger. more


'GREENER' VEHICLES CALL BY FRIENDS OF THE EARTH

17-01-2009

Government support for Jaguar Land Rover and other beleagured car manufacturers must be linked to guarantees on the development of greener vehicles, says Friends of the Earth. Their comments came after EU ministers met in Brussels yesterday to discuss measures to tackle the downturn in the automotive industry. more


Barbara’s Blog

ALL THE MONEY THAT’S FIT TO PRINT

17-01-2009

There have been suggestions that the government is considering printing more money to get us out of the current economic crisis. Barbara Panvel wonders what the extra cash would be spent on. more


CREATED IN BIRMINGHAM BEATS OFF DAILY MAIL BLOGGER

16-01-2009

Created in Birmingham has seen off competition from the Daily Mail’s Melanie Phillips to scoop the coveted Best UK Blog of 2008 in the Weblog Awards. more


QUIT WARNING AS LADYWOOD ROW GOES ON

16-01-2009

Birmingham’s Labour Party is still riven with dissent following the decision to uphold Shabana Mahmood’s selection as parliamentary candidate in Ladywood. Leading figures in one ward are now considering their future and say their concerns have been treated with a lack of respect by the Prime Minister. more


JAIL THREAT FOR ROGUE CLAMPER

16-01-2009

Rogue Birmingham car clamper Gary Southall was warned yesterday that he faces a prison sentence after breaching a legal requirement to put his name on receipts issued to victims. more


Get Out More...........................Art Exhibition

THE ART OF BIRMINGHAM/BEIJING MAPS

16-01-2009

Feeling the pinch after Christmas? Paula Elenor artfully offers you a free afternoon out. more


REP UNLISTED IN LIBRARY BATTLE

16-01-2009

Efforts to get Birmingham Repertory Theatre “locally listed” appear to have failed. Campaigners like Alan Clawley were hoping the designation would provide further ammunition in their battle to save the Central Library being replaced by a new building in Centenary Square which incorporates the Rep. more


THE BLACK COUNTRY LASANTHA

16-01-2009

OK, it might be a bit of an exaggeration to compare a Black Country community activist with an assassinated Sri Lankan newspaper editor, but Dave Woodhall argues there are real parallels. more


Get Out More.........................Gig News

THE NIGHTINGALES/TED CHIPPINGTON (Wolves Civic 29/4/08)

16-01-2009

Aaah, it’s just like 1985 all over again – top local art noise pioneers and the original anti-comic Ted Chippington. We’re promised, though, that this will be more than a nostalgia fest. more


MOLINEUX HOTEL RE-OPENING MOVES CLOSER

16-01-2009

The reopening of Wolverhampton’s historic Molineux Hotel moves a step closer today, following a £7.5million restoration. more


WOLVES FAN - "I FEARED FOR MY LIFE" AT BLUES

15-01-2009

Football fans battled in clashes outside St Andrews following the local derby between Birmingham and Wolves and Tuesday night – and we’ve been given a chilling first-hand account by a fan who said he “feared for his life”. more


"SHOPPING MECCA" BRUM PASSES SCREEN TEST

15-01-2009

Coventry nightclub bouncer turned writer Geoff Thompson, whose life story has been turned into a major feature film, has been telling The Stirrer about his teenage adventures in the “shopping mecca” of Birmingham. more


BIRMINGHAM SCHOOLS PASSING THE TEST

15-01-2009

Birmingham’s schools are now out-performing the national average for children passing five “good” GCSE’s according to the latest figures published today. more


Laurence Inman’s Blog

THE SLOANE RANGER DANGER

15-01-2009

Reflections on this weeks royal race rows by Laurence Inman. more


"AID NOW FOR JLR" CALL

15-01-2009

Government aid for Jaguar Land Rover is now even more urgently needed according to Birmingham Chamber of Commerce. Their comments follow yesterday's announcement by the company of 450 job losses. more


COMMENT ISN’T FREE

15-01-2009

Regular Stirrer blogger John Lish aka Lost In Kate Winslet has been censored twice in recent days on the Guardian’s Comment Is Free forum. In the interests of free speech, we’re publishing his letter to the site’s editor Georgina Henry. more


Terry’s Baggies Blog

THE RELEGATION CRUNCH

15-01-2009

Defeat by the Villa was tempered by a suprisingly comfortable Cup win at Peterborough. Now Terry Wills is looking forward to a vital appointment with ‘Boro this weekend. more


"ISRAEL BOYCOTT" CALL FROM BRUM COUNCILLORS

14-01-2009

Councillors from across the political divide in Birmingham have united to call on the local authority to boycott Israeli goods. Their views may represent a majority view in the chamber – but there’s no obligation on the Cabinet to act on their views. more


Last Night’s Footy

WOLVES, BAGGIES THROUGH

14-01-2009

Wolves rested Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Chris Iwelumo from their starting line-up – but still managed to despatch below-par Blues at St Andrews to move onto the 4th Round of the FA Cup. Albion beat Peterborough 2-0 in the same competition, with Arsenal loanee Jay Simpson bagging his first goal. more


Get Out More...........................Film News

FLATPACK FESTIVAL AND LISTINGS

14-01-2009

Here are a few tasty morsels to whet your appetite for the forthcoming Flatpack Film Festival between March 11-15. As well as highlights of their own event, they’re talking up a few other shows too… more


LABOUR ADMITS “ERRORS” AS SHABANA CONFIRMED

13-01-2009

Labour’s National Executive Committee has admitted there were errors in the party’s membership recording system in Ladywood – but has upheld the selection of Shabana Mahmood as the constituency's parliamentary candidate because the numbers involved were too small to affect the outcome. more


Breaking News

LADYWOOD SELECTION UPHELD

13-01-2009

Labour’s National Executive Committee has upheld Shabana Mahmood’s controversial selection as parliamentary candidate in the Ladywood seat. more


VOYAGER DISCOVERY

13-01-2009

Birmingham Council is claiming savings of £46 million from it’s controversial Corporate Services Transformation (CST) programme – which spawned the troublesome Voyager payments system. more


BRUM COUNCIL ACCUSED OF "STIFLING" GAZA DEBATE

13-01-2009

Birmingham’s party leaders are trying to put up a united front to prevent a potentially divisive row about Gaza flaring up at today’s City Council meeting. Respect’s Salma Yaqoob has accused them of “stifling debate”. more


LADYWOOD WOULD TODAY

13-01-2009

After months of waiting, Labour’s National Executive Committee will finally announce the results today of its enquiry into Shabana’s Mahmood’s controversial selection as Labour candidate for Ladywood. more


Get Out More...........................Gig News
WOLVES CIVIC LISTINGS

13-01-2009

There are plenty of great shows up n' coming including a night with Henry Cooper and Joe Calzaghe, The Levellers and top comic Lucy Porter. Here's the full list of confirmed shows. more


Get out More...........................Gig News

JOOLS IN A JAM

13-01-2009

Jools Holland returns to home ground with his first gig in two years at the Jam House – the Birmingham club where he’s musical director. more


SMETHWICK CONSULTATION "WAS A SHAM"

13-01-2009

Claims on The Stirrer that a consultation about the closure of Smethwick Fire Station was a sham have been backed up by a local resident. "Karen" has emailed us with her account of last week's meeting. more


CARE HOME OBJECTORS URGED TO COME FORWARD

13-01-2009

Objectors to the closure of a Wolverhampton care home and other service cuts designed to save £40 million are being asked by the Council to come forward and make their views known. more


HAMAS “WOULD EXTERMINATE JEWS”

12-01-2009

The Director of Birmingham’s Israel Information Centre claims Hamas wants to exterminate Jews – and create a radical Islamist state. more


ROYAL "PAKI" JIBE "WILL HIT ARMY RECRUITMENT"

12-01-2009

Birmingham councillor Salma Yaqoob has warned that Prince Harry's "Paki" comments will make it harder for the Army to recruit candidates from ethnic minority backgrounds. more


THE STIRRER’S STIRRER 2008

12-01-2009

And the winner is…Audrey Miller, veteran Third World Debt campaigner who retired recently after years spent bringing the issue of global poverty to the forefront of international consciousness. more


Doc Dave’s Blog

BAD SPORTS

12-01-2009

Later today, redundancy notices are due to be handed to staff at a much-loved West Midlands sports centre - much to the surprise of local residents. Dr David Nicholl wonders what happened to local democracy. more


Get Out More.............................Film Review

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

12-01-2009

Slumdog Millionaire scooped best director, best picture, best screenplay and best coundtracks at last night's Golden Globes. Our Paula Elenor was pretty impressed too. more


Poet’s Corner

HAVE YOU WALKED THE STREETS OF WEDNESBURY

12-01-2009

Brendan Hawthorne wonders whether refuse crews are subject to the same litter dropping laws as the rest of us after clearing up three quarters of a bag of rubbish on his own street. He reckons the litter situation is ever worsening, so has composed this to the tune of Streets of London. more


VIOLENCE BEGETS VIOLENCE OVER GAZA

11-01-2009

Former Birmingham councillor John Tyrrell was one of thousands of people from the West Midlands to join a national demonstration in support of Gaza yesterday in London. Here’s his first hand report. more


FRIENDS DISUNITED AS VILLA GO THIRD

11-01-2009

Former Villa goalie Scott Carson returned to his old stomping ground – and promptly gifted his old-team-mates with the winning goal in the derby against Albion. There was an “old boys” theme at Molineux too, with ex-Wolves striker Stephen Ward netting twice for Preston in a 3-1 upset. more


STIRRER’S STIRRER TO GET THE WOODEN SPOON

10-01-2009

Saturday night (January 10) sees The Stirrer Social – an informal get together at the Spotted Dog pub in Digbeth. As a special bonus, the Stirrer’s Stirrer of 2008 will be unveiled some time around 10pm. more


"MIDLANDS LINK" TO ISRAELI DRONES

10-01-2009

Israeli spy planes implicated in the slaughter of hundreds of civilians in Gaza are powered by engines made in the Midlands according to Amnesty International. more


Dave’s Villa Blog

OLD DERBY, NEW AMBITION

10-01-2009

Villa and the Baggies are squaring up for a repeat of their ancient derby, but Dave Woodhall has his eyes on another historical feat – Villa’s 1981 title victory. Could history be about to repeat itself? more


Get Out More.....................Comedy News

10-01-2009

ALUN COCHRANE/NICK REVELL (Old Joint Stock, Jan 21)

Now here’s a hot ticket – two top comics for the price of one, each performing their recent Edinburgh set, in one of Birmingham’s coziest venues. Can’t say fairer. more


Callum's Blues Blog

BOARD MOOOOVE TO HELP CASH COWS

10-01-2009

The St Andrews board have finally woken up the fact that thousands of fans have stopped turning up regularly at St Andrews. Callum O' Connell welcomes a change of heart. more


BIRMINGHAM CREATES BLOGGING BATTLE

10-01-2009

The Created in Birmingham website is in the running for a prestigious national blogging award – and only the Daily Mail’s right wing ranter Melanie Phillips stands in their way. more


WHY TEST MATCH THREAT JUST ISN’T CRICKET

09-01-2009

Warwickshire’s warning that Birmingham might lose Test cricket forever unless permanent floodlights are installed at Edgbaston should not bully planners into riding roughshod over residents concerns argues Stirrer editor Adrian Goldberg. more


Get Out More.............................Film Review

THE READER

09-01-2009

My old English teacher Dave Hill used to say that the ultimate achievement in art would be to make a Nazi prison guard appear as a sympathetic character. So has director Stephen Daldry managed it with Kate Winslett’s latest starring role? more


Barbara's Blog

THE ENERGY CRISIS AND THE GREEN NEW DEAL

09-01-2009

Does Russia's willingness to hold the world hostage over energy supplies hide an opportunity as well as a problem? Barbara Panvel thinks so. more


CONFESSIONS OF A BRUMMIE MUMMY (PART 18)

09-01-2009

It’s the night of the big party. But will Brummie Mummy’s admirer show up? more


NETWORK FAIL LETS DOWN TRAVELLERS AGAIN

08-01-2009

Thousands of West Midlands rail travellers woke up this morning unsure of whether their trains to London would be running or not after the sixth day of chaos on the network. Callers to National Rail Enquiries last night were told that the operator – Virgin – still hadn't hadn’t passed on any update about the day's timetable. more


SMETHWICK FIRE STATION ROW FLARES AGAIN

08-01-2009

The row over the proposed closure of Smethwick Fire Station has intensified with officials insisting that a public meeting to discuss the issue this week wasn’t designed to “hoodwink the public”. But a local councillor who was there has renewed his attack by calling the consultation “a sham”. more


Laurence Inman’s Blog

STAND-UP – AND BE COUNTED

08-01-2009

The fear of failure is Laurence’s lungs again – and he’s loving his regular compere spot at the Retort Cabaret in Kings Heath. more


Dave Woodhall’s Blog

NEW YEAR’S REVOLUTION

08-01-2009

He’s promising not to get wound up in 2009…but Dave Woodhall has already broken his resolution. more


WELCOME TO THE STIRRER SOCIAL – THIS SATURDAY

08-01-2009

All Stirrer writers, contributors and readers are invited for a social evening to (belatedly) welcome in the New Year this Saturday evening at The Spotted Dog in Digbeth, Birmingham. more


Martin Longley's Music Blog
GLOBAL SOUNDS: NEW YORK (Part 423)

08-01-2009

Reggae heroes Toots and the Maytals go down a storm a Martin Longley surveys some of the world music keeping the folks of the Big Apple entertained. more


1,000 SIGN UP FOR JLR PETITION

07-01-2009

More than 1,000 signatures have been added in the last 24 hours to a Downing Street petition calling on the government to provide targeted assistance to Jaguar Land Rover. The Stirrer urges readers of this website to add their names – but with a caveat. more


HEMMING PROSECUTES ISRAEL “WAR CRIMES”

07-01-2009

Birmingham MP John Hemming claims Israel is guilty of war crimes by striking at non-combatants in the Gaza Strip. In an attack yesterday, more than 30 Palestinians were killed after missiles exploded outside a UN school were they were sheltering. more


Get Out More............................. Gig News

ELVIS COMES TO SYMPHONY HALL

07-01-2009

The latest raft of shows have been announced for Birmingham’s Town Hall and Symphony Hall – and they include a performance by Elvis Costello with the Brodsky Quartet, and the launch of the much missed Flatpack Film Festival with the wonderful Destroyers. more


Terry’s Baggies Blog

BRING ON THE VILLA

07-01-2009

It's Albion big derby day on Saturday, but as Terry Wills reflects the optimism which had started to bloom around The Hawthorns has withered again after Saturday's Cup draw with Peterborough. more


ISRAEL BOYCOTT CALL AS HUNDREDS FACE GAZA LOCKOUT

06-01-2009

Hundreds of people were locked out of a Gaza solidarity meeting at Birmingham Council House last night, which heard calls for a boycott of Israeli goods. John Tyrrell, a former city councillor and Cabinet member, was one of those left standing on the steps. more


Laurence Inman’s Blog

BOARD TEENAGERS

06-01-2009

Never mind the Playstations and Nintendos enjoyed by teenagers …when laurence Inman were a lad, it was board games that caught his imagination. Anyone for “War”? more


Doc Dave’s Blog

EX-GITMO GUARD SPEAKS WITH DETAINEES

06-01-2009

Here’s a real collectors item – a former Guantanamo Bay guard talks with detainees of the US prison camp for the first time in Birmingham next week. Dr David Nicholl sets the scene. more


Get Out More....................................Gig Listing

THE ROBIN (Mount Pleasant, Bilston)

06-01-2009

In among the tribute acts, there are some choice retro selections including the Blow Monkeys - featuring the full original line-up including Dr Robert - and Paul Carrack, the voice of the Mike and The Mechanics classic "The Living Years". To see the full Robin listing to the end of February, click here


JAGUAR LAND ROVER A "SPECIAL CASE" FOR AID

05-01-2009

Birmingham’s Chamber of Commerce has joined forces with its counterpart in Liverpool in a campaign to win government aid for Indian-owned Jaguar Land Rover, arguing that company is a “very special case”. They warn that 800,000 UK jobs in the motor industry are at risk without state intervention. more


FIRE STATION CONSULTATION TO “HOODWINK” RESIDENTS

05-01-2009

Tonight’s public consultation about the proposed closure of Smethwick Fire Station is designed to “hoodwink” residents according to a local councillor who claims there has been no effort to let local people know about it. more


SALMA – “END ISRAEL’S STATE SPONSORED TERRORISM”

05-01-2009

Stop The War campaigner and Birmingham councillor Salma Yaqoob has called for an end to Israel’s “state sponsored terrorism” in Gaza – and says it’s wrong to see the dispute as “tit for tat” violence. more


Barbara’s Blog

THE KNOCK ON THE DOOR

05-01-2009

Just in time for the recession, the government’s proposing that bailiffs should have new powers to use force to recover money owed to them. Recently published guidelines already allow them unprecedented powers to break into debtors’ homes, a development which leaves Barbara Panvel appalled. more


Get Out More...........................Film Review

CHE - PART ONE (THE ARGENTINE)

05-01-2009

His face adorns a million posters and T-shirts - but who was the man behind the image? Martin Mullaney checks out a new movie about the world's coolest revolutionary. more


Poet's Corner

NEW YEAR HANGOVER

05-01-2009

The Stirrer's poet laureate Brendan Hawthorne marks the arrival of the New Year in reflective mood. more


Kingy's Football Roundup

VILLA AND GILLINGHAM COMPETE IN CUP CLASSIC

04-01-2009

Villa belied the notion that big teams aren’t up for the early rounds of the FA Cup and competed well with an excellent Gillingham team of great FA Cup fighters. more


Kingy's Football Roundup

ALBION DRAW WHILE OTHER MATCHES POSTPONED

03-01-2009

Albion stutter to a bore draw at home to the Posh: Blues-vs-Wolves & Carlisle-vs-Walsall abandoned due to frozen pitches. more


WHAT EVER’S HAPPENED TO DESERT ISLAND DISCS?

03-01-2009

Brendan King decry’s the dumbing down of Desert Island Discs. Is this him getting old or a real decline in the BBCs standards? more


BIRMINGHAM MP SLAMS GAZA “SLAUGHTER OUTRAGE”

03-01-2009

More than 60 MPs have signed a statement issued by Birmingham MP Richard Burden calling for a ceasefire in the current Israel/Gaza confrontation. Burden, who chairsthe Britain-Palestine All Party Group, described the continuing slaughter in the region as an “outrage”. more


PARKING FINES – CASH COWS FOR COUNCILS?

03-01-2009

Over the Christmas and New Year period, I was out and about in my car quite a lot. As a disabled driver I was usually trying to use blue badge designated parking spaces, particularly on roadside bays. more


LOCKED OUT OF THE LOCK MUSEUM PART IV

03-01-2009

Willenhall’s Lock Museum has finally closed its doors to the general public. But notions that it can still be booked for private or school parties, or run day-to-day as a social enterprise for unemployed people, has been rubbished by supporters of the historic museum. Brendan King comments.... more


Martin Longley's Music Blog

JAZZ SOUNDS: OLD YORK (PART ONE)

03-01-2009

Martin Longley empirically sucks liquorice sticks in Old York City, in anticipation of reedsman Alan Barnes alighting at The White Swan in Stratford-upon-Avon on Sunday evening [4th January].....more


GAZA PROTESTS GATHER FORCE IN BRUM

02-01-2009

At least 12 coaches will take protestors from Birmingham to a "Hands Off Gaza" protest in London tomorrow, while tonight (Friday) there's another candlelit vigil at the Bullring to show solidarity with the victims of Israel's current bombing campaign - which has currently claimed more than 400 lives. more


Audrey Miller's Blog

GROWING YOUR OWN

02-01-2009

In the first of a regular series of articles Audrey Miller discusses her desire to redduce her carbon footprint - by growing her own fruit and veg. more


Kingy’s Wolves Blog

WORRY BEADS OUT FOR WOLVES

02-01-2009

Some people are never satisfied. Despite Wolves runaway lead at the top of the Championship, Brendan King has got the worry beads out. more


HAPPY NEW YEAR

01-01-2009

The Stirrer wishes all contributors and readers a very happy New Year. Enjoy yourselves, one and all...

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