31-10-2007
Angry Birmingham Council workers are complaining that a new wage structure designed to bring about equal pay has been rigged in favour of senior management. They claim that while many ordinary workers will get less money, top bosses have found a way to boost their earnings. more
Military Families Blog
31-10-2007
News that some MPs are claiming more than £35,000 a year in postage costs hasn't gone down well with the families of troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. As Carol Jones explains, their free parcels service ends on December 7, the last posting day for Xmas. more
31-10-2007
Rebuilding plans for Birmingham's popular Midland Arts Centre have received a boost with an extra £800,000 grant for a new studio theatre - but there's no sign of any U-turn on plans to halt its activities for 18 months and make more than 180 staff redundant. more
31-10-2007
Following The Stirrer's story last week about the lack of African-Caribbean voices on BBC WM's internet "Listen Again" feature, we notice that Bishop Joe Aldred's programme has now been added to the list. You still can't actually hear him though. more
31-10-2007
Taking time off from his pursuit of the Boston Red Sox baseball team, Brummie sports nut Damien Doran checks out the local "hockey" team, the Bruins. more
Get Out More.............................................Theatre Review
31-10-2007
It's such a versatile musical that it's been packing out theatres for nearly six decades, and even gave Captain Sensible a Number One hit. So does the latest production at the Alex cut the mustard? Terry Wills is the assessor in the stalls. more
30-10-2007
Whoops! The government has admitted that it under-estimated the level of immigrant workers by 300,000 in the last 10 years - more evidence that it simply doesn't have a population policy worthy of the name. more
30-10-2007
Birmingham's reputation for political sleaze is about to be revived as an Election Court sits in the city for the second time in two years. Tomorrow's hearing will investigate claims that a Labour councillor smeared a Liberal Democrat rival in May's local council elections. more
30-10-2007
If the Tories get into power, they'll consider banning Scottish MP's from voting on issues affecting only England such as health and education. Yes it's the old "West Lothian Question". Dr David Nicholl says we should just refuse to answer it. more
Gigbeth..........................Two Days To Go
The Academy of Music and Sound is a professional training organisation in music and this year they have teamed up with Gigbeth to offer three nights of fantastic sounds. more
30-10-2007
Anti-war campaigner Rose Gentle blamed Tony Blair for the death of her son in Iraq at an inquest which opened yesterday. But she also implicated the Solihull-made Land Rover "Snatch" - because an electronic jamming device which would have detected the roadside bomb which killed him hadn't been fitted. more
30-10-2007
Birmingham author Michael Richardson has been telling Stirrer TV about his new novel "Careless Talk" - the latest release from the city's acclaimed Tindal Street Press. more
Get Out More.............................Exhibition News
30-10-2007
The 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery is marked in a wonderful new exhibition at the Gas Hall reports Paula Elenor. more
29-10-2007
Birmingham Mail editor Steve Dyson remains confident that his paper's campaign for a Mayoral referendum will be successful even if it doesn't attract the 36,000 signatures needed to force a poll. more
29-10-2007
Sutton Coldfield MP Andrew Mitchell and Tory leader David Cameron are both facing awkward questions about their connections with Flying Lion - an aviation company based in Bermuda who have links with Conservative party benefactor Michael Ashcroft. more
29-10-2007
The long-waited revamp of Digbeth Coach station - one of Birmingham's worst grotspots - moves a step closer today, with the submission of plans to the City Council of a £15 million copper-clad facelift. more
29-10-2007
Plans to shut more than quarter of the libraries in Dudley and sell them off for housing could still be "called in" by the government a local MP has warned. Lynda Waltho insists she'll carry on fighting the proposals, which she describes as "an absolute nonsense". more
Gigbeth.........................Three Days To Go
29-10-2007
Ex-South Birmingham College Student Matt Smith worked on Gigbeth last year and to show just how much success he's had since then, he returns with his own night at Sanctuary on Friday. more
Callum's Blues Blog
29-10-2007
Carson Yeung's visit to St Andrews at the weekend prompted co-owner David Sullivan into one of his outspoken rants in the programme notes, calling on the Hong Kong tycoon to complete his takeover on schedule. On the field Callum O'Connell was more impressed by young Blues, than Yeung's blues. more
Terry's Baggies Blog
29-10-2007
Two wins in five days at The Hawthorns have put the smile back on the face of our Baggies blogger Terry Wills. more
Blind Dave's Blog
29-10-2007
Next April West Brom's Blind Dave Heeley attempts to tackle seven marathons in seven days on seven continents - but his training partner Karl has already been to the pole. more
New On Stirrer TV
27-10-2007
Birmingham author Michael Richardson's long-awaited sequel to his acclaimed novel "The Pig Bin" has just been launched by Tindal Street Press - and you can see him reading an extract exclusively on Stirrer TV. more
27-10-2007
Politicians came in for predictable flak when their latest expense details were published this week - not least West Midlands Minister Liam Byrne who was the second biggest spender in the Commons. But isn't there a price to be paid for democracy? more
27-10-2007
The Stirrer has hosted a vigorous debate about whether Birmingham's Selly Oak Hospital is the most suitable place to treat soldiers injured in conflicts abroad. But Simon Gray wants to know when the process is going to start working the other way. more
Get Out More......................................7" News
27-10-2007
Birmingham's formidable 7" Cinema Club has an update on its own events and, as usual, a few more artistic goodies beside. Oh, and a stonking competition. Check out their latest listings and stuff. more
Mick Temple's Blog
27-10-2007
If Blair's Labour was spun to power by the likes of Peter Mandelson and Alistair Campbell, Cameron's Tories haven't been slow to learn how marketing can open the door to No. 10. Now it looks as though the Lib Dems are catching on too. But Professor Mick Temple warns that what's good for soap powder doesn't necessarily work for democracy. more
27-10-2007
BBC WM bosses insist there's been no conspiracy to keep its high profile black presenters away from its internet "Listen Again" feature - they've just been scuppered by technical problems. more
Damien Doran's Baseball Blog
27-10-2007
Birmingham baseball fan Damien Doran is the eternal pessimist, so if you read his previous despatches you'll have expected Boston Red Sox to have missed out on the World Series. Yet here they, favourites to win it, up against the Colorado Rockies. more
Get Out More.....................................Gig News
27-10-2007
"Let's Make Love and Listen To Death From Above". Sounds like a cool philosophy of life to us, but it also happens to be a song title by Brazilian Riot Grrrls (plus one bloke) CSS. The Stirrer's gonna be there when they hit town, inspired by this eulogy by our music guru Paul Samuels. more
Get Out More ..............................Theatre Review
27-10-2007
Starring Paul Nicholas and directed by co-author Mark Bramble this multi-award winning show has been wowing the crowds over the past week at the Alex. Terry Wills was suitably impressed. more
Blind Dave's Blog
27-10-2007
After the Great North Run, West Brom marathon runner Dave helps out Guide Dogs on an charity event in Wales, where competitors run and climb with a blindfold on - just to see what it's like for him. Pity there was an obstacle in the way for him too. more
26-10-2007
Hodge Hill's Liam Byrne tops the expenses league for MP's in the West Midlands - and rates as the second most expensive in the country. Other high spenders include the Black Country MP's Tom Watson and Ian Austin. more
26-10-2007
Last night's Panorama gave us Alan Johnston's chilling first hand account of his time as a hostage in Palestine. Johnston's capture caused an international furore, so David Nicholl asks why the arrest of another broadcaster hasn't attracted the same attention. more
The Stirrer's Cancer Campaign
26-10-2007
The Stirrer's campaign to ensure West Midlands cancer patients are treated with the breakthrough drug Sutent is winning support from councillors in Birmingham and the Black Country. Liberal Democrat Emily Cox from Moseley and Kings Heath is the latest to join the battle. more
26-10-2007
Investigators probing the death in Switzerland last week of former Killing Joke bassist Paul Raven from Wolverhampton have ruled out drugs or illegal substances as a contributory cause. more
Get Our More...............................Opera Review
26-10-2007
Are you watching Liverpool? It's hard to imagine the city which beat Birmingham to the Capital of Culture title pulling off anything quite so audacious and ambitious as this towering production of Verdi's opera which had a capacity crowd on its feet. more
26-10-2007
Birmingham City Council's Chief Executive Stephen Hughes has hit back at The Stirrer's column in last night's Birmingham Mail which argued that the merits of retaining the existing Central Library had been overlooked. more
25-10-2007
The introduction of Birmingham's first car share lane is to be welcomed.... but the city's commitment to getting people out of their motors altogether is open to question. When, for example, is the A38 Tyburn Road bus priority lane going to be re-introduced? more
25-10-2007
The Stirrer is agog that the news of 50 more post office closures in Birmingham has been greeted with apparent apathy by the city's Labour MPs and councillors. Never mind the red flag flying....they're all hanging out the white flag of surrender. more
25-10-2007
It is bright yellow, three metres long, makes no noise, runs on hydrogen and is coming soon to a taxi rank near you. Check out this groundbreaking, environmentally-friendly taxi cab developed and made in the West Midlands which is to debut on Birmingham's roads next year. more
25-10-2007
Blimey. Is it that time of year already? The clocks haven't gone back yet and we're already being reminded of Remembrance Sunday. Laurence Inman suggests there's something else we shouldn't forget....The Old Lie that has led millions of young men to their death. more
25-10-2007
Dr David Nicholl sends a despatch from his homeland, Northern Ireland, and reflects on the curious fact that Belfast is probably the least likely place in the UK to suffer a terrorist today attack. more
Gigbeth Countdown...................................................Seven Days To Go
25-10-2007
The West Midlands top music industry showcase Gigbeth will be opened this year by local soul songstress Ruby Turner.....but rather than delivering the traditional keynote speech, she's asked to be interviewed by Stirrer editor Adrian Goldberg instead. more
25-10-2007
Hampshire Police are keen to re-assure the local populace that their local coppers are there to help. Unfortunately, the male PC in the advert looks just a little TOO eager to please. Is that an exhaust pipe in your pocket, or are you just pleased to see me? more
24-10-2007
The Black Country will battle for £50 Million in Lottery funding after making it through to the last four of a national regeneration competition. The winner will be decided in a TV and online vote in December. more
Gigbeth Countdown.........................8 Days To Go
24-10-2007
A New Orleans night..... during Gigbeth? Can that be right?! It surely can. more
24-10-2007
BBC WM came under fire six months ago for allowing it's most high profile African-Caribbean presenter Robert Beckford to leave.....and now there are murmurings in the community about the radio station's Listen Again feature, which ignores some of its best known black stars. more
Get Out More.........................Film News
24-10-2007
One of Britain's most respected arthouse directors Terence Davies comes to Birmingham next week for a unique afternoon where he'll introducing two of his best known films and taking questions from the audience. more
Military Families Support Blog
24-10-2007
On Friday Birmingham's Floozie in the Jacuzzi will turn pink in honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Day. As chance would have it, one of The Stirrer's sisters had an op for the condition this week, and now Carol Jones daughter-in-law - who lost her husband, Brummie soldier John Jones in Iraq - has also been diagnosed. more
24-10-2007
It was revealed earlier this month that West Midlands Minister Liam Byrne has the country's largest gathering of NEETS in the country - ie youngsters not in education, employment or training. Barbara Panvel reckons we've all got some work to do. more
24-10-2007
If you're a man who left school with precious few qualifications and feels life is passing you by, check out this great scheme that allows you to improve your skills free of charge. Off-road driving, golf, clay pigeon shooting....you name it, it's probably on offer. more
23-10-2007
The Abortion Act was approved 40 years ago this month, prompting strong condemnation from the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams who says it devalues life. With 200,000 terminations a year, he claims women are using it as a normal procedure, not as a last resort. Stirrer editor Adrian Goldberg offers a personal view. more
23-10-2007
Funding for Birmingham's new £193 million Central Library is partly dependent on luck according to a senior city official. The startling admission was made yesterday when the scheme was given Cabinet approval. more
23-10-2007
Dave Woodhall enjoys a few days away in his own fair country. And not for the first time, he feels ripped off. more
23-10-2007
The Stirrer's poet laureate Brendan Hawthorne is inviting Stirrer readers to his new book launch in Wednesbury on December 1. More details below. In the meantime, here's his latest offering on the European Constitution (sorry, Treaty) that certainly doesn't take any powers away from Britain (oh no) - courtesy of Gordon Brown and David Milliband. more
23-10-2007
Birmingham's Asha's restaurant has scooped the national Newcomer of the Year Award at the prestigious British Curry Awards. Lasan in the Jewellery Quarter was named the top Indian restaurant in the West Midlands. more
Get Out More..................................Theatre Review
23-10-2007
Paula Elenor's last Rep review about Brief Encounter caused a ruckus on the Message Boards. Here's her latest, about Bryony Lavery's new one, being staged in The Door. more
23-10-2007
Spotted Dog landlord John Tighe whose plight kicked off the Keep Digbeth Vibrant campaign is a contender for the much coveted Brummie of the Year campaign - and here at The Stirrer we're hoping he wins it. more
23-10-2007
Congratulations to Birmingham Royal Ballet which has landed an "Outstanding Achievement In Dance Award" for its "Stravinsky - A Celebration" shows earlier this year. more
22-10-2007
Former Killing Joke bassist Paul Raven has died at the age of 46 in Switzerland. The Wolverhampton-born star cut his teeth with local punk heroes Neon Hearts. more
22-10-2007
Two air stewardesses collapsed on a flight from Birmingham to Belfast after being overcome by noxious fumes earlier this year - and that was just one of ten so called "fuming" incidents on Flybe flights in the last 15 months according to a BBC Five Live documentary presented by Stirrer editor Adrian Goldberg. more
22-10-2007
The Stirrer's campaign to bring major political conferences to Birmingham has taken another leap forward with the news that Labour's spring forum will come to the city next year. more
22-10-2007
Leaders of Birmingham's ethnic minority communities have given a hostile reaction to calls for the Police to stop and search more youngsters. One of the city's leading Muslims warned that it's a sign that we are "heading fast" towards a police state. more
22-10-2007
Later today, the cabinet of Birmingham's City Council is being asked to "rubber stamp" plans for a new £193 million Central Library. Campaigner Alan Clawley reckons revamping the existing one can be achieved for a tenth of the cost. Here's his open letter to the councillors who'll be making the decision. more
Callum's Blues Blog
22-10-2007
It wasn't Blues weekend defeat by Manchester City that's got Callum O'Connell agitated - more the continued incertainty over Steve Bruce's future as manager. more
Gigbeth Countdown...................................................10 Days to Go
22-10-2007
Gigbeth is just like an advent calendar really. With each new day a window opens, and there's another treat waiting inside. Today, we highlight a child star cum UCE graduate who's now spinning the discs. more
Terry Wills' Baggies Blog
22-10-2007
Brilliant at home. Rubbish away. That's the Albion in a nutshell reckons Terry Wills after another long and disappointing journey, this time to Colchester. more
20-10-2007
Targets for waiting times, the Patient's Charter - there's no end to the ways in which the modern NHS is measured. But for the Caped Crusader, it's all about how you are treated as an individual. Read his Health Service horror story, and ask yourself - "can we be sure this just a one-off?" more
20-10-2007
Inner city traders whose livelihoods have been damaged by Birmingham's congestion-busting Red Route have accused the city's transport boss of "double standards" for breaking a promise to go and see them. Len Gregory scrapped a recent visit because he was ill - but has since been spotted enjoying a photo-opportunity in another part of town. more
20-10-2007
Stirrer editor Adrian Goldberg has been working on another investigative documentary for BBC Five Live - this time about pollution on aircraft. You can hear the results this Sunday at 11.30 am on the Rachel Burden programme. more
20-10-2007
Is it April Fools Day? Birmingham Council has just been praised by Communities Secretary Hazel Blears for it's great commitment to "empowering communities". Could this be the same council that is about to scrap the two organisations it created to engage with citizens at the grass roots? Yup, that's the one.. more
Dave Woodhall's Villa Blog
20-10-2007
Villa against Man United is fixture that sets the spine tingling with anticipation - though Lord knows why, given the predictability of recent results. Dave Woodhall puts his finger on what's gone wrong. more
20-10-2007
In case you missed it, we're coming to the end of a Global Week of Action on World Debt. Audrey Miller celebrates a movement born in Birmingham. more
Get Out More........................................Half Term Treat
20-10-2007
Stuck for something to do with the kids during the forthcoming half-term break. The folk at Birmingham Hippodrome have got an idea you might like. more
20-10-2007
Legend has it that plans for a Frank Zappa Festival in Birmingham foundered a couple of years ago when a senior councillor insisted it wouldn't go head unless the man himself came over to the city. Whatever, Brummie musical explorer Martin Longley has been catching up with Frank's living legacy in the Big Apple. more
Poet's Corner
20-10-2007
American influence is coming to dominate our telly, but Brendan Hawthorne - black country n' proud - is leading the fightback. We'll tell you about his new book when we find the note he sent us, too. more
GIGBETH COUNTDOWN........................12 DAYS TO GO
20-10-2007
Hot Spunk, anyone? They're just one of the snappily named indie delights available at the Sunflower Lounge on Smallbrook Queensway during all three nights of Gigbeth. more
19-10-2007
It's lashing down with rain, and the trains are either delayed or cancelled. So what do you do to passengers who have waited for ages on the platform and think they are finally heading home? Why, you turf them off of course, miles from their destination. more
19-10-2007
Now that Ming Campbell has gone, where now for the Liberal Democrats. John Hemming's aspirations apart, it's coming down to a battle between two right-leaning ex public schoolboys. What happened to the, er, liberalism asks Mick Temple? more
Stirrer Ticket Competition
19-10-2007
Money sex, and death. What more could you want? Oh, incredible music, fantastic costumes, and an amazing setting? Alright then, you can have those as well as The Stirrer gives you the chance to win a pair of tickets for Birmingham Opera Company's La Traviata. more
Blind Dave's Blog
19-10-2007
By his own strenuous standards, Black Country marathon runner Blind Dave Heeley has been taking it easy of late, but now the dark winter nights are here he's stepping up training ahead of next year's 7/7/7 marathon attempt. more
18-10-2007
Against a background of 1,800 job cuts across the BBC, the West Midlands has emerged relatively unscathed ....and all the indications are that over the next few years the number of staff at the Corporation's Mailbox centre will grow. more
Gigbeth Countdown..............................................................14 Days To Go
18-10-2007
Birmingham's premier music industry showcase and talking shop edges ever nearer. As Gigbeth's official online partner, The Stirrer is counting down the days. more
The Stirrer's Cancer Campaign (Part One)
18-10-2007
Father of seven Michael Young, a cancer victim from Selly Oak has just retired at the age of 60 after working as a nurse for 37 years. His 28-year old son Ian is sending this open letter to South Birmingham PCT explaining why Michael should immediately be prescribed the drug Sutent instead of enduring a three month wait for decision. more
The Stirrer's Cancer Campaign (Part Two)
18-10-2007
The NHS postcode lottery in cancer care has claimed another victim - Kex Gorin, drummer with local rock legends Magnum. His partner Sally Clark tells us why she's putting on a charity gig and auction to raise funds for the new "wonder drug" Sutent. more
18-10-2007
So your relationship ends and what do you do? Instead of enjoying your freedom, you rush straight into another one, observes Laurence Inman. And that applies even if you're an ex-Beatle who should have got hitched to Jane Asher anyway. more
The Stirrer's Cancer Campaign
17-10-2007
Friends and family of a West Midlands cancer patient are so desperate to ensure he has access to the revolutionary drug Sutent they are planning to hold a coffee morning to raise funds - even though patients elsewhere in the country can receive the treatment on the NHS. more
17-10-2007
Well, well, well, well......just 24 hours after The Stirrer complained that this site was the only media outlet seriously questioning plans for a new Central Library, the Birmingham Post has run a front page headline asking "Do The Sums Add up?" And the city's slumbering Labour opposition has woken up too. more
17-10-2007
John Hemming has said he's "hopeful" rather than "confident" of securing the backing of seven fellow Lib-Dem MP's in his quest to replace Ming Campbell as leader - but revealed that he already has one backer. more
17-10-2007
The West Midlands' public transport body, Centro-WMPTA wants to put our minds at rest after it was reported on this site and elsewhere that a number of bus services were being axed or altered over the coming months. more
16-10-2007
Birmingham MP John Hemming is to launch a bid for the leadership of the Liberal Democrats following the resignation of Ming Campbell. Hemming told The Stirrer that he is "taking soundings."more
16-10-2007
Sandwell BNP councillor James Lloyd has promised that he'll fight all the way to hold on to his council seat following reports that he could be expelled for non-attendance. Searchlight reports that it's more than six months since he turned up at an official meeting, and that could pave the way for him to be booted out. more
16-10-2007
Well, well, well...just 48 hours after The Stirrer revealed that Birmingham City Council was keeping the business case for it's new library under wraps, the full report by Capita Symonds - previously kept secret under Freedom of Information - has now been posted on its website. We welcome this new spirit of glasnost...but there are still a few more questions to answer. more
16-10-2007
Remember Top Trumps? Well, they're back...only this time with a charitable twist. Dr David Nicholl more
16-10-2007
What's this? Legendary Brummie music promoter John Mostyn joining the opera? You bet. He's part of the chorus for the Birmingham Opera Company's La Traviata at the NIA next weekend. And he's graciously agreed to share his experience with us. more
15-10-2007
Tough love? Or hugs and kisses? Which is the most effective method of child-rearing? A timeless question brought into sharp focus by Channel 4's "Bringing Up Baby", a series which has brought a complaint to the NSPCC and spawned a 2,000 signature petition on the Downing Street website. more
15-10-2007
Is Richard Brunstrom, the Chief Constable of North Wales, a Stirrer reader? We only ask because today he's calling on the government to legalise all drugs - a view mooted in May on this very website by Rich Batsford. In case you missed it, here's his excellent article. more
15-10-2007
As they seek a return to the Premier League, West Bromwich Albion are united on the pitch and in the stands....but there are growing rumbles of dissent among the club's shareholders about the behaviour of chairman Jeremy Peace. At today's AGM he'll face opposition to his plans to mop up minor shareholdings for just �80 a go. more
15-10-2007
On the most conservative estimates 75,000 Iraqi civilians have died since US and UK forces invaded Iraq in 2003 - many of them children. Barbara Panvel contrasts our media's silence about their fate with the hullabaloo over the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. more
15-10-2007
Terry Wills reflects on a barnstorming weekend of sporting action, which climaxed in a fantastic performance by England's rugby union players. more
Military Families Blog
15-10-2007
The Queen opened the new memorial at the National Arboretum in Staffordshire on Friday, dedicated to the memory of the soldiers who've perished in action since World War Two. But as military mum Carol Jones reports, even here, traditional class divisions were maintained. more
Exclusive
15-10-2007
Cuts in bus services across Birmingham and the Black Country have got The Stirrer's Message Board humming. But Kevin Chapman has discovered that at least one of the routes deemed unprofitable by Travel West Midlands is now being taken over by a smaller operator. more
14-10-2007
You don't have to be a rugby expert to spot an heroic sporting performance - and England's achievement in reaching the World Cup final last night by beating France in Paris definitely falls into that category. more
Exclusive
13-10-2007
Birmingham Council finally unveiled plans yesterday for its new �193 million library incorporating the Rep Theatre - but The Stirrer has discovered that key financial details of the new development will be kept secret until AFTER the scheme has been "rubber stamped" by the city's cabinet. more
13-10-2007
The shamed historian and Holocaust denier David Irving is speaking in Birmingham later this month at an unnamed hotel. more
Martin Longley's New York Music Blog
13-10-2007
Cutting edge Next Wave meanderings with a dash of puppetry thrown in for good measure. Yup, Brummie music writer Martin Longley is on the hunt for new musical thrills in Noo Yawk. more
Military Families Support Blog
13-10-2007
The Queen opened a new memorial yesterday at the National Arboretum near Tamworth, dedicated to British troops killed in action since World War Two. Carol Jones' son John who died in Iraq has his name engraved there, but she says we also need to remember the living - especially those who've returned home injured. more
13-10-2007
Birmingham boasts that it's Britain's first fair-trade city, but what's the reality on the ground? Audrey Miller is recruiting fair trade detectives, so if you've ever fancied donning a deerstalker, now's your chance. more
Gigbeth Countdown..... 19 Days To Go
13-10-2007
Three days of musical mayhem and mystery are promised in Gigbeth, Birmingham's foremost musical showcase. As we count down to the big event, here's another choice highlight.....the double-decker disco that is the Ecorhythmclub. more
13-10-2007
Shops are already gearing up for the festive season, but with the cash tills set to ring, The Stirrer offers a timely reminder of the true (?) story of Christmas. more
12-10-2007
Cancer victim Lorraine Knight whose case has been featured on The Stirrer and the Birmingham Mail this week has been warned that she faces a delay before finding out if she'll be prescribed the drug that could give her a precious few extra months to live. Her application has been delayed by an administrative mix-up. more
12-10-2007
The Stirrer's investigation into Birmingham's troubled Enterprising Communities Project continues to throw up disturbing evidence of mismanagement and lack of transparency in the �14 million scheme. more
Mick Temple's Blog
12-10-2007
Remember....you heard it here first. You know, just like that November 1 General Election. This time it's not The Stirrer sticking his neck on the block but politics Professor Mick Temple. more
12-10-2007
Could a Birmingham reggae band really have kick started the Northern Ireland peace process? That's what Pete Millington reckons. more
Gigbeth Countdown.............................................20 Days to Go
12-10-2007
Continuing our build-up to the West Midlands premier music industry showcase. Today, some of the country's coolest turntable action. more
12-10-2007
Marathon man and Stirrer blogger Blind Dave Heeley is 50 next month, and you're all invited to the party. Check out this poster for full details. See ya there. more
12-10-2007
The Byrds? Love? Yes, they've got the albums. But according to Paul Samuels - easily the best music writer working in Britain today - they've got enough of their own moves to wear it well. more
Terry's Baggies Blog
12-10-2007
The international break gives Terry Wills time to reflect on Albion's recent performances - a trip to the Saints of Southampton and the sinners of Stoke City. more
The Stirrer's Cancer Campaign
11-10-2007
Cancer victim Lorraine Knight who's been given just nine months to live has been called to an emergency meeting at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital today - but still doesn't know whether she'll be prescribed the drug which could prolong her life. more
11-10-2007
Local bus operator Travel West Midlands announced savage cuts to services in the Black Country last week, and in South Birmingham residents in one of the city's most deprived areas face increasingly inconvenient timetables. Kevin Chapman wonders why this form of transport always seems to be the poor relation. more
11-10-2007
It sounds like another Stirrer campaign - Laurence Inman's demand for a Law Against Meaningless Bollocks. And we all know what happens to lambs don't we? Marketing charlatans beware. more
11-10-2007
You're a kind-hearted citizen with a conscience who wants to find a use for your old mattress and wardrobe when you move house. Aah, if only it were that simple muses Simon Gray. more
11-10-2007
Two new surveys have ruffled Brummie pride - with the city apparently falling behind Manchester in terms of influence and as a place to do business. Never mind the league tables says Diane Benussi...just take each game as it comes. more
10-10-2007
The idea of reviving a traditional rail route through South Birmingham refuses to go away - and yesterday campaigners presented a 1500 signature petition to the City Council calling for the re-opening of Kings Heath station. more
10-10-2007
Talk about stealing the Tories clothes. Chancellor Alastair Darling announced that the inheritance tax threshold is being doubled to �600,000 and foreign millionaires will be forced to stump up a few quid to the Exchequer - all part of the pre-Budget report/Comprehensive Spending Review. Dr David Nicholl wonders if the cash that goes to the Health Service should be managed by someone who actually knows what they're doing. Is he mad? more
Gigbeth Countdown......................................22 DAYS TO GO
10-10-2007
Industry figures will be rubbing shoulders with up n' coming new bands......yes it's Gigbeth, and it's just around the corner. Our latest update features Birmingham's unique version of the MOBO's. more
ECP Update
10-10-2007
The Stirrer's probe into the mismanagement of the �14.5 million Enterprising Communities Programme was raised at Birmingham City Council yesterday - although the answers given left us none the wiser as to what exactly had gone on. more
10-10-2007
Human rights campaigners Amnesty have launched a major new campaign in Birmingham - hitting out at both terrorism and the human rights abuses that have occurred in combating it. more
09-10-2007
Birmingham's former BNP councillor Sharon Ebanks has been lifting the lid on her troubled childhood claiming that she was sexually abused from the age of 5 in the city's children's homes. She also says that the party she used to represent is a "money making cult." more
ECP UPDATE
09-10-2007
Birmingham City Council has denied there was any mismanagement of the �14 million Enterprising Communities Programme, despite a critical internal audit which said those in charge had left themselves open to charges of malpractice. The secret report, leaked to The Stirrer, also revealed that two completely different sets of minutes were produced for one meeting and suggested that spending was authorised by an unconstitutional Board. more
09-10-2007
Senior Birmingham councillor Len Clark has lambasted the government and local MP's for holding back transport improvements in the region. Clark, who is vice chair of the West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority said it is time "to get Westminster off our back." more
Get Out More...................Theatre Review
09-10-2007
Birmingham Rep's current production of the Noel Coward classic Brief Encounter had our theatre critic Paula Elenor waxing lyrical. But Lynn Hawthorne was less than impressed. more
09-10-2007
Bosses at Birmingham's long established gay nightspot The Nightingale are breathing a sigh of relief after seeing off a review of their licence initiated by Crosby Homes - but a spokesman cautioned "we've won the battle, but the war goes on". more
Poet's Corner
09-10-2007
Threatened cuts to the upkeep of the canal network around the West Midlands have The Stirrer's poet laureate Brendan Hawthorne musing on how the same mistake keep being made. more
Stirrer Cancer Campaign
08-10-2007
Cancer sufferer Lorraine Knight has been told she has only months to live - but now faces an agonising two week wait to find out if she'll be prescribed the "wonder drug" which could prolong her life. more
08-10-2007
The government's Planning Inspectorate has given the go-ahead for a new slot machine arcade in the centre of Bearwood in defiance of opposition from residents and the local authority. One local councillor has described the decision as a "disgrace" and "an affront to democracy". more
08-10-2007
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra is offering a free show with tickets available on a first come, first served basis, to mark the appointment of their new music director, Andris Nelsons. more
08-10-2007
After confidently predicting a General Election election on November 1, The Stirrer is wary of making any more forecasts....but we can confirm the speculation that Brandwood Tory councillor Neville Summerfield will become Birmingham's new Regeneration chief. more
08-10-2007
It was a rare moment of unity in the stands as supporters of both Aston Villa and West Ham got to their feet on Saturday to applaud local troops returning from Basra. more
Get Out More.................................Gig Review
08-10-2007
Bob Plant, Steve Gibbons, Trevor Burton and sundry others took the stage for the first rock show at Birmingham's revamped Town Hall. And as Lizzi Weston reports, there was plenty of life in the old dogs yet. more
08-10-2007
Campaigners for the preservation of Birmingham's Central Library are calling on councillors to make sure plans to replace it don't go through "on the nod". Alan Clawley from the Friends of the Central Library has written this open letter to the Chairs of the Overview And Scrutiny Committees demanding a full investigation of all the options. more
Gigbeth Countdown................................24 Days To Go
08-10-2007
It's Birmingham's chance to impress the music industry bigwigs from London, and an opportunity for the rest of us to enjoy a whole stack of gigs and discussion. Yes, it's Gigbeth, and continuing our countdown, we look today at the indie selection. more
06-10-2007
Noise complaints aren't the only threat to the future of Digbeth - The Stirrer can reveal that developers have offered a sizeable sum to buy the hugely popular Hennessy's Bar, placing a question mark over its future. We also understand that an offer has been made for another well-known pub in the area. more
Get Out More..........................................Film Review
06-10-2007
Keira Knightly and James McAvoy star in director Joe Wright's interpretation of Ian McEwan's best-selling novel. The Stirrer has read the book and loved it. So, did the movie match up? more
06-10-2007
One of The Stirrer's silver surfers poses an interesting question - does the new national bus pass allow pensioners to travel free of charge from the West Midlands to London or Edinburgh? more
Get Out More.....................................Theatre Review
06-10-2007
Noel Coward's classic gets a makeover by Cornish mischief makers Kneehigh. Paula Elenor keeps her upper lip stiff. more
ECP Update
06-10-2007
Birmingham Councillor Jerry Evans has hit back in the row over mismanagement of the Enterprising Communities Programme. Evans accuses his critics of being more interested in carping than helping rundown neighbourhoods. more
06-10-2007
Remember how we cured the hole in the ozone layer by banning CFC's from fridges? Well, actually we didn't reports Lost in Kate Winslet. more
ECP Update
05-10-2007
Birmingham Council officers have been accused of a cover up after an internal audit revealed mismanagement of a �14 million regeneration scheme - as revealed on The Stirrer yesterday. One of the Board Members overseeing the project - the MP John Hemming - admitted he still hasn't seen the critical report, four months after it was completed. more
05-10-2007
Homegrown heroes Ruby Turner and Soweto Kinch rocked Birmingham's revamped Town Hall last night when it reopened after a �35 million revamp. more
05-10-2007
Loitering in Cotteridge the other day, The Stirrer chanced upon this tasty establishment. more
05-10-2007
Barbara Panvel's hunt for the finest pesticide free produce continues. This week her journey takes her to Birmingham's famous Bull Ring market (note the spelling, you marketing wiseguys). more
Dave Woodhall's Villa Blog
05-10-2007
After Monday night's gut-wrenching episode when Villa threw away a 4-1 advantage to keep Spurs boss Marti Jol in a job, it's onto another London side, West Ham. But here's the curious thing for a Premier League fixture....the match kicks off at 3pm on Saturday afternoon. more
Mick Temple's Blog
05-10-2007
To close the Conservative Party Conference this week, David Cameron opted for an off the cuff, unscripted speech. Was it enough to win him any new admirers. You bet, says Mick Temple. more
Luke and Sarah's Nanjing Blog (3)
05-10-2007
Birmingham couple Luke and Sarah Pinney are taking a year out to work in Nanjing, home of the Chinese car company that bought Rover. They haven't got cars on their mind though....not when there's a typhoon to cope with. more
Special Investigation
04-10-2007
A confidential Birmingham Council audit seen by The Stirrer has delivered a withering assessment of a �14 million inner city regeneration scheme saying that poor management could leave it open to accusations of "malpractice, favouritism, and Illegal decision making". >more
04-10-2007
Concerned Birmingham taxpayer Nasim Awan has written an open letter to his local councillor Jerry Evans about the Enterprising Communities Programme - the subject to today's Special Investigation on The Stirrer. We thought you might like to see it. more
Gigbeth Countdown......28 Days To Go
04-10-2007
Not long now until the three day extravaganza that is Gigbeth - Birmingham's premier new music showcase and industry talking shop. Among the highlights is a candlelit performance of Vivaldi in the Bullring. Better than staying in to watch the telly, eh? more
04-10-2007
Can Laurence Inman really have forgotten who invited him to be best man at a wedding? Oh yes, and plenty more besides. more
04-10-2007
Woodgate Valley Country Park is a precious wedge of green belt in Bartley Green which residents fought a vigorous battle to protect from development more than 20 years ago. But as Peter Beck reports, it's now under pressure again from a supermarket chain. more
04-10-2007
Can a medic take part in a state execution? To mark a new Amnesty International report out today, Dr David Nicholl explores the ethical dilemma of medics who, instead of saving lives, help destroy it. more
03-10-2007
Cadbury is axing 200 jobs over the next three years at its traditional Bournville base - around 10% of the workforce - as part of a plan to expand production in Poland. more
Gigbeth Countdown...................................29 Days To Go
03-10-2007
Birmingham's new music showcase and industry talking shop moves ever closer, and as part of our daily selection of highlights, we're focussing today on a rather splendid website dedicated to celebrating old-timers who are still on the road. They've even lined up a couple of Legends Nights. more
03-10-2007
Hacked off hacks at the Birmingham Post and Mail aren't too worried about Trinity Mirror's decision to cancel a long-awaited management buyout. What's really bothering them is fate of the �300 loyalty bonus they were promised when the company was put up for sale. more
03-10-2007
George Bush is often painted as a villain by environmentalists for refusing to sign up to the Kyoto Treaty, and pledging to cut Co2. But as Lost in Kate Winslet reports, greenhouse gas emissions are rising more slowly in the US than Europe. more
Get Out More................................................Events Listing
SEVEN INCH GUIDE
03-10-2007
Those cheeky monkeys who run the West Midlands indiest film club - 7" Cinema - also put together just about the best screen and music guide in the region, and we're delighted to share it with you. This month, music from Pram and Jeffrey Lewis, the latest delights from the Bad Film Club, and in Wolverhampton one of the scariest British movies ever made. Enjoy. more
03-10-2007
In the 1950s "Educating Archie" made a radio star of a ventriloquist's dummy. If you think that's strange, stand by for a blind bloke teaching listeners to do DIY. more
02-10-2007
Birmingham Tory councillor Peter Douglas Osborn has been a voice in the wilderness complaining about the government's housing targets for the West Midlands. But now the Liberal Democrats have entered the fray, in what MP John Hemming describes as "the first blow in the General Election campaign". more
Military Families Blog
02-10-2007
Gordon Brown has announced today that 1,000 British soldiers will be withdrawn from Iraq by the end of the year, but sadly some of the young men and women who went to serve will never return. Carol Jones tells us how we can honour the memory of those who have fallen. more
Gigbeth Countdown............................................30 Days to Go
02-10-2007
The second Gigbeth Festival takes place next month, showcasing some of the best local acts and offering an insight into how the music business operates. In our daily update of the highlights, we focus today on the Moseley Folk Tent. more
Exclusive
02-10-2007
The bloody conclusion to the recent uprising in Burma has shocked the British public, but less than two decades ago the country went through a similar rebellion - which was put down with even greater force. The Stirrer speaks to a survivor now living in the Midlands. more
02-10-2007
The Stirrer's gushing enthusiasm for the new Vertiplex concept in Birmingham is shared by many in the media - but not bySteve Beauchampé who injects a dose of timely scepticism into the debate. more
02-10-2007
Anti fascist magazine Searchlight is reporting that the BNP are in meltdown - with leader Nick Griffin facing a serious challenge from his own advisory council. more
Get Out More...............................................Gig News
02-10-2007
Scott was the acknowledged genius of the Walker Brothers but John was the founder of the group and if his voice is still intact - and we've no reason to think it isn't - this should be a night of fine nostalgia. more
Terry's Baggies Blog
02-10-2007
Albion fans have been treated to twelve goals in two games in the space of five days. And as Terry Wills reports, a former U.S. Presidential speech writer watched their latest victory, a 5-1 thumping of QPR. more
01-10-2007
An army of unelected bureaucrats have now got a hotline to Downing Street thanks to West Midlands Minister Liam Byrne. The Hodge Hill MP has set up the West Midlands Leadership Group with the aim of creating new jobs and homes. more
01-10-2007
The sale of Birmingham's two daily papers, the Post and the Mail has been called off after owners Trinity Mirror failed to attract a suitable offer. Original estimates suggested the sale might attract �250 million, but The Stirrer understands that even the reserve price - in the region of �130 million - wasn't met. >more
Gigbeth Countdown...............31 Days To Go
01-10-2007
Gigbeth, on the first weekend of November, is the West Midlands premier music industry event, showcasing local bands and encouraging careers in the business through conferences and seminars. As the countdown begins, The Stirrer focuses on the hip hop connection. >more
01-10-2007
The University of Central England is dumping its name and will henceforth be called Birmingham City University....dunno about you, but to us that makes it sounds like a place where second-rate footballers go for modules in passing and tackling skills. >more
01-10-2007
A BBC Five Live documentary presented by Stirrer editor Adrian Goldberg has landed him in the Faeces - a website designed to show how Britain is going down the toilet. >more
Callum's Blues Blog
01-10-2007
Ninety minutes of battling endeavour couldn't earn Blues a point against Manchester United.....and there was more disappointment with the size of the crowd, with hundreds of seats left empty despite the stellar opposition. Callum O' Connell ponders a bad weekend all round at St Andrews. >more
Martin Longley's New York Music Blog
01-10-2007
She's the Motown artist you probably haven't heard of, but deep soul smoocher Betty Lavette is in the throes of a long overdue comeback. Martin Longley joins the adoring hordes. >more |
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