By Ian Robathan.

Everyone in politics is going to be watching the May 2011 elections to feel the political wind after the cuts and the appeal of the respective parties.

Nowhere will it be followed with more interest than in Birmingham so, with three months to go, it is worth looking at the potential fights and seeing what could happen.

The Council’s make up as it stands is:-

CON – 45
LD – 31
LAB – 41
RESPECT – 3

LAB need to win 20 for overall control, in theory with Respect councillors that means more like 17; but this will not happen. However, in 2011 Labour will make large inroads towards eventual control in 2012 when the LibDems are defending a lot of seats you would expect Labour to win.

So, for some predictions for each Ward; some will be easy and others not so depending on how far the LD vote does fall

Acocks Green – This seems a safe LD seat even in a bad year but Stewart Stacey is a noted campaigner and may get very close, this is my shock prediction for a LAB GAIN

Aston – LAB HOLD

Bartley Green – John Lines is very popular – CON HOLD

Billesley – Sitting councillor Colin Hughes steps down after moving away and a LAB GAIN

Bordesley Green  – LAB HOLD

Bournville –  CON HOLD, Labour should look to take this in 2012

Brandwood – Easy one this, LAB GAIN. Majority not that great at the worst of times for Labour

Edgbaston – Be a total shock other than a CON HOLD

Erdington – Ah, the Gareth Compton affair, will it play here with an 800 majority, will he gain or lose support? Probably a very narrow CON HOLD

Hall Green – The only real LibDem/CON Marginal, the key question is whether those Hall Green voters are Labour supporters voting tactically. Will the Tories put up a real battle? Go for a LD HOLD….. Just.

Handsworth wood – LAB HOLD

Harborne – Not impossible for a LAB win in Whitby’s backyard but CON HOLD

Hodge Hill – a very narrow LD seat only one way this is going – LAB GAIN

Kings Norton – Won by Labour on a General Election turnout and expect a very narrow LAB GAIN

Kingstanding – LAB HOLD

Ladywood – LAB HOLD

Longbridge – A typical bell weather marginal, usually won by the party in the ascendancy so a LAB GAIN

Lozells and East Handsworth – LAB HOLD

Moseley and Kings Heath – Well, this is the seat to watch. Could be a nasty campaign as the LD’s fight to hold onto a key ward. A lot of students in the area and a lot of soft left voters in the past helped the LD’s but not this time; LAB GAIN and could be a big win

Nechells – LAB HOLD

Northfield – Long serving Tory councillor with a very decent majority but in these times is that enough especially as the cuts start to hurt? Think a LAB GAIN but not confident

Oscott – LAB HOLD

Perry Barr – Next to where I live with a very good local LD councillor and organisation with a healthy majority. Tuition fee policy will play here, really not sure how this will go but will go for LD HOLD

Quinton – Like Northfield a bell-weather marginal, seats regularly change hands and will do so this time – LAB GAIN

Selly Oak – Well, we can guess the issue here. Totally easy to predict even if a low student turnout – LAB GAIN

Shard End – LAB HOLD

Sheldon – the start of the LD stronghold, it would have to be a total implosion for Paul Tilsley to lose his seat; a very safe – LD HOLD

Soho – LAB HOLD

South Yardley – MP John Hemmings back garden and stronghold, majority may be much smaller but a LD HOLD

Sparkbrook – could anyone really predict this seat, Respect hold all three and will continue to so; RESPECT HOLD

Springfield – Like Sparkbrook but a three way  marginal and the only question is how the LD votes will be split, Respect or Labour, guesswork, a lot depends on family and community ties – LABOUR GAIN but could be anything.

Stetchford and Yardley North – see South Yardley – LD HOLD

Stockland Green – LAB HOLD

Sutton Four Oaks – CON HOLD

Sutton New Hall – CON HOLD

Sutton Trinity – CON HOLD

Sutton Vesey – CON HOLD

Tyburn – LAB HOLD

Washwood Heath – LAB HOLD

Weoley – Like Northfield and Quinton – LAB GAIN

So the numbers I predict are

LAB – up 12 at 53
CON – down 7 at 38
LD – down 5 at 26
RESPECT – Level at 3

That would still leave the ‘Progressive Partnership’ in control but the legitimacy almost gone as the support goes back to narrow areas across the City – and that is from me as a labour supporter – a prediction that does not include possible wins in Erdington and Perry Barr, which should not be over- ruled at all.

Obviously supporters of the controlling groups may disagree with this but looking at poll trends and by-elections in Bloxwich and Wednesfield – where safe Tory seats were lost and the collapse of the LibDem vote – I cannot see any other results. Also the LD’s and Tory’s supporters have to remember back in 2007 Labour was near its nadir and now, as is always the case, the opposition party gains.

Ian Robathan blogs on Labour news here

Join in the election discussion on ReStirred.com