Deborah Cadman appointed WMCA chief executive

New arrival will head West Midlands government body.

Of naval gazing and quiet valleys and fatal floors

Richard Lutz survives another week in Chaosville, UK.

Birmingham City Council to fit sprinklers in tower blocks

Work is “a matter of urgency” – council leader.

Rolling right and other tales from the week

Richard Lutz takes a long look back at the last seven days.

May and Trump: Realpolitik by numbers

Richard Lutz reports on how numbers matter when it comes to kingmakers.

A slice of history

In the aftermath of the general election, Ian Payne unearths a fascinating piece of local life.

The Elston Report: UK news as it happens somewhere

Media editor Sir Howard Elston gives the inside line on how TV reports breaking news today.

General Election 2017 – For God’s sake woman go!

Steve Beauchampé considers a political humiliation of Shakespearian proportions.

May ends in June but Sir Howard rides to the rescue

Sir Howard Elston, scourge of the right, enema of the left, reveals his plans for the tottering British government

Happening at Artrix

Artix Arts Centre in Bromsgrove has a mixed programme coming up.

When Corbo comes to town

Will Mapplebeck went to a Corbyn rally. Here’s five things he learned.

General Election 2017 – Peace Policies and Foreign Follies

Steve Beauchampé on the need for strong and stable government.

A trillion reasons to query your candidate

There’s a politician at the door. Here’s what to do next, advises Will Mapplebeck

General Election 2017 – The anti-drubbing strategy

Not quite a suicide note, but will Theresa May’s manifesto turn epic-sized victory into something rather less asks Steve Beauchampé?

Love Your Vote scheme launched

Innovative voting passport to help disabled people to vote in Birmingham.

General Election 2017 – Corbyn goes on the attack

Labour leader says he’s not a pacifist and runs down cameraman to prove it. Steve Beauchampé reports.

Fightin’ words

Will Mapplebeck is on the election trail to boredom.

General Election 2017 – The no policies policy

Aside from a couple taken from other parties, do the Conservatives have any policies asks Steve Beauchampé?

The mayoral election and where to make your mark

Advice on where to find your local polling station published.

The Mayoral Race: Hustings Heaven

Richard Lutz joins the throng to listen to the six candidates for West Midlands mayor.

Letting Jeremy be Jeremy might be a bad idea

Will Mapplebeck wonders aloud about Jezza and his inability to find the killer comment.

General Election Week One: Where are the Tories?

Steve Beauchampé reviews the campaign’s opening week.

The queen is not dead

Steve Beauchampé woke up on Tuesday morning and thought the Queen had died. But it was worse than that.

First mayoral election postal ballot papers go out

Electoral packs sent out ahead of inaugural vote.

Eternal happiness, Dear Leader

As tensions rise over North Korea, Steve Beauchampé reports from inside a state seemingly on a perpetual war footing.

Gini out of the bottle

Will Mapplebeck reports on why inequality has levelled out – despite what the Left says.

Chocolate, weapons and war

Easter, you can’t say it often enough for some people says Steve Beauchampé.

MP launches Birmingham special needs inquiry

Link between poverty and help for disabled children to be investigated.

The banks that like to say theft- chapter 46

Richard Lutz on the Treasury and an industry fined £75 billion for fraud and stealing from its customers.

Now, let’s hold on for a minute

Richard Lutz warns that the Westminster attack should not start a rush to judgement.