The Leader of the Local Conservatives & the Opposition at Birmingham City Council, Cllr Robert Alden, has issued a New Year message celebrating Birmingham’s proud history while setting out a clear alternative to Labour’s mismanagement of the City Council.
The message highlights Birmingham’s transformation from a modest market town into the “workshop of the world” during the Industrial Revolution, with pioneers such as Matthew Boulton and James Watt, and household names including Cadbury and Jaguar Land Rover, along with former firms such as Austin Motors, Ariel bikes and many more shaping the city’s legacy of innovation and enterprise.
However, the statement warns that Birmingham’s potential is being undermined by Labour’s failures. More than two years after the Council declared itself effectively bankrupt, crippling Equal Pay liabilities remain unresolved, a botched IT rollout has cost taxpayers over £170 million against a £19 million budget, and over £200 million of Council assets have been sold to cover overspends. Residents have endured cuts to services, higher taxes, and the year-long bin strike, which drew rats to gorge themselves on 25,000 tonnes of rubbish on Birmingham’s streets at any one time.
To restore credibility and deliver value for money, the Local Conservatives have launched a six-point plan:
1) Keep it weekly and clean up the streets – by ending the strike, scrapping Labour's plan for fortnightly bin collections and introducing dedicated clean-up crews
2) Fix the potholes now - Leaving potholes and broken pavements makes the repairs more expensive in the long term.
3) Crackdown on badly run exempt accommodation & HMOs - end Labour's creation of new HMOs & start restoring existing EA & HMOs back into family homes.
4) Protect & enhance green spaces - scrapping car park charges in parks & protecting them being built on.
5) Tackle anti-social behaviour - by increasing enforcement to help make our streets safe again.
6) Fix Labour's bankruptcy - by balancing the budget, fixing the broken IT system & ending Labour equal pay liabilities.
The Leader of the Opposition, Cllr Robert Alden, concluded: “In 2026, we will work tirelessly to rebuild trust, protect local services, and ensure Birmingham has the leadership it deserves. With all‑out elections this May, Labour can lose control of the Council if they lose just 15 seats. With your support, the Local Conservatives can deliver the change Birmingham needs.”
