Dear Patchers — welcome to your mid-week briefing.
Andy Street and Richard Parker went head to head in what some have called the biggest clash since King Kong faced down Godzilla. Hyperbole aside, the debate at Hockley Social Club last night was the first time the two mayoral candidates have faced each other one-on-one in this race — and The Dispatch was there to record the highlights for your Brum in brief below.
Elsewhere, we have the latest on why the UK’s biggest pub chain is on the brink (it’s headquartered in Solihull) and why security queue chaos at Birmingham Airport might be about to be consigned to history. Plus: a very literary festival for any bookworms out there.
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Until next time. Dan.
Brum in Brief
🥊Head to head: Hosted by Hockley Social Club and chaired by News Agents podcast co-host Lewis Goodall, last night’s mayoral debate covered the usual ground. Parker pushed for publicly run buses and emphasised his business credentials; Street plugged skills for young people and reminded everyone that the mayor should be judged as an individual, not by their party’s record. This last one got him into trouble when he declared:
“I am not prepared to see the West Midlands in the hands of the same Labour party as have demonstrated their inability to manage the finances of Birmingham.”
Goodall threw back that by Street’s own logic, “this contest is about the man not the party” earning the biggest applause of the night.
Parker was less self-assured — in a confusing response to the question, ‘no one’s heard of you, is that the best Labour can do?’ he seemed to suggest it was the Conservative Party’s fault that he had a low profile. On HS2, he described Street’s row with Rishi Sunak over cancelling the northern leg as “coming back empty-handed” after throwing a “tantrum in front of the prime minister”. Street insisted that he was “not throwing a tantrum” but making a serious case for the Birmingham to Manchester line.
Parker also refused to compliment Street during the final question: What is the best thing you can say about your opponent? Expecting a gentlemanly reply, Goodall was surprised when Parker shot back that Street “had done his best but is going to lose”. Street was rather more generous, complimenting Parker for not being “a career politician”. Overall, Street was the better debater but no candidate came out the clear front runner, which was down largely to Goodall’s skilled rejoinders. With two and a half weeks until the election, the race remains close.
💳Solihull-based pub giant on brink: The UK’s largest pubs and bars group Stonegate, based in Solihull, say there are no guarantees it can continue as it struggles to refinance £2.2bn of debt. The group has 4,400 outlets nationwide, including Popworld, Slug and Lettuce and Be At One, and is owned by the same private equity parent company as Asda: TDR Capital. Despite difficulties, David McDowall, CEO at Stonegate, is bullish the firm can turn it around: “Our performance gives me real confidence in the future,” he said. Full details.
🛬Airport chaos: Brummie holidaymakers were reduced to tears as catastrophic security queues forced many to miss their weekend flights. 51 would-be jet-setters missed holiday connections as security lines backed up. One dad spoke to Reach media to say: “My daughter was in tears.” The news comes as Birmingham Airport announced plans to become the first UK airport to end restrictions on liquids when travelling, thanks to the latest in security technology which will be installed in a new £60m security hall. That will open in June.
😔Coventry hiring struggles: Coventry city council has heard that traffic wardens are becoming harder to hire due to abuse — with would-be hires preferring to work in fast food outlets. The city’s parking manager told councillors that wardens speak of lack of respect from members of the public with warden sickness levels higher than counterparts in other areas of the council. Full details including notes on warden assault, the police response and why wardens are now wearing body cameras.
📖Kings Heath book & music festival: Spring must truly be in the air as weekend-long festivals are truly in full flow. If you’re a bookish or live music fan, head down to B14 to catch an array of events at The Heath Bookshop’s inaugural literary festival. Talks and performances will come from Robin Ince, General Levy, The Bookshop Band, Mike Gayle and Catherine O’Flynn. “With music in the bookshop and literature events in music venues we can’t wait to welcome audiences to the Festival,” said Heath bookshop co-owners Catherine and Claire. Full programme here.
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