Lib Dem, Green and independent coalition takes control of the council

A new coalition of Liberal Democrat, Green and independent councillors has taken control of Birmingham City Council, with Liberal Democrat Roger Harmer elected leader and Green councillor Julien Pritchard as deputy leader.

The new administration was agreed at a full council meeting on the evening of Friday 5 June, following the council's annual general meeting.

Who is in the coalition

The partnership brings together the Green Party, the Liberal Democrats, and the Better Birmingham and Birmingham Independent groups. The council had briefly been without a political administration, during which services continued to be run by senior officers.

"Get the basics right"

"In recent years Birmingham has faced uncertainty, and real damage to its reputation. Now, more than ever, we require a council that unites behind common goals and delivers real change," said Councillor Harmer.

He said the first priority was to "get the basics right", with streets free from litter and fly-tipping. "The bin strike has gone unresolved for far too long, impacting the daily lives of thousands. Tackling this head-on is not optional; it is essential," he said.

He described the coalition as showing "what can be achieved when we put our city above narrow party politics".

Councillor Pritchard said Green councillors were "proud to step up to serve our fantastic city and start working to give hope back to Birmingham", and wanted to work towards "a greener, safer and fairer city, one that works for everyone".

The new cabinet

• Leader: Roger Harmer
• Deputy Leader, Economy and Sustainability: Julien Pritchard
• Finance: Chris Garghan
• City Operations and Digital: Harris Khaliq
• Transport: Rob Grant
• Housing and Homelessness: Baber Baz
• Children, Young People and Families: Kamel Hawwash
• Health and Social Care: Nosheen Khalid
• Culture and Heritage: Deborah Harries
• Equalities, Communities and Social Justice: Jane Baston

Each cabinet member has a deputy drawn from the coalition partners.

The deputies include James Hinton for the economy, Shaukat Khan for finance, Joe Peacock for city operations, Izzy Knowles for transport, Atikur Rahman for housing, Mumtaz Hussain for children and families, Hamzah Sheikh for health, Raheem Humphreys for culture and Jamil Khan for equalities.

A change after years of turmoil

The coalition takes over a council that has spent the past three years recovering from the financial crisis that led to its Section 114 notice in September 2023. In February the previous leadership declared that the council was no longer "bankrupt", but big challenges remain, including the long-running bin strike, equal pay, and rebuilding trust with residents.

The new leadership says it will focus on stability and the delivery of key services, working alongside senior officers.