Councillor Morriam Jan: "Labour, the apartments in Perry Barr that you refer to as being “award winning” are still empty. Just like your promises."  

Deputy Leader Councillor Morriam Jan used her speech to remind people of the promises made one year prior by the then leader of the council, Ian Ward: 

Let me take you down memory lane to the 28th February 2023 Budget debate. 

The Labour Leader Cllr Ian Ward delivered a speech which was applauded loudly by the Labour group.  

I wonder if, one year on, they still feel as proud as they did then about the budget.  

Let me remind everyone in this Chamber. 

Cllr Ian Ward talked about a BOLD, AMBITIOUS PLAN. A GOLDEN DECADE, showcasing to the world a diverse city which would bring opportunity and prosperity for all.  

Cllr Ward proclaimed boldly that MP and former Prime Minster Liz Truss should resign because of the damage she had caused to the national economy.  

Yet after bankrupting the city, we note that Cllr Ward is still sitting quietly on the back benches.  

I take it you don’t fancy your chances at a by election in Shard End Cllr Ward?!  

Families are struggling financially. Homelessness is increasing.  

Adult social care is stretched to breaking point and young people are worried about their future, and they don’t feel safe on the streets.  

Food crises are on the increase.  

I put it to you Birmingham Labour, that your failings have run our city into the ground. 

Now everyone knows that you enjoyed your Commonwealth games holiday a few years ago.  

The city enjoyed it too by and large, although my residents in Perry Barr paid a heavy price at the time.  

Still, considering the facts ahead of the games, we advised you not to go ahead with the event, and indeed many others were sceptical about it, but Cllr Ward was intent on getting it done. He said “WE WILL NOT BETRAY THE RESIDENTS TRUST, THIS LABOUR COUNCIL IS GETTING ON WITH THE JOB” 

Was the job bankrupting the city? Was that two-week party worth the millions of pounds worth of assets we will need to sell? Or the jobs that will be lost? Or the services that will be stopped? 

Cllr Ward then went on and said: “PEOPLE HAVE HAD ENOUGH, LABOUR WILL RESTORE PEOPLES HOPES, CHANGE AND THEY NEED IT NOW”. 

Well, the public can truly see now what Labour is capable of delivering, and I am sure that they will change the direction of their vote when it comes to the next set of elections in 2026.  

Liberal Democrats proposed the contracting out of waste in one of our former amendments. If this council had done this many years ago, this Equal pay claim would not exist. 

I was angered to find out that the Equal Pay liability sum had officially risen from the £760M to the £816M. 

When I asked why this had increased, I found out that it is because task and finish has STILL not stopped, even though it is well known that this is a key factor relating to Equal Pay.  

That’s £56 million extra. £56 million, because it is not being managed properly! Don’t dare tell us that this is anything other than catastrophic mismanagement. 

People are losing their jobs, their livelihoods. Almost everyone will have to find more money to pay council tax. Crucial special educational needs transport is being reviewed, or should I say stopped, and staff morale is on the floor.  

When I came into this council, my first motion was to introduce bleed kits. I never thought I’d see the day when our entire council needed a bleed kit because it is haemorrhaging so much cash.  

Labour, this is rubbish. 

You have not spent taxpayer money well. You continue to waste money now. This money is not to be squandered. It needs to go on services that will benefit our residents. 

You should remember. We are here to serve our residents. 

Where’s their special educational needs support? Where’s their youth service? Where’s the safety net for families in crisis? Where’s their libraries? Their bin collections?  

How is this budget, in any way, levelling up Brum when those that rely on this council most will pay the highest price for your failure?  

I’ll tell you now – it’s not. This is not levelling up. This is creating inequality.  

I’m a corporate parent and I take my duty seriously. I’m not standing by whilst you ruin the chances of generations of children. 

I’m also a proud representative of Perry Barr. My residents have had enough, and they deserve better. They have seen through your spin with their own eyes. The apartments in Perry Barr that you refer to as being “award winning” are still empty. Just like your promises.  

I will not be voting for this Labour budget – it’s your mess, and you need to own it.