The council insists the document does not recommend dismissal as a preferred option, but concludes that the best option is a settlement. However, ex-council leader John Cotton says he was pushed to sack the workers.

The document also recommends dismissing workers after the local elections but before a new administration took office - allowing it to “disown responsibility” while benefiting from the strike ending. Full investigation: www.itv.com/news/central...

🚨 EXCLUSIVE 🚨 A secret plan to sack Birmingham’s striking bin workers - without the approval of elected councillors - has been revealed exclusively by @itvcentral. The confidential document says dismissal was the “only certain mechanism” to end the strike. 1/3 🧵

“Keir Starmer was badly treated by Labour MPs.” Labour MP John Slinger has defended the Prime Minister, arguing some colleagues turned on him too quickly. He said politics has been overtaken by a culture of consumerism - with MPs acting as if leaders can be returned “like an online delivery”

Ex-Reform UK councillor Charlotte Kelly admits she’s embarrassed to have ever joined the party. She defected to the Conservatives yesterday - claiming she was bullied and faced sexism. Reform UK says she was the source of ‘disharmony’ within the Staffordshire group.

BREAKING 🚨 Former Birmingham City Council leader John Cotton claims council officers were “pushing to dismiss” striking bin workers during his time as leader. Cotton says some at the council are "trying to rewrite history" after claiming there was "no deal exists."

NEW: Coalition talks with the Greens and Lib Dems in Birmingham are “positive and productive”, according to Lib Dem leader Roger Harmer. I caught him for 2 mins after today’s full council meeting... - Still no decision on who will be leader - Officers should "look over" Labour’s bin strike deal

🚨 HS2 UPDATE 🚨 Transport Sec says most of the HS2 budget was blown without a single meter of track being laid. New estimated cost is £87.7bn - £102.7bn! Partly down to underestimating real cost, also inflation. Trains won't run until May 2036 - Oct 2039!

NEW: Labour rule OUT forming a coalition in Birmingham as Nicky Brennan is elected group leader. The party is the third largest group after the election which saw council leader John Cotton lose his seat.

NEW: I’m told a new Labour Group leader on Birmingham City Council will be appointed tomorrow. The front runner is ex-cabinet member for Housing and Homelessness, Nicky Brennan. The Greens and Lib Dem’s are poised to enter into talks with Labour once a leader is in place.

🗳️ Reform UK has admitted there is “no viable route” to taking control of Birmingham City Council - despite becoming the largest party after last week’s elections. The party made major gains across the city, but still fell short of the 51 seats needed for power.

Full statement here:

BREAKING Reform UK admit there is “no viable route” for them to control Birmigmham City Council. Jex Parkin: “Given that Birmingham has also clearly elected a left-wing majority, we have accepted that we will unfortunately be unable to form an administration.”

🚨 TODAY: Reform UK picks the leader of the largest group on Birmingham City Council. One name tipped for the top job: Jex Parkin Before the election, he told me about the party’s priorities and blasted what he called “net zero nonsense” 👇

ELECTION UPDATE - Elaine Williams has been chosen as Reform UK leader on Walsall Council and is set to lead the authority. - In Birmingham, the party will choose its leadership team on Monday. - In Sandwell, where Reform has a majority, a decision will be made on Tuesday.

NEW: Lib Dems are the first party to make a public bid for “like-minded” parties and independents to work together at Birmingham City Council after elections left no overall control. Roger Harmer says groups should unite around a six-point plan, including ending the bin dispute.

“Labour might just pip it.” Shahid Butt, who was convicted over a terror plot in 1999, appears to concede defeat in Birmingham Sparkhill. www.itv.com/watch/news/m...

EXC: More in Common / ITV News Central / Birmingham City Council poll 🌹 LAB: 32 (-33) — 23% ➡️ RFM: 26 (+26) — 22% 🌳 CON: 25 (+2) — 18% 🔶 LDM: 10 (-2) — 10% 🌍 GRN: 7 (+2) — 16% 👤 IND: 1 (+1) — 11% No overall control — Labour projected to lose HALF its seats

Trump’s threat to Iran isn’t new - but the language is getting wilder. Strikes seemingly planned for Tuesday, after a string of shifting deadlines and a social post that’s raising serious eyebrows.👇🏼 Meanwhile, the latest on a dramatic US rescue mission. More on @itvnews at 10

Reform UK council leader George Finch has survived a no-confidence vote by just ONE vote. He was criticised for saying he had a “boots on neck-type” method to get things done with council officials. The result: ✅ 26 voted for the motion ❌ 27 voted against ➖ 2 abstained

I’m at Warwickshire County Council as leader George Finch faces a vote of no confidence brought by the Greens. Reform UK Head of Local Government Ben Bradley is here watching proceedings. The expectation is that Finch will just squeak through by less than a handful of votes.

Twelve months on, neither side is giving ground - leaving a toxic political and civic stalemate that has stretched across all four seasons. www.itv.com/news/central...

NEW: Walsall councillor Graham Eardley has been suspended by Reform UK with immediate effect pending investigation. The party says it received a witness complaint alleging he acted so aggressively towards a female volunteer that security had to escort him from the building.

West Midlands Combined Authority has confirmed Ed Cox as its Chief Executive. He’s led the organisation in an interim role since June 2025. His appointment was signed off today by the Mayor and leaders of the seven constituent councils.

Great to be grilled by students at Coventry Uni yesterday alongside political journalists from across the industry. Lots of thoughtful discussion about AI, trust, and how journalism is changing. Thanks for having me!

Senior Birmingham City Councillor Waseem Zaffar has died suddenly at the age of 44. A long-serving representative of the Lozells Ward and key figure in council transport and environment policy - including the Birmingham Clean Air Zone - tributes are pouring in from colleagues.

EXCLUSIVE Staffordshire councillor has denies endorsing racist comment that described Labour MP David Lammy as a “greedy none thoroughbred”. Despite the post appearing beneath his own TikTok video, from an account with his name, which he had access to.

BREAKING: Ian Cooper has resigned as leader of Staffordshire County Council, days after Reform UK revoked his membership over alleged racist social media posts. In an email to councillors, interim leader Martin Murray said: "I recognise that these are challenging circumstances"

Proud to have been nominated for RTS Midlands ‘Journalist of the Year’ for the second year running! The faces here have done some great work this year 👇🏼👏

Communities are fighting back against new housing. Councils are under pressure: can they hit new house building targets without losing local trust? 🏡 Home & Hostility: The Battle to Build Britain - streaming now on @ITVX www.itv.com/watch/news/h...