Birmingham City Council has finally installed a new political leader and cabinet, a month after the local elections. Councillor Roger Harmer, the city's first Liberal Democrat leader, heads a minority coalition comprising Lib Dems, Greens, and Independents in a left-leaning, progressive administration.
Cllr Harmer pledged to make ending the bin dispute the top priority of his leadership, while also committing to work with all parties to deliver the best for Birmingham. He was voted in as leader at a full council meeting on Friday, June 5, four weeks after the election resulted in a hung council with no single party in control.
That outcome triggered secret negotiations between groups seeking common ground to form a compromise coalition. Eventually, a left-leaning partnership was forged between the Greens and the Liberal Democrats, bolstered by support from a new group of seven left-leaning Independents led by Harris Khaliq (Ward End) and two former Labour councillors, now Independents: Martin Brooks (Harborne) and Sam Forsyth (Quinton).
Leadership Vote
Conservative leader Robert Alden and Reform UK leader Jex Parkin were also nominated but lacked the numbers to challenge the Harmer-led coalition. Alden's 14 Conservative votes were backed by five other Independents and the sole Workers Party councillor. Parkin received 18 votes from Reform councillors, but a 19th Reform councillor, Rebecca Waters (Rubery and Rednal), voted for Harmer instead—a move that angered her fellow Reform members. She later confirmed she did so deliberately, and Parkin said he would have a conversation with her about her future in the party.
Cllr Harmer received 40 votes in total, securing the leadership at the first attempt without a subsequent vote. He was watched from the public gallery by his family, who had come hoping to see him victorious.
First Priority: Bin Strike
In his first interview after the vote, Cllr Harmer said, "It is a tremendous honour, I feel very humbled and very grateful to all my colleagues who voted for me." Asked about his first priority, he stated: "We do have to get our feet under the table, read briefings, and form ourselves as a cabinet... but sorting the bin strike is our top priority." He added: "We accept the electorate has given Birmingham City Council a very, very hung council, split across the parties, and we will work with all parties to better Birmingham. We will be listening and willing to talk to all."
In his speech to the chamber, Cllr Harmer said: "This collaboration is a testament to the strong, shared resolve that exists across parties to put our city first and put right the failures of the past. The challenges our city faces demand both new policies that put our residents first and a commitment to ensure they are actually delivered. Our city requires leadership that is steady, pragmatic, and unwavering in its focus on the issues that matter most to residents. 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."
Controversial Committee Allocations
In a bold move, the new coalition voted to exclude Reform UK (the largest party with 23 seats) and Labour (now third with 17 seats) from substantive roles on scrutiny and regulatory committees. Instead, all seven scrutiny committee chair roles went to the Conservatives (16 seats). This infuriated Reform and Labour, who accused the administration of striking a "grubby deal" with the Tories, undermining earlier conciliatory rhetoric.
Reform leader Jex Parkin said: "What we have seen throughout this election campaign is that the Tories expected the residents of Birmingham to be naive and they were not. They didn't give them a democratic mandate and they are only the fourth biggest party on the council. It's clear that Reform is the largest party on the council, and so should have the lion's share of the scrutiny roles. To give those wholly to the fourth largest party is a complete democratic failure."
Labour group leader Nicky Brennan added: "The Lib Dem/Green administration have done a grubby deal with the Tories to ensure they've got an easy ride in the months ahead, rather than having to face cross-party scrutiny. Any pretence that this coalition is progressive is over on day one."
New Cabinet Announced
Cllr Harmer unveiled his cabinet, with roles distributed among Lib Dems, Greens, and Independents. Each role also has a deputy to reflect the intense workload and ensure continuity.
- Leader: Roger Harmer (Lib Dem, Acocks Green)
- Deputy Leader (Economy, Skills, Climate): Julien Pritchard (Green, Druids Heath and Monyhull); deputy: James Hinton (Lib Dem, Perry Barr)
- Children, Young People and Families: Kamel Hawwash (Green, Stirchley); deputy: Mumtaz Hussain (Lib Dem, Aston)
- Arts, Culture, Heritage and Tourism: Deborah Harries (Lib Dem, Yardley East); deputy: Raheem Humphries (Green, Ladywood)
- Environment, City Operations and Digital: Harris Khaliq (Better Birmingham Independents, Ward End); deputy: Joe Peacock (Green, Billesley)
- Transport, Sustainability and Climate Change: Rob Grant (Green, Kings Norton South); deputy: Izzy Knowles (Lib Dem, Moseley)
- Finance: Chris Garghan (Green, Billesley); deputy: Shaukat Khan (Better Birmingham Independents, Alum Rock)
- Health and Social Care: Nosheen Khalid (Better Birmingham Independents, Alum Rock); deputy: Hamzah Sheikh (Green, Brandwood and Kings Heath)
- Housing and Homelessness: Baber Baz (Lib Dem, Yardley West and Stechford); deputy: Atik Rahman (Green, Tyseley and Hay Mills)
- Social Justice, Community Safety, Equalities and Bereavement Services: Jane Baston (Green, Bournbrook and Selly Park); deputy: Jamil Khan (Better Birmingham Independents, Sparkbrook and Balsall Heath East)
The leadership also selected chairs for overview and scrutiny committees. Initially, a "List A" fairly distributed roles among Reform, Conservatives, and Labour. But an alternative "List B" gave all scrutiny chairs to the Conservatives, with Reform getting two regulatory chairs and Labour none. The coalition backed List B, which was described by Reform as a deliberate "tease" and a last-minute addition.
