Nearly a month has passed since the local elections in Birmingham, yet the city council remains without political leadership. The authority, which serves one million residents and manages a budget exceeding £4 billion, has been in limbo since the unprecedented election results on May 7.
Election Fallout and Fragmented Politics
Frustration over pressing issues, such as the ongoing bins strike, contributed to Labour losing their majority as their seat count dramatically collapsed. However, the rejection of the two-party system and the fracturing of politics in the Second City meant no party had the numbers to easily step in and replace them. In fact, no party or group on the council even holds half the councillors needed for a majority, which requires 51 seats. Reform UK, now the largest party with 23 seats, is far from that threshold.
With Birmingham's political scene now a mishmash of parties and personalities, talks have been taking place to form a coalition and establish a stable administration. The appointment of a council leader was on the agenda at a meeting earlier this month, but the council chamber heard from the new Lord Mayor that more time was needed to find a way forward, despite “positive talks” taking place.
Party Stances on Coalition Talks
Greens and Liberal Democrats
The Greens and Liberal Democrats recently announced they are working with a newly formed group of independents to create a sustainable administration. Councillors Julien Pritchard (Green group leader), Roger Harmer (Lib Dem group leader), and Harris Khaliq (Better Birmingham Independent group leader) released a joint statement: “We understand there are still many questions about the council’s leadership. As Leaders of the Green, Liberal Democrat, and Better Birmingham Groups we are making clear our commitment to come together for a safer, greener and fairer city. We are working to create a sustainable administration to serve Birmingham’s residents. We call on other councillors who share our aim of a fairer city to support us. We are working hard to finalise an agreement soon, so we can give the leadership the council and the city deserves.”
Reform UK
Reform UK, the largest party on Birmingham Council, confirmed in the days following the elections that they would be unable to form an administration. Reform group leader Councillor Jex Parkin stated: “The results in Birmingham are historic. From a standing start, Reform UK is now the largest party on Birmingham City Council. Voters are clearly demanding radical change. Although we are the largest party, other groups have made it clear that they refuse to work with us, meaning there is no viable route for Reform to take control of the council. Given that Birmingham has also clearly elected a left-wing majority, we have accepted that we will unfortunately be unable to form an administration. We are committed to being a constructive opposition, ensuring the new leadership is effectively scrutinised in order to get our city back on track.”
Labour
The new leader of Birmingham Labour, Councillor Nicky Brennan, confirmed earlier this month that their group would not be part of a coalition and committed to being a constructive opposition, similar to Reform. “We understand that voters are frustrated by the pace of change,” Councillor Brennan said. “We respect the outcome of the election and the message voters have sent. Now is the time for us to reflect carefully on the result, listen to residents, and rebuild trust and support with our communities. For that reason, our group will not be entering into any coalition agreement or power-sharing arrangement with other parties. We will continue to serve residents constructively from the opposition benches, holding the new administration to account where necessary while supporting decisions that are in the best interests of the city and its residents.”
Conservatives
The Conservative Group has proposed the creation of a new ‘Group Leaders’ Council’ to provide the stable and coordinated leadership the city urgently needs. The party says the forum would bring together the leaders of all recognised political groups and senior officers on a regular basis to tackle the city’s most pressing challenges. They continued that it would operate regardless of which group holds the administration, offering a consistent framework for strategic decision-making over the coming years. Councillor Robert Alden, leader of the Conservative group, said: “Birmingham residents deserve leadership that puts the city first. At a time of continued financial pressure, service challenges and political fragmentation, no single group can deliver the scale of change required in isolation. We need structured cooperation and mature dialogue across the council chamber, not more division. This proposal creates a practical mechanism for early discussion of risks, shared understanding of the challenges, and collective focus on solutions. It is about ensuring the city’s leadership matches the scale of the problems we face. We are committed to playing a constructive role in providing the stability and seriousness Birmingham needs – we urge all other political groups to engage positively with this proposal for the benefit of residents.”
Current Political Makeup
The political composition of the council following the elections is as follows: Reform UK – 23 seats, Green Party – 19, Labour – 17, Conservative – 16, Independents – 13, Liberal Democrats – 12, Workers Party – 1.
