The atmosphere at the Utilita Arena on Friday is more akin to a wake than an election count. This is largely due to the substantial Labour contingent; glum-faced councillors adorned with red rosettes are hunched over at secluded tables or braving the main hall, huddled in large groups for comfort.
A Solemn March for Sir Albert Bore
One lone Labour figure strides purposefully down the lines of busy tables. It is Sir Albert Bore. Set to retire, this marks his final count after 46 years as the member for Ladywood. His solitary march seems to symbolise the gravity of the situation for his party.
Reform UK's Sweeping Success
Overnight on Thursday, Reform UK has seen sweeping success across various West Midlands councils, including Redditch, Tamworth, and Dudley. From the outset at the Birmingham count, there is a consensus from candidates across all parties that a Reform majority is likely. Even if they do not win, Labour's leadership of Birmingham City Council appears set to end after 14 years in charge. What comes next is anyone's guess.
Reform's would-be representatives are talking a big game: Alan Feeney, standing for double seats in Solihull and Birmingham, proclaims at 11.30am that he is confident he has won, hours before any results are due to be declared. At the other end of the optimism spectrum is Labour councillor for Sutton Coldfield, Rob Pocock, who tells The Dispatch he does not think he will hold that job title for much longer. He puts on a brave face, saying it is “all part of the game”.
National Politics Influence Local Elections
But Pocock is clear on one aspect: this local election has been deeply influenced by national politics. The turnout in his ward is nearly 50% higher than the last local contest. Reform and the Greens have pitched this as a “get Starmer out” campaign, he notes. The unsaid bit is that voters in Birmingham and the wider West Midlands have really responded to such a call.
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