Newtown 'Forgotten Community' in Birmingham Local Elections

Covering local elections fairly is never an easy task. In Birmingham, home to the largest local authority in the country, trying to fairly represent the parties and personalities involved is magnified by the sheer weight of numbers.

Tomorrow, voters get to pick who should be the 101 ward members best suited to sit in the city's historic council chamber and oversee a £4.4 billion budget, close to 10,000 staff, and services for 1.2 million people. They have more than 650 candidates to choose from, a record number, representing eight parties and a tranche of unaffiliated Independents.

A Labour wipeout, a Reform takeover, huge gains for the Greens, calamity for the Conservatives and Lib Dems, and a chance for Independents to hold the balance of power have all been predicted in recent polls. Equally, the opposite.

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A Road Trip Abandoned

In a last-gasp bid to check out the mood in the city, we set out on a road trip with a plan to venture into every one of the ten constituencies that make up Birmingham and chat to voters. It was a mistake. We had to abandon the trip partway because it was logistically challenging to drive, park, chat, and post content, all while fielding calls and tip-offs about other urgent developments.

But we did make it to several areas where voters are being urged to back change. This is one of them.

Newtown: A Forgotten Community

The shouts and laughter of children in the play area at St George's Park in the heart of Newtown were a joy to hear. School had just finished, and the kids were streaming into the park, mostly with their mums in tow, sharing snacks, climbing, and playing football.

Looking closer, however, the signs of neglect were clear. Rusted frames on the play equipment, litter strewn about, flaking paint, and rotting wood. At the park entrance was a heap of fly-tipped rubbish, attracting flies in the sunshine. The bins were overfull and waiting for their Friday collection.

For most of the youngsters here, this park is their only playground. Five tower blocks circle the park and just beyond, home to hundreds of families, many living in overcrowded conditions with siblings sharing beds. It makes the obvious neglect all the more uncomfortable to see.

The ward is among the most deprived in the city, ranking 6th out of 69 wards on poverty measures. The majority of residents are of black African, black Caribbean, or Asian heritage, and it's also a young demographic, with 26.9% of the population under 18.

Liberal Democrat Candidate Rashia Khatun

Liberal Democrat candidate Rashia Khatun was out leafletting in nearby homes and met up with me in the park to chat about her ambition to become the local councillor for the ward where she was raised. She is of Bangladeshi heritage, a background she shares with hundreds of other Newtown resident families.

"We are very close to the city centre but we are forgotten. This is the heart of Birmingham but we have not had good leadership or representation for years. It is wrong," she said.

"The heritage, the library, our community centre, the youth centre, our swimming pool, a booming shopping centre - all this has gone from here in the last few years. It's wrong."

"Labour has failed this community. It deserves a better councillor. This is a challenge. If I get elected there will be change."

The biggest challenges for local residents is the loss of facilities, she said. "The area is declining. The services should have been improved but this area has no strong voice."

She has pledged to be part of a Liberal Democrats group that will fix roads, tackle fly-tipping, and protect local services.

Labour's Response

Labour have a new candidate in place to resist the challenge of the Lib Dems, Greens, Reform, Local Conservatives, and two Independents seeking to take control here. Rasheda Begum has been out on the election trail backed by family, friends, and Labour activists, with Newtown seen as a critical hold. She claims she will bring the area the investment it needs.

The last poll before the election predicts the Lib Dems will struggle to build on its existing 12 seats on the council, and could lose out to a resurgent Greens in the fight for progressive votes. Reform UK is predicted to emerge as the biggest party overall.