Gove: Labour to blame for financial crisis

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Hello and welcome to Midlands Message. Here's a round-up of what's making headlines in the region this week.

Gove: Labour to blame for financial crisis

Michael Gove has slammed the Labour leadership of Birmingham city council as he laid the blame for the authority's financial crisis squarely at their door.

The prominent Conservative minister claimed Labour had failed the city and that it was their fault Brummies were faced with a 10% hike in council tax and cuts to vital services.

He sat down with Politics and People Editor Jane Haynes during a visit to the city last week, as he urged Brummies to turn their backs on Labour at the next election.

Labour have argued much of the struggles faced by many Birmingham residents are a result of national Conservative policies.

Mr Gove labelled the council tax hike facing Brummies as "heartbreaking". It suggests the Tories intend to latch onto the financial crisis in Birmingham ahead of the next election and use it as a way to claim Labour can't be trusted with finances.

The minister added there was "no choice" but for residents to feel council tax pain, rather than the Government stepping in.

The Levelling-Up Secretary said: "The Labour leadership has failed a great city and as a result the potential of people is being held back, which is heartbreaking."

He continued: "Birmingham matters just as much as anywhere else. The difficulty we have is the financial hole created by Birmingham's Labour leadership is so huge that we do need to take significant steps to fix that.

"The commissioners requested additional flexibility on council tax and we've granted that in order to make sure services can continue to be delivered.

"It's always difficult to intervene. You always want to respect the local democratic mandate but the situation in Birmingham has been so dire we have needed to send commissioners in."

In other news:

Sarah Chevolleau visited one of the largest housing estates in Europe, in Stoke-on-Trent, to get an insight into the struggles and the strength of the community.
Martha Bird also reports on those helping to battle austerity and the cost of living crisis in Stoke.
Agenda Editor Richard Guttridge reveals how thousands of people are stuck on council house waiting lists across the West Midlands.
Real-Life Writer Stephanie Balloo tells the heartbreaking story of a mum who thought she was just tired because of her busy life - but is now dying of cancer.
25,000 drivers have been fined in just six months after falling foul of a new bus gate in Coventry. Ellie Brown reports.
An increase to taxi licence fees in Dudley has sparked a backlash from drivers. Martyn Smith reports.
Martyn also reports how a 'dodgy door entry system' has turned council flats into a potential death trap, according to a disabled Dudley resident.

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Gove: Labour to blame for financial crisis

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