Could bankrupt Birmingham City Council change tack over cuts?

Assets such as the former Birmingham Wheels Site and the Athletes Village flats are two of the higher profile sales to date. But it is the other end of the scale where the impact is likely to be felt more acutely, as the council looks to sell off libraries and community centres.

We have also seen services, everything from school transport for disabled children to bin collections in the crosshairs.

But the political landscape has changed since these plans were first implemented, we now have a new Labour government and a new Labour regional mayor.

This is a Labour-run authority heading for an all-out election in less than two years’ time. After facing a tough general election in Birmingham, the political motivation in the city for key changes becomes stronger with each passing day.

Already, we have seen leading voices singing from the same hymn sheet. Three major Labour-backing unions have called for a change of tack.

West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker said “full consideration” should be given to the idea of changes, and Birmingham Northfield’s new Labour MP Laurence Turner has described cost-saving interventions as “rushed”.

Messaging this harmonised rarely happens by accident, or without motive, in politics.