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Jonathan Walker

The Birmingham Post's Political Editor based at Westminster.

Councils must unite for better transport schemes - Byrne
Economic Development
Transport improvements will only come to the West Midlands if civic leaders make quick decisions and remain united, the Minister for the region has warned.
Hazel Blears calls for local government shake-up
Economic Development
Local government must be transformed to give local people far more control over neighbourhood services, according to the Local Government Secretary.
Jonathan Walker: Papering over the cracks on Europe
Economic Development
The trouble with big occasions in the House of Commons is that they sometimes turn out to be an anti-climax.
Violent crime up but 24-hour drinking to stay
Economic Development
Violent crime increased in Birmingham following the introduction of 24-hour drinking - but the change to the licensing laws also coincided with fewer complaints of drunken behaviour.
Hard shoulder plan ends M6 widening hopes
Economic Development
Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly sounded the death knoll for long-awaited plans to widen the M6 motorway between Birmingham and Manchester, as she unveiled plans to use the hard shoulder instead.
Poverty still a fact of life for too many children
Economic Development
Poverty is set to blight the lives of tens of thousands of children despite a Government pledge to eradicate it by 2020, an inquiry has warned.
Poverty threat to rural Britain
Economic Development
A Midland MP has welcomed reports stating that rural Britain needs far more support to beat poverty and improve local services.
Byrne pledge on transport
Economic Development
Major transport improvements can go ahead in the West Midlands even if councils refuse to introduce road pricing, the Minister for the region has said.
Best of Birmingham yet to come, says David Cameron
Economic Development
Birmingham needs a "city renaissance" to allow it to compete against cities in China and India, Conservative leader David Cameron has warned.
Gordon Brown, David Cameron and the battle for Birmingham
Economic Development
Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Conservative leader David Cameron set out competing visions for the renaissance of Britain's great cities in The Birmingham Post today.
Labour planning a 'granny state'
Economic Development
Labour is to launch plans for a "granny state", with new benefits aimed at people caring for older relatives, at its Spring Conference in Birmingham.
Jonathan Walker: A house that is always open to the public
Economic Development
When campaigners scaled the House of Commons in order to protest against a third runway at Heathrow, it demonstrated that no public building can ever be made entirely secure.
Conservative supporters to earn blue bonus points
Economic Development
Conservatives will launch a loyalty card allowing supporters to claim discounts in high street shops.
Brown and Cameron head for Birmingham
Economic Development
Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Conservative leader David Cameron will both be in Birmingham this weekend
Midland casinos get green light
Economic Development
Proposed casinos in Solihull and Wolverhampton were today given the green light after 8 months of delays – but they may be forced to pay a new gambling tax.
Birmingham and Solihull ambulance service criticised
Economic Development
Ambulance services in Birmingham and Solihull are still failing to meet Government targets for responding to 999 calls - six years after the deadline set by Ministers, opposition politicians have claimed.
Managers back controversial academies in house inquiry
Economic Development
Managers of controversial academy schools have insisted that they are the "real comprehensives" as they were quizzed in the House of Commons.
Jonathan Walker: The House is rendered with a series of omissions
Economic Development
The initial buzz going around Westminster yesterday was that Jack Straw was in serious trouble.
Controversial 'probation' plan for new immigrants
Economic Development
Immigrants will go on "probation" for up to five years before they can become full British citizens or permanent residents, Immigration Minister Liam Byrne has announced.
Chief blogger sets sights on web cull
Economic Development
Britain's first "blogging" MP has been put in charge of hundreds of Government websites - and one of his first decisions was to close most of them down.
Tories attack knife crime 'spin'
Economic Development
More than five out of six people convicted of possessing a knife in public are set free by the courts.
New measures to tackle violence and knife crime
Economic Development
Pubs with bad reputations are to be banned from serving beer in glasses, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has announced.
£55bn Rock loan may not be paid back, says new boss
Economic Development
There is no guarantee the £55 billion Northern Rock has received from taxpayers will ever be repaid, the bank's new chief executive warned yesterday.
Old lefties raise a smile as PM sticks it out
Economic Development
Northern Rock dominated the Prime Minister's monthly press conference at Westminster yesterday.