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PREMIUM

Jonathan Walker

The Birmingham Post's Political Editor based at Westminster.

Cameron: Midlands is key to my election battle
Economic Development
Battlelines are being drawn across the West Midlands - in readiness for a snap election, David Cameron revealed yesterday.
Osborne springs inheritance tax surprise
Economic Development
Conservatives sounded "the death knell for death taxes" as Shadow Chancellor George Osborne yesterday promised to axe inheritance tax for estates worth less than a million pounds.
Rwanda praise for Tory stand on poverty
Economic Development
The Birmingham MP who organised David Cameron's controversial visit to Rwanda has defended the trip and the Conservative focus on international development.
Minister to create his Midlands 'A team'
Economic Development
The Midlands' most powerful people are forming a 'super' leadership group, designed to kick-start jobs and housing across the region.
Labour delegates in a state of shock
Economic Development
The mood at Labour's conference this week was buoyant. But Birmingham MP Sion Simon reports that delegates were also in something approaching a state of shock.
Road pricing debate goes on
Economic Development
Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly urged the people of Britain to get on their bikes to cut traffic congestion, as she said the debate about road pricing must continue.
Black and Asian leaders missing from top city jobs
Economic Development
Black and Asian people are still not getting a fair chance to take positions of leadership in Birmingham, it was claimed last night.
Politics banned at university
Economic Development
A university was accused of "threatening democracy" by banning political parties from recruiting.
Summit to boost Midlands image
Economic Development
Improving the poor image of the West Midlands in Britain and across the world is to be the theme of a high-powered meeting of senior politicians and business leaders.
Merry Hill shows benefits of malls, conference told
Economic Development
Out of town shopping centres can be a force for good in developing deprived areas, a new study of the Merry Hill shopping centre has concluded.
Cut congestion or lose transport cash
Economic Development
Birmingham must consider introducing road pricing if it hopes to receive urgently-needed investment for public transport, the Local Government Secretary has warned.
Midlands puts Labour in poll position
Economic Development
Election victories in the West Midlands last week were "a seminal moment" which show Labour is ready to fight and win a General Election, according to Cabinet Minister Hazel Blears.
I'm years ahead in election, says Ming
Economic Development
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell yesterday declared he was ready for a General Election and insisted his age and experience was an asset.
Lib Dems shoot down expansion at airports
Economic Development
A Liberal Democrat government would oppose expansion at major airports such as Birmingham but back plans for a new high speed rail line instead, the party said yesterday.
Hospitals run up /authors/jonathan-walker/135m surplus after job cuts
Economic Development
Hospitals and health trusts in the West Midlands are set to end the financial year with /authors/jonathan-walker/135 million surplus in their budgets, after axing hundreds of jobs.
Childcare in Birmingham passes Ofsted test
Economic Development
Childcare providers in Birmingham have been given a clean bill of health by the official inspectors Ofsted, despite concerns about standards in other parts of the country.
Mandela sculptor 'deserves Brum showcase'
Economic Development
The daughter of the West Midlands sculptor who created a statue of Nelson Mandela has called for his work to be displayed in Birmingham.
Battle against road pricing plans for Shropshire
Economic Development
A coalition of environmentalists, business leaders and motorists has joined forces to fight plans for road pricing in Shropshire.
GP surgery phone charges slammed
Economic Development
A Birmingham MP has condemned doctors who encourage patients to ring high-cost phone lines to make appointments.
Brown accused of snubbing Brum
Economic Development
He's been to France and the United States, and taken German Chancellor Angela Merkel to a football match.
Wait goes on for military ward at hospital
Economic Development
There are still no plans to create a dedicated military ward for soldiers treated at Birmingham's Selly Oak Hospital – despite promises made by Tony Blair last October.
Crackdown on teenage criminals
Economic Development
The Government will fight youth crime by imposing more "acceptable behaviour contracts", Home Secretary Jacqui Smith revealed yesterday.
Hospitals axe 200 jobs in cutbacks
Economic Development
A West Midlands hospital trust is to axe 200 jobs in a bid to save /authors/jonathan-walker/30 million.
New carriages for congested rail network
Economic Development
The West Midlands is to receive up to 70 new carriages to reduce overcrowding on local rail services.