The recent local elections have created a national battle for power within the ruling Labour Party. After suffering substantial losses to Reform UK and the Green Party, even traditionally safe Labour councils have changed hands or been thrown into “no overall control”. Across the country, Reform UK gained 1,452 seats, the Greens gained 441, while Labour lost 1,498 seats.
In this episode of Streets Ahead, Laura and Adam focus on the local fallout of those elections; this is the type of politics closest to local people, and it’s also the structure used to deliver sustainable and active travel schemes.
Joining Laura and Adam are two guests with a deep understanding of local politics:
Cllr John Morris, a Labour Councillor in Newham - Labour lost control of the Council and saw a surge in Independent candidates taking seats, leaving Newham in no overall control - but with a pro-car Labour mayor, Forhad Hussain. John was Deputy Cabinet Member for Highways and Sustainable Transport under the previous administration.
Martin Price, outgoing Chair of Better Streets for Birmingham, a campaign group focused on safer streets and active travel. Birmingham is another one of those councils thrown into No Overall Control - and in the wider West Midlands, there is now an existing Labour Metro Mayor, 2x Reform Councils, 1x Labour Council and 4x No Overall Control.
Links:
John Morris' blog, on No Such Thing As A Safe Seat https://plaistovian.substack.com/p/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-safe
On Birmingham's plan to become a big Low Traffic Neighbourhood: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/oct/04/birmingham-to-become-a-super-sized-low-traffic-neighbourhood
And how that plan was inspired by the Belgian city of Ghent: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jan/20/how-a-belgian-port-city-inspired-birminghams-car-free-ambitions
Newham's Living Streets local group: https://www.livingstreets.org.uk/get-involved/local-groups/newham-local-group/
And our interview with the late Waseem Zaffar, formerly Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment at Birmingham City Council, who sadly died this year https://shows.acast.com/streets-ahead/episodes/episode-9-the-west-midlands
His successor, Liz Clements, also featured on the podcast, as part of a panel discussion https://shows.acast.com/streets-ahead/episodes/live-from-london-walking-and-cycling-conference
For ad-free listening, behind-the-scenes and bonus content and to help support the podcast - head to (https://www.patreon.com/StreetsAheadPodcast). We’ll even send you some stickers!
We’re also on Bluesky and welcome your feedback on our episode: https://bsky.app/profile/podstreetsahead.bsky.social
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