'Late and clumsy': Maccabi fan ban verdict says Home Office 'inflamed tensions'

Dear readers — in an unbelievable turn of events, the sky is no longer grey, the temperature has risen and — is that…could it be? — a slither of sun is trying its best to beam down on Birmingham. All bets are off, we expect you to be out in pub gardens as soon as work is over, pints in hand, sunglasses firmly on.

Before that, though, let us catch you up on the latest stories. The ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters visiting Villa Park in November is back in the news following the publication of a report probing the controversial decision. MPs on the Home Affairs select committee looking into the ban — which led to local police chief Craig Guildford resigning last month — have determined that the government stoked tensions, rather than soothed them. To jog your memory, when the ban was announced in October, it was quickly branded as “wrong” by Keir Starmer and a spokesperson said he was doing "everything in his power" to allow Israeli fans to attend. The report also singles out the Home Office which “failed to recognise the significance of the situation” and West Midlands Police which “relied on inaccurate information”.

Elsewhere, Birmingham Labour is scrabbling to get the numbers together to win a crucial vote tomorrow to pass its new budget for the city; and the Japanese ambassador to the UK has won the hearts and minds of Brummies for his ale-sinking abilities. All of that, and more, below.

Catch up and coming up:

On Wednesday, we published a story by Madeleine on Birmingham’s newcomers, after the Times reported that our city was one of the most popular places to move to last year. An "uplifting read to start the day,” one reader commented.
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Photo of the week

A young and curious member of the crowd at Lunar New Year celebrations yesterday, captured by photojournalist Adam Yosef. Were you out celebrating the year of the horse? Tell us about it in the comments.

Brum in Brief

⚽ A committee of MPs has criticised the “late and clumsy” intervention by the government’s attempt to overturn November’s Maccabi Tel Aviv fan ban from Villa Park. A committee report has concluded the tardy response served to “inflame” tensions rather than resolve them. They also determined that the Home Office was too late to step in when Birmingham’s safety advisory group imposed the ban, on the advice of West Midlands Police (WMP). Political interference, the report states, “could not be ruled out”. MPs also found that the use of AI by police furthered tensions by “reinforcing false narratives” and acknowledged that faith in the police had been “undermined” as a result. The final conclusion by the committee urged the government to consider introducing a “new category for football matches of national significance,” but noted that “the Committee found no evidence that the WMP response was motivated by antisemitism but it is clear the force failed to take appropriate steps to engage with Jewish communities.” Birmingham city council leader Cllr John Cotton responded yesterday saying he “welcome[s]” the report and thanked the committee. (BBC).

🍺 The Japanese ambassador to the UK, Hiroshi Suzuki, absorbed himself in local culture on a recent trip to the West Midlands that included cosplaying as a Peaky Blinder and visiting Birmingham City football ground. In a BBC interview, the diplomat showed his enthusiasm for “British culture” — which he quickly put into action. A later video shared on social media showed him munching on pork scratchings at The Wellington pub in town, before taking a large swing of Black Country Ale. “I've seen enough, time to give him full British citizenship,” wrote one Redditor. (Reddit).

💰 Birmingham’s balanced budget — the one that reveals the city is no longer bankrupt — might not be passed tomorrow as Labour scrabbles to ensure enough of its members attend the vote. A year ago, the ruling group had by far the biggest majority with 65 councillors out of 101, making it easy for them to control big decisions like this one. Today, things have changed: a spate of resignations and defections as well as two deaths have reduced their manpower to just 52 (versus the combined 47 members of other parties). The chief whip, Ray Goodwin, is said to be rounding up the troops, including two councillors understood to have long-term illnesses. If Labour isn’t confident enough people will show, the group could postpone the vote by a week. (Birmingham Mail).

🚮 Also in council news, the local authority now has permission to prevent blockades and obstructions at waste depots during the long-running strike by bin workers. The authority has obtained a legal injunction, following a hearing earlier this month, that forces protestors to avoid entering, blocking, or occupying access to four key sites in the city. If breached, the action could lead to a prison sentence of up to two years, fines or asset seizure. (Rayo).

Quick Hits

A jewellers that dates back to 1959 has gone into administration, leaving 50 jobs at risk (Birmingham Mail)
Approved plans to build 115 homes on Walsall’s green belt are said to be “totally against the wishes of local people.” (BBC)
Dudley Council are cracking down on pigeon presence after a new eating area has attracted flocks of pigeons. “There are more pigeons using [it] than people,” Cllr Shaukat Ali said. (Halesowen News)
A teenager died on Friday after being stabbed outside a mosque in Smethwick. Two others were taken to hospital, police say they do not believe the attack was racially or religiously aggravated. (BBC)

Media picks

🎭 Guardian theatre critic, Mark Fisher, visited the Birmingham Rep last week for the premiere of Britpop play The Battle. The show is a comedy about the famous 1995 Oasis vs Blur rivalry, when both bands released new singles on the same day — leading to a media fuelled contest to see who could sell the most copies. The hullabaloo led to a slanging match (mostly from the Manchester band’s side) with Liam Gallagher’s notorious dismissal of Blur as “pansies from London” who made “chimney sweeping music”. Fisher gave the play just two stars, largely due to it being “woefully short on drama”. (the Guardian)

💻 Food Review Club — a YouTube channel with nearly 200k subscribers — was in Stirchley last week dining at Eat Vietnam, with presenter Matt Davies-Binge saying it “might be Birmingham’s best kept secret.” (YouTube).

🎧 A new Birmingham podcast has been launched covering culture and society in the second city. Only in Birmingham, presented by public historians Corinne Fowler and Raj Pal, will take “nuanced approaches to complex issues, dispelling ignorance about our beloved city.” The first, introductory episode, is out now. (Apple podcasts).

Our to do list

📚 On Thursday, The Emma Press and Voce Books are teaming up to launch Birmingham-born author Zain Rishi’s new poetry book. Tickets start at £4 and can be purchased here

🎤 Also on Thursday, enjoy a comedy evening “next to a dinosaur” at the Lapworth Museum, with comedian Matt Hobbs performing his hit Edinburgh Fringe show 100% Badgers. Tickets can be purchased here.

🗻 Banff Mountain Film Festival’s world tour comes to Birmingham on Saturday. Head over to the town hall to see award-winning short films filled with captivating cinematography. Tickets start at £13.50 and can be purchased here.

🦁 Or, spend your Saturday in Digbeth. Pop down to the Custard Factory for a completely free lion dance performance by the award winning Birmingham based CLF Lion and Dragon dance team. No tickets needed.