4 lads in jeans the sequel

Plus: A new chapter for Birmingham

Good morning readers — here is your Friday briefing.

Our correspondent in Acock’s Green has a mayoral race hustings round-up for you today, featuring delightful descriptions of candidates’ ties, alongside the more usual politicking. Elsewhere, a popular book about UK club culture has just levelled up with a whole new chapter on Birmingham added to the upcoming edition. Plus, there’s an ‘essential’ update from viral sensation 4 lads in jeans, and an event with a Booker-prize winning author.

We also hope you enjoyed our Dispatch from Handsworth yesterday afternoon which was sent out slightly later than usual. In case you missed it, you can read it here:

On Soho Road, a new scourge is terrorising the community: Vloggers

Finally, your Saturday read will wing its way to you tomorrow morning at 7am — we look forward to hearing your thoughts in the comments as usual. Take care.

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Brum in brief

🗣️Another day, another hustings: Tuesday’s hustings at Acocks Green Baptist Church hall was skipped by Labour candidate Richard Parker who sent Nechells councillor Lee Marsham in his place, two days after the Redfield & Wilton poll which put Parker 14 points in the lead.

• Street, in an elegant multi-coloured stripy silk tie in contrast to Marsham's which was fire-engine red, was keener than ever to emphasise his independence from national government, bringing up his lobbying for an increase in housing benefit and declaring that “I will always put this region before party” in his summing-up.

• At pains to present himself as achieving some “big changes, big developments” as mayor, Street also offered some new tit-bits. He had made an agreement, he said, with National Express for every other Number 11 bus in Brum to do the full circular route instead of just half the circuit (as the 11 has been limited to since 2021) and he will back the West Midlands to be the pilot area for a mooted ban on landlords leaving shops vacant.

• As well as contributions from both environmental campaigners and climate deniers, there was a fun question about the transport the candidates took to the hustings. Lib Dem Sunny Virk drove in his EV, while the Greens' Siobhan Harper-Nunes said she came in a 'green car' — challenged on what this meant, she explained that it is literally painted green.

🕯️Tribute to ‘cherished daughter’: The father of four-year-old girl, Mayar Yahia’s, who was killed in a collision on Upper Highate Street on Sunday has paid tribute to his daughter. Babiker Yahia said: “It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that we share the devastating loss of our cherished daughter”. Mayar died after a Vauxhall Corsa crashed into a group of pedestrians near a children’s playground — others were treated for injuries that weren’t serious. Two men, aged 21 and 24, were arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and driving while unfit through drink or drugs. They have been bailed with strict conditions while inquiries continue.

• Safe Streets Now campaigners are holding a national day of action to call for an end to deaths and serious injuries on roads. The group say that a focus on reducing traffic danger will not only save lives, but will also make the nation’s streets happier, healthier and more vibrant places for everyone who uses them.

📖Brave the rave: An updated edition of a best-selling book about dance music now has a brand new chapter on Birmingham — a huge improvement if we do say so ourselves. Jim Ottewill's Out Of Space: How UK Cities Shaped Rave Culture features interviews with Brum legends Surgeon, DJ Bus Replacement Service, Echo Juliet and many more. It’s available from April 26.

👖Baggy trousers: 4 lads in jeans have unveiled their latest look — and it’s a lot baggier than their 2019 attire. Five years on from their moment in front of New Street Station’s All Bar One, Birmingham’s favourite, tightly-trousered quartet have reunited in what appears to be a promotional shot for the Bullring. Some are calling them the nation’s “bellwether” for culture shifts. Others probably have no idea what I am talking about.

🌳Guerilla thriller: Booker prize-winning author Eleanor Catton will be at Birmingham Waterstone’s on May Day to discuss her psychological thriller Birnam Wood. It’s about a guerrilla gardening group in New Zealand (if that doesn’t excite you, what will?).