UEFA investigates Bellingham over gesture

Plus political resignations in Walsall and plans for a UK-first development in the city centre

Dear Patchers — Welcome to your Wednesday briefing.

With polling day just around the corner, it is hardly surprising that political stories are the flavour of the day. As such, we bring news of a resignation in Walsall that likely won’t hurt Labour’s hopes of a massive majority come Friday morning but might take some sheen off the victory — at least in this part of the Black Country.

Elsewhere we bring you notes on the latest taxi driver protests in Birmingham city centre, a new energy-positive development on the canals and a little helping of Swedish pop. Enjoy.

Back with you later this week. Take care until then. Dan.

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Brum in Brief

🔴 Walsall resignation: In the week in which Keir Starmer’s Labour is expected to win a huge majority in the General Election, one of its councillors has resigned from the party in Walsall. Shakila Hussain, who represents Palfrey ward, quit over comments made by Starmer regarding Bangladeshi migrants. Starmer had previously said that “people from countries like Bangladesh are not being removed [from the country]” in a chat with Sun readers. In a letter detailing her decision, Hussain wrote: “I cannot in good conscience associate myself with a party who so readily scapegoat an entire nationality.” She follows seven other Labour councillors in Walsall who previously quit over the party’s Gaza stance. Her letter in full.

🚕 Taxi protest: App-based taxi drivers have protested again in Birmingham, citing pay and conditions as reasons for their ongoing disgruntlement. Drivers for Uber, Bolt and Veezu, as well as trade unionists, politicians and lawyers, gathered at Uber’s hub in Aston before heading to Birmingham city centre, largely in single file. This is the latest protest, with the previous one in May. Minhaj Uddin, official spokesperson for Private Hire Drivers Alliance said that the exploitation of private hire drivers “must end”. In a statement, Uber countered: “We regularly engage with drivers, including through our industry-leading agreement with GMB Union which ensures all drivers have access to full union representation.” Full story. 

Jude Bellingham seen performing the first of two obscene gestures on Sunday evening. Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images.

⚽ Bellingham investigated: It feels like we’re on semi-permanent Jude Bellingham watch here at Dispatch towers. In the latest development, England’s star player is being investigated by Uefa for a gesture he made over his late equaliser against Slovakia. Bellingham was seen making a crotch-grabbing gesture towards the Slovakian bench after scoring an overhead kick in stoppage time, with the Stourbridge-born player saying it was a joke with friends and he has “nothing but respect for how that Slovakia team played”. All the details.

☀️ ‘UK first’ green property: Plans for a so-called ‘UK first’ energy-positive development have been submitted to Birmingham City Council. The 161-apartment development would be on the canal side on Gas Street and would include a solar panel façade that would be projected to produce 427,000-kilowatt hours of energy a year. Gerald Manton, managing director at GNM, the developers behind the project, said: “We are excited that our proposals will be a first, not only for Birmingham but for the entire UK. This will be the UK’s first multi-storey energy-positive building.”

🎥 Carry on Carrying On: For fans of Carry On and those who like their theatre meta, a new play at the Blue Orange theatre in the Jewellery Quarter looks at what it means to create art in changing times. Can’t Stop Carrying On has been described as a show about ageing, the human spirit and changing attitudes, as well as a tribute to the Carry On franchise. A steal at just £9. Tickets and times, here. 

💃 Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! Head down to Kings Heath this Saturday for a night of dancing, singing, and celebrating the timeless music of ABBA. E47 Social Club is thrilled to present an unforgettable ABBA Tribute Night featuring the Melody Mias Abba Duo. Doors open at 7pm and the act kicks off at 9pm. Tickets are just £10. Mamma Mia, what a bargain! Full event details.