BBC slammed for protecting Labour over Birmingham bin crisis as Radio 4 fails to mention party once in council interview
THE BBC has been slammed for shielding Labour after failing to mention the party in charge over the Birmingham bin crisis.
BBC Radio 4 Today interviewed the leader of cash-strapped Birmingham City Council about the city being overrun by huge rats – but left out that it is a Labour-run authority.
The broadcaster neglected to mention Labour’s role in the ongoing bin strikes during the three-hour programme when it questioned John Cotton.
Shadow culture secretary Stuart Andrew told The Telegraph: “This looks like yet another case of the BBC shielding the Labour Party from criticism.
“Thanks to Labour’s disastrous management of Birmingham and their refusal to stand up to their union paymasters, residents are being plagued with rats the size of cats and streets overflowing with rubbish reportedly weighing more than the Eiffel Tower.“
Mr Cotton was introduced as the leader of Birmingham city council on BBC Radio 4 Today and was quizzed as to whether he accepted any responsibility for the crisis.
Instead, he said he was brought in to address “historic problems” with the bankrupt council and its budget.
The local authority declared itself bankrupt in September 2023 and needed to make £300million in savings.
It comes after talks to end the bin strike broke down, with union leaders accusing the council of lying about pay.
Unite said that the deals being offered to their members have not been backed up by written deals.
It said Cotton’s plan would lead to “massive, unacceptable pay cuts of £8,000 a year” for some drivers.
Cotton said that 18,000 tons of rotting rubbish had been collected this month.
He insisted normal bin rounds would only resume once the strike is over.
Talks to end long-running Birmingham bin strike break down after union leaders accuse council chiefs of lying over pay
By Noa Hoffman
TALKS to end the long-running bins strike broke down yesterday with union leaders accusing council chiefs of lying over pay.
Unite said the guarantees being offered to refuse workers in public were not backed up by written deals.
Negotiations over the dispute — which has seen some 22,000 tons of waste pile up in Birmingham’s streets — are now on hold until Wednesday, after the Easter break.
City council leader John Cotton said that 18,000 tons of rotting rubbish had been collected this month.
He insisted normal bin rounds would only resume once the strike is over.
But he did say: “Over the course of this week, residents should see their bins emptied on the day they expect.”
However, he said: “Over the course of this week, residents should see their bins emptied on the day they expect.”
A Unite spokesman said: “The council refused to put in writing what John Cotton and his team have been saying in public.
“We believe they are telling untruths to the public to infer the offer given is better than it really is.
“They need to come clean.”
It recently emerged that just 41 bin workers are behind the strike holding the West Midlands city to ransom.
Operations chief Craig Cooper said around 130 of 170 waste recycling collection officers have accepted redundancy or to re-train as drivers.
He added: “There are about 40 that haven’t, and I urge those 40 to look again.”
A BBC spokeswoman said: “The Today programme has covered this dispute from all sides in great detail over recent days, including interviews with representatives from the union and Birmingham City Council, and criticisms from local residents.
“This morning’s programme featured a robust interview with the Council leader, which questioned him about his responsibility and sought to get answers on the likelihood of a resolution with the union.”
Fury as just 41 bin workers said to be behind strike holding Birmingham to ransom
By Ryan Sabey
JUST 41 bin workers are said to be behind the strike holding Britain’s second biggest city to ransom in a pay dispute.
The group rejected a deal to end the six-week walkout in Birmingham, council officials admitted yesterday.
And union leaders warned the crippling strike could spread to Sheffield and Peterborough.
Rubbish has piled up in the streets, attracting an influx of rats.
But the city council expects to have collected 22,000 tons of rotting waste by the weekend.
Operations chief Craig Cooper said around 130 of 170 waste recycling collection officers have accepted redundancy or to re-train as drivers.
He added: “There are about 40 that haven’t, and I urge those 40 to look again.
“I urge Unite to come to the table as swiftly as possible and for us to resolve this.”
Shadow Cabinet minister Kevin Hollinrake said: “Forty-one workers holding Britain’s second largest city to ransom shows how ideological and one-sided the unions are.”