The Cut - Gutter Politics and our role in fighting it - Cllr served with legal letter - Can Brum continue to be a 'City of Sanctuary'? - Has PCC Foster Failed?

We've finally corrupted our sports editor, who leads this week's newsletter on holding power to account, plus plenty more!

Counter Cut

Nov 7, 2022

Good morning dear subscriber!

We're afraid it’s finally happened. After 6 months exposed to politics, our Sports Editor, Tom - known for writing about his passion for sport and the Villa in particular - has turned his attention to the crises in our politics. We’ve broken Tom. Not even a 3-1 Villa win against Man U and a new Manager at Villa Park could hold him back…

On the plus side, he’s written a belter!

Our leading article this week looks at the shambles of our politics lying firmly in the gutter.

As Tom writes, at Counter Cut we won’t hold back when it comes to holding those in positions of power to account:

Politics is in the gutter - Counter Cut will continue to play our part in holding power to account

With scandals in Westminster and here in the West Midlands, do we need a rethink in how our politics operates?

Speaking of the gutter, our attention has been drawn once again to the trials of Cllr Jack Deakin. The Green Party Councillors who have accused Deakin of libel following tweets in which he used the slur ‘antisemite’, exclusively reveal to Counter Cut that their legal case has taken a key step forward:

Councillor served with legal papers after complaints of 'anti-Semite' slur 'ignored'

Green Party Councillors are taking action against Cllr Deakin following 'libellous' tweets and his failure to apologise.

Political Editor, Jack Dixon, writes a topical piece as the migrant crisis on the Channel worsens.

With thousands arriving on our shores each day and our ability to look after our own communities increasingly stretched, he asks if Birmingham can continue to be a City of Sanctuary:

As the migrant crisis in the Channel worsens, should Birmingham be Sanctuary City?

Are middle class socialists burdening the working class to feel good about themselves?

Image Credit: University of Birmingham Twitter - Deputy Leader of Birmingham and the university signing a sanctuary city pledge.

We are pleased to feature an opinion piece this week from Mason Beirne looking at the Police and Crime Commissioner’s record of tackling crime in the West Midlands.

Is PCC Simon Foster more interested in playing politics than bringing down crime?

Police & Crime Commissioner Simon Foster has failed the West Midlands & Let Down Solihull

It’s time we abolish the West Midlands Police & Crime Commissioner and hand the responsibility to the Mayor.

Simon Foster, Labour's candidate to replace David Jamieson as West Midlands PCC — Image Credit: Express & Star

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Have a great week!

The Counter Cut Team