@lewiswarner.bsky.social
Political Reporter, ITV News Central Read more: https://shorturl.at/5D838
Proud to have been nominated for RTS Midlands ‘Journalist of the Year’ for the second year running!
The faces here have done some great work this year 👇🏼👏
Communities are fighting back against new housing.
Councils are under pressure: can they hit new house building targets without losing local trust?
🏡 Home & Hostility: The Battle to Build Britain - streaming now on @ITVX
www.itv.com/watch/news/h...
EXCLUSIVE
Anti-immigration protesters 'wrongly' targeted a hotel in Dudley housing homeless people, the town’s council leader has claimed.
Hundreds of people attended a rally on Sunday, 17th August, that started in the town centre and marched to the Superior Hotel.
NEW: The leader of Leicestershire County Council has said his 22-year-old deputy stood down because he was “uncomfortable” in the role and found it “very demanding”.
He said Cllr Joseph Boam came to him directly with concerns about the pressures of the job.
www.itv.com/news/central...
Police have been advised to share the ethnicity and nationality of suspects charged in high profile cases in a bid to curb misinformation spreading online.
It follows the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in Warwickshire said to involve two Afghan asylum seekers.
www.itv.com/news/2025-08...
Hundreds of people gathered at an anti-immigration protest in Nuneaton yesterday after two men, reportedly Afghan asylum seekers, were charged over the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in the town.
10.08.2025 18:50 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0MD Ian McConnell says he’s proud of the franchise’s legacy - including its role in the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Focus now is a “smooth transition” and “outstanding service” under public ownership.
The DfT says there’ll be no change to train services, timetables, stations or ticket validity.
The operator says it’s delivered:
- £1bn investment
- Over 100 new trains
- Stronger performance since 2017
NEW: 🚆 West Midlands Trains will be taken into public ownership from 1 February 2026, the government confirms.
It runs services under the West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern brands.
This is part of the DfT’s wider Public Ownership Programme.
Reform UK’s leader of Warwickshire County Council has stood down after just 41 days.
A council statement said that “much to his regret”, Councillor Rob Howard, Attleborough, had stepped back from his post.
www.itv.com/news/central...
Friends and family of the Nottingham attack victims are marking the second anniversary of their deaths.
Hundreds walked through the city in memory of Barnaby Webber, Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Ian Coates.
NEW: Labour's Simon Foster tells me they'll be 'further challenges' at West Midlands Police because of the spending review.
He wanted money for 700 more police officers. He admits he hasn't got them.
BREAKING 🚨
Reform UK have officially taken control of Staffordshire County Council.
It’s a big week for the Midlands, with thousands of voters getting ready to head to the polls on Thursday 1 May 👇🏼
Here’s a look at what to expect…
www.itv.com/news/central...
“…available to BCC to further support in this area. This builds on a range of measures we’ve supported the council on to date – including neighbouring authorities providing additional vehicles and crews, and opening household waste centres to B’ham residents.”
13.04.2025 19:56 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0NEW: Military planners have been called in to help tackle the mounting piles of rubbish in Birmingham.
A govt spokesperson said: “In light of the ongoing public health risk, a small number of office-based military personnel with operational planning expertise have been made…”
NEW: Labour group leader on Dudley Council has quit accusing the Prime Minister of "attacking the most vulnerable in society".
Cllr Pete Lowe, had been a member of the Labour Party for 41 years.
I spoke with him earlier 👇🏼
www.itv.com/news/central...
EXCLUSIVE
West Midlands Mayor blames Environment Agency for leaving a planned 630-home site in Wednesbury bare
Richard Parker says the authority has been “hiding behind red tape and bureaucracy"
More: www.itv.com/news/central...
EXCLUSIVE
The Children's Commissioner for England is "furious" that Birmingham City Council has cut £39m from its children's services
Councillors have just approved a budget slashing £148m in 2025/26
www.itv.com/news/central...
Homeowners in Birmingham’s Druids Heath say they are determined to save their properties from demolition as part of a £1 billion regeneration project.
The city council plans to replace 1,800 homes on the post-war estate with 3,500 new ones.
Read: www.itv.com/news/central...
‘Potential’ for children to die following cuts, admits Birmingham council boss
www.itv.com/news/central...
Adult social care and child services to bear brunt of 'bankrupt' Birmingham council's £148m cuts
www.itv.com/news/central...
“The Labour Government is working far more constructively with us, and following extensive talks, we've agreed that Birmingham has made sufficient progress over the last 12 months to reduce the planned council tax increase.” (2/2)
03.02.2025 16:41 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0NEW: Birmingham council tax will increase by 7.5% NOT 9.99%.
Cllr John Cotton: “Michael Gove and the previous Tory Government were adamant that council tax would have to go up by 9.9 per cent for a second successive year, regardless of any progress made over the last 12 months" (1/2)
Leicestershire County Council has published fresh budget proposals, outlining a multi-million pound investment in services while confirming a 4.99% rise in Council Tax from April.
www.itv.com/news/central...
That’s pretty much what I put to him near the end of last year…
youtu.be/VKFNbsBFnB8?...
Unfortunately, he says that means whatever the amount equal pay bill is would have to be found outside of the current stated savings.
It does though fall within the limit of the exceptional financial support package agreed with government.
We’ve always been told that the current savings have nothing to do with the equal pay bill and would have been needed even if there was no equal pay bill to pay.
Max Caller says the current savings are all down to the council not living within its means i.e.. big rise in SEND spending. (1/2)
There’s been confirmation that Birmingham’s council tax will increase by 10% next year, as previously announced.
The council has also revealed that the budget gap for 2025/2026 has widened, with £153 million in savings now required, up from the previously forecasted £67 million.
Standing by in Birmingham for the latest ITV News Central
18.01.2025 16:43 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
