The Dispatch

'Help us!' JLR supply chain small firms at risk of collapse Plus, Corbyn's Your Party launches in Brum

Read it here:
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/help-us-jlr-...

Monday Briefing, out now incl:
🚗Small JLR suppliers on brink of collapse
🛍️Selfridges suffering
👋Corbyn's Your Party launches in Brum - + Labour cllrs jump ship
+ more

“Well, that’s nothing to do with what y–you either want to talk about flags or that, I mean this is mental," he told us when we asked him about it.

Read the full story on The Dispatch.
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/red-flags-th...

Bridge lives in Bromsgrove and runs a small group no-win-no-fee injury claims management companies.

In 2018, Spanish police alleged he was one of eight Brits who ran bogus food poisoning claims to scam a string of hotels in Magaluf.

Red flags: The non-existent company behind Brum's Union Jacks 'It's 100% legitimate'

Wish I could say it comes as a massive surprise that there's an overlap between the flag people and suspected fraudsters, but this is great work by the @birminghamdispatch.bsky.social.

'It's 100% legitimate' www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/red-flags-th...

When we asked him about this, he said "it's in process."

“Under the name Raise the Colours?”

“No.”

“What name is it under?”

“Why do you want to find it? This is nothing to do with what we’re doing going forwards.”

Red flags: The non-existent company behind Brum's Union Jacks 'It's 100% legitimate'

Trouble is, there is no trace of the business on Companies House.
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/red-flags-th...

Ryan Bridge has become a familiar face in Stirchley lately. He's one of two "company directors" of raisetheflags.org, where he collects donations from £10-£500 for flags.

The Smithfield saga Why is Birmingham struggling to develop a massive inner city brownfield site?

The plans which became the £1.9bn Smithfield development were first dreamed up in 2007. So why is the site empty?🪨
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/the-smithfie...

You asked, The Dispatch explained:

What's going on with the big crater in the centre of town? 🤔

Does this councillor know where his on-the-run criminal brother is? Plus, Birmingham loses out on new towns

Here's our original story:
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/does-this-co...

Drugs fugitive wed on the run in Pakistan with councillor brother among guests Farhan Khan was married two years ago after fleeing the UK - and his city councillor brother Saqib Khan and his parents were there

And Birmingham Live
www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midland...

Labour councillor denies knowing his drug dealer brother was fugitive Birmingham City councillor Saqib Khan was pictured in the village of Dadyal in Pakistan-administered Kashmir on the day of his brother Fahan Khan's wedding.

Glad to see our Monday scoop get picked up by the Daily Mail
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...

The bullying accusations are in the story.

The last hanged man Oswald Augustus Grey was executed for killing a shopkeeper. Did he do it?

Today's story:
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/the-last-han...

In 1960, 18-year-old Oswald Augustus Grey set out from his home in Bog Walk, Jamaica for Birmingham.

Two years later, he would become the last man ever to be hanged in Bham, for killing a shopkeeper. Did he do it?

The headteacher’s missing receipts: how did a Selly Oak school get into £400,000 of debt? Parents at Raddlebarn Primary tried to raise the alarm. The council investigated them for bullying

The council has investigated — but they’re more concerned by a group of governors who tried to blow the whistle on the whole saga. 🔍

Read (£) it here:
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/the-headteac...

Today's story involves a financial advisor with a track record for "significant failings" in financial management, and a headteacher who appears to have charged such things as pet expenses and a DJ to the school. 🦮

Raddlebarn Primary in Selly Oak has money troubles. Big ones. It's gone from being in a £34,000 deficit in 2018 to more than £400,000 today. 💰

We’re hiring: Staff writer, The Dispatch, Birmingham Come and work with a team that’s changing journalism Role details Location: Birmingham (we need someone who lives full-time in the West Midlands, or is willing to relocate) Salary: Dependent …

And don't forget: The Dispatch is hiring a new reporter! You have until 5 October to apply.
millmediaco.uk/2025/09/04/w...

Local ‘Your Party’ MPs at centre of fall out Plus, Boxpark backs out of Digbeth

www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/local-your-p...

our Monday Briefing is out now, incl:
🥊'Your Party' fall out
🧑‍💻Tory campaigner locked out of FB
💰£30k rewards for info on Oldbury sex attack

@birminghamdispatch.bsky.social getting a mention here as an "innovative new outlet" 😊

Competing vigils for sex attack victim expose divides among Smethwick’s Sikhs ‘We are actively trying to stop them’

In today's story, we investigate what caused the split.
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/competing-vi...

During the past week, residents in Smethwick have rallied around a young Sikh woman who was the victim of a racially aggravated rape.

But support came in the form of two very different gatherings, with one side urging people to 'boycott' the other.

'Racist' Oldbury assault: Tommy Robinson wades in after sex attack Plus, Great Barr United gets celebrity backing

Read it here:
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/racist-oldbu...

Your Monday Briefing is out now, incl:
🚨Latest on racially motivated Oldbury attack
⚽️Great Barr United's celeb backers
🗳️Reform win in Walsall council byelection
+much more

The impatience of Richard Parker The West Midlands mayor is desperate to get the economy back on track. So stop inviting him to dinner

Today, @mayorwestmids.bsky.social forgoes small talk and gets down to brass tax: the West Midlands' flailing economy.
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/the-impatien...

I kick things off with a softball question. What is Richard Parker’s favourite restaurant? 🍛

I do not expect him to reply: “the one where the meal finishes as quickly as possible.” 🕦

The Dispatch is hiring a reporter Help us grow the team

📢DON'T FORGET📢
The Dispatch is hiring! If you're a brilliant Brum writer with a knack for finding stories and experience reporting, we want to meet you.

Apply by 5 October.
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/the-dispatch...