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So just to refresh the West Midlands info. There are currently 4 vacancies in West Midlands principal authorities. Two of them have elections scheduled : Newcastle-under-Lyme DC, Town on the 8th Oct, Dudley MBC, St James on the 29th of October. Both of these are Reform defences.

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

And finally Esther...

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Just catching up on upcoming West Midlands local by-elections. Newcastle-under-Lyme DC , Town (Reform resignation, seat up in 2030) will be on the 8th of October - candidates Con/Grn/Lab/LDm/Rfm Dudley MBC, St James (Reform resignation, seat up in 2030) will be on the 29th of October.

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Look it's quite easy with Citeh, one crime lose one place, so welcome to the National League North next season.

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

The actual interesting result from last night's local by-election is the Wombourne one. Wombourne is very right-wing always has been but even more so since it tripled in size with people white flighting from Wolverhampton in the 70's to 90's. It briefly had its own local fascist party in the 2000's.

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

And in West Midlands council news - Staffordshire CC, Lichfield City North (2029); and Lichfield DC, Curborough (2027), Matthew Wallens, Reform to Independent - suspended by Reform pending an investigation. Reform seem to be suspending a few councillors at the moment.

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Dudley MBC, St James ward - Cllr Ivor Robinson (Reform) has resigned for personal reasons. There will be a by-election in due course.

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

CDU vor knapp in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern!

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

I think the Brisbane Olympics need to do a snappy assessment of the crocodile situation.

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Dudley MBC - Cllr Andrew Southall (Wollaston & Stourbridge Town) has left Reform to join Restore UK.

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Only 15 candidates for Holborn & St Pancras - no Binface, Gorgeous George claiming to live in Dumfries and Galloway. Con, Lab, LDm, Grn, Reform, Restore, Workers, CPA, UKIP, Loony, Climate, Rejoin EU, Communist League, UK Voice and a Non Description

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Well, I was going to do a bit of work this afternoon but Shelby has decided that its HIS chair now.

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Cllr Bushra Bi (Birmingham MBC, Sparkhill) has defected from Labour to the Greens. This takes the Greens back to 19 councillors and Labour down to 14 councillors. Labour have now lost three councillors since the May elections in Birmingham.

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

I'll give him a bit longer - but it looks more like Starmerism in a flat cap and with fabulous eyelashes than the promised King In the North.

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

A couple of defections of councillors in the West Midlands. Cannock Chase DC - Cllr Josh Bancroft (Cannock Park and Old Fallow) - Con to LDm - brave Walsall MBC - Cllr Daniel Rollinson (New Invention) - Rfm to Ind - although he remains a national Reform member.

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Hard day at work - so chippy tea.

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

The elections to the new Shadow Unitary Authorities in England are now not occurring in 2027 and there will be the normal round of District Council elections instead.

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Solihull MBC, Cllr Eleonora Gough (Rfm, Elmdon) has left the Solihull Reform Councillor group due to issues with the council group, she remains in support of the national party.

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Back wum in Stourbridge

Pint of Pig on the Wall, Ham Salad Cob, Scratchings

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Lashing it down again now, I suspect we've had more rain this week in Birmingham than we've had during the rest of the summer. We need it badly.

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Introduce yourself with 10 acts you've seen live: Bauhaus Bruce Springsteen Blyth Power Heaven 17 The Housemartins Laibach Southern Death Cult Motörhead Yr Anhrefn Catatonia

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

The South Staffordshire DC Wombourne North by-election will be on the 24th of September. Candidates will be Con/Grn/Lab/LDm/Rfm. Wombourne being Wombourne they've already started going all Royston Vasey about a candidate who lives in the ward "but its really Penn" 1 / 2

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

It is finally tipping it down here in Birmingham.

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Reposted by Iain

Jansen Mann @hellojansen.com · 25/08/2026

Sound up...

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Reposted by Iain

Olga Nesterova @onestpress.onestnetwork.com · 25/08/2026

A message from the family of Dolly Parton

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

I sort of want to talk about Uncle Victor a bit, because he's the only riddle in my late father's side. My mother's side is full of them, why did my grandfather leave Ireland in 22? What did happen with my Uncle Joe that he did 8 years in the nick? Why did my mothers sisters move abroad? 1 / x

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Lays's Pringles-clone, called Stax in some markets. These are Chinese production Spicy Crayfish, now I got these rather than some dubious sweet Korean Pringles because I remember in the past very much enjoying Lay's Spicy Crayfish crisps. 1 / 2

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

And in the final run until I can get my arse to some of the odder shops. Malaysian Fanta Lychee. Very nice, a bit sweet but that‘s probably because I don‘t drink full fat drinks too often. Nice lychee taste - delicate but shows through. Would buy again.

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

OK, so lets talk about the new West Midlands Unitary Authorities, there are six of them and they will replace all the councils in Worcestershire, Warwickshire and Staffordshire. The West Midlands Mets, Herefordshire, Staffordshire and Telford and Wrekin are untouched. 1 / x

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

After about 30 years off, I appear to have rediscovered the pleasures of Bridge, I'm a bit rusty.

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

And to go with it are Korean Spicy Caribbean Pringles and these again have survived then journey well and have a light dusting and are just right. Nice jerk style taste, nice gentle but hottish linger. Yeah, he‘s not getting any of these.

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

So, this is Muscat Grape Fanta - which is a little sweeter and a little more chemical in its flavour. Not sure if I like it. No strong aftertaste though.

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Oldham MBC has once again failed to elect a leader of the council. So the Monitoring Officer will have to write to the Secretary of State. The Commissioners will be at the gates.

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

I reported earlier last week that there was a vacancy on Newcastle under Lyme DC for the Town Ward. It appears there is not, the councillor in question delivered their resignation for the District Ward to the offices of Kidsgrove Town Council who of course cannot accept it. 1 / 2

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

However in current council new, the vacancy on South Staffs DC for Wombourne North will be filled on the 24th of September. There is also a new vacancy on Newcastle under Lyme DC for the Town ward where a Reform councillor has resigned.

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

I was going to talk a bit about the new councils in the West Midlands, but I think I'll wait for a day when Bluesky isn't acting up. It's going to be interesting and as usual a number of chances have been lost in creating them. The usual failure to do comprehensive changes.

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Sweet Onion Pringles - Korea. Have travelled better than some of the other tubes. Light dusting, slightly onion smell. Some onion taste but as promised really quite sweet. LIngering and not entirely pleasant aftertaste - have passed off rest of tube on husband who likes them.

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Now a Dunkin Sparkling Pear Zero drink from Korea. Now I had high hopes for this, I was brought up in Worcestershire and I like proper Perry. Also, one of my favourite drinks is a Pear and Rhubarb Schörle I discovered in Würzburg. This despite being zero tastes too sweet and has an aftertaste. No.

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Pringles Spicy Rose Tteokbokki from South Korea. Moderate dusting, pleasant taste with just the right level of spice kick to know it is there. Would very much scran again.

An unopened can of Pringles Spicy Rose Tteokbokki

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Grape Fanta from Japan - really does taste of small green grapes - not too sweet. Enjoyable.

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

It's very odd looking at the news at the wildfires in not just the town I grew up in, but the section of that town. Norton Covert which is lovely was less than five minutes bike ride from my parents house. But its when you look at the pictures and know precisely where the photos are taken.

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Birmingham MBC - Cllr Siobhan Harper-Nunes (Ind elected as Grn, Ladywood) suspended after her arrest on Saturday has today been arrested again for harassment according to sources. I can imagine @andrewteale.me.uk will be making notes in the Councillors Behaving Badly file.

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Happily next door has a welders mask, so got a pretty good view of the 90+% totality here in Birmingham.

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

I‘ve been shopping again.

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Cllr Martin Allen (Worcestershire CC, Croome) and Malvern Hills DC (Upton & Ripple) has defected from the Greens to the Liberal Democrats.

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Birmingham MBC - Cllr Siobhan Harper-Nunes (Grn, Ladywood) has been suspended from the Green group on the council after being charged with assaulting a member of the public, three police officers and a member of police staff.

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Live in 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Born in 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Parents : 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Grandparents: 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🇵🇹 🇮🇪 Great Grandparents: 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🇮🇪 🇮🇪 🇵🇹 🇲🇦 Been to: Umm, 61 other countries apart from those, although some were not countries when I visited them.

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Iain @iainbhx.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

The ice-cream van coming around just as I've finished work for the day really is perfection.

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