News that matters, campaigns that count for Birmingham, the Black Country and beyond http://www.thestirrer.co.uk/thestirrer.xml news The Stirrer en-gb Thu, 10 Jun 2010 09:11:27 +0100 editor@thestirrer.com(Editor) Thu, 10 Jun 2010 09:10:15 +0100 general webmaster@thestirrer.co.uk(Webmaster) FeedForAll v2.0 (2.0.2.9) http://www.feedforall.com This feed will no longer be updated. Please visit The Stirrer to update your rss links http://www.thestirrer.co.uk B88ED6DA-A506-400F-9240-448BD1F4F388 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 09:10:15 +0100 Today marks the final Stirrer “front page” – at least for the time being – but our popular Forum will continue as the place to break and discuss all the news that matters in Birmingham, the Black Country and beyond. Stirrer editor Adrian Goldberg will also be posting regularly on his own blog. more http://www.thestirrer.co.uk/june_10/see-you-down-the-forum-020610.html 0D3D5638-013A-4198-A10E-F2ACCB824A53 Wed, 2 Jun 2010 08:32:55 +0100 Hopes that Birmingham might become a major centre of movie production move a step closer today – and it’s all thanks to Stirrer blogger and Forum regular Jonathan Stuart Brown. more http://www.thestirrer.co.uk/june_10/brum-lines-up-role-020610.html 7D5AB39C-21F9-49F6-90ED-FAC30719AE5C Wed, 2 Jun 2010 08:32:33 +0100 For too long Birmingham and the Black Country have failed to celebrate what is rightfully theirs, to claim the city and the region as home of Heavy Metal - but now the folk at Capsule are determined to change all that. more http://www.thestirrer.co.uk/june_10/metal-heads-020610.html FFEE0411-AF61-4FCE-8D84-79FECC59350D Wed, 2 Jun 2010 08:32:16 +0100 Paul Samuels enjoys a top show by British indie stalwarts BSP at the Glee Club in the Arcadian Centre - and a bit of a bonus with a fine support turn by John and Jehn. more http://www.thestirrer.co.uk/june_10/british-sea-power-020610.html 51E0B43C-05D3-4B6A-A526-BDD5A3382611 Wed, 2 Jun 2010 08:31:58 +0100 Birmingham Council’s £100,000 a year PR boss Debra Davis – aka the “Canadian Queen of Spin” - has announced that she’s stepping down today to become Director of Communications at the new City TV venture run by her partner Alan Grindley. more http://www.thestirrer.co.uk/june_10/canadian-queen-of-spin-010610.html 47F10FBA-9E96-41EA-A7D6-F7A1EB59B13E Tue, 1 Jun 2010 16:09:13 +0100 Perry Barr MP Khalid Mahmood has said Israel is “out of control” and must be punished following yesterday’s attack on a humanitarian aide flotilla approaching Gaza. He warned that failure to act might spark acts of terrorism. more http://www.thestirrer.co.uk/june_10/out-of-control-israel-010610.html F80A07D7-531C-4E7D-88AE-485C8A8E439F Tue, 1 Jun 2010 16:08:55 +0100 Dozens of protestors gathered in Birmingham last night to condemn Israel’s slaughter of nine pro-Palestinian activists attempting to deliver aid to Gaza. Birmingham blogger and former councillor John Tyrrell was among the demonstrators. more http://www.thestirrer.co.uk/june_10/protest-over-aid-massacre-010610.html 5CFF023E-EA30-4C6C-AC07-D67E2F228A65 Tue, 1 Jun 2010 16:08:28 +0100 Stirrer editor Adrian Goldberg revels in a Symphony Hall show by one of his favourite artists – currently performing a unique selection of childrens’ songs and verses. more http://www.thestirrer.co.uk/june_10/natalie-merchant-010610.html DBF9069F-516E-4A0F-901F-7DF1CAB9AC0F Tue, 1 Jun 2010 16:08:18 +0100 Former Oasis guitarist Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs who played on all the band's classic albums returns to sweaty local gig roots with a show on Saturday at The Public in West Brom. more http://www.thestirrer.co.uk/june_10/the-vortex-010610.html 84BFDB7F-2B40-4D92-A4F3-3F9EE8FD42F6 Tue, 1 Jun 2010 16:08:00 +0100 With David Laws sudden departure from frontline government, Richard Lutz tries to meet up with Birmingham’s Lib Dem deputy council leader Paul Tilsley. He fails. more http://www.thestirrer.co.uk/May_10/oh-tilsley-where-art-thou-310510.html 15AE5D95-4CE2-4DD6-97B1-F1B03ABDCB53 Mon, 31 May 2010 13:08:05 +0100 As we reported at the weekend, Lord Lester is introducing a private members bill to amend the libel laws. George Makin argues that change is long overdue. more http://www.thestirrer.co.uk/May_10/libel-law-310510.html 4055E84A-2183-462B-884C-F109E9E20AD8 Mon, 31 May 2010 13:07:40 +0100 Most music-based local radio is in decline - and no wonder argues legendary jock Robin Valk. But in this passionate polemic taken from his excellent Radio To Go blog he argues there's plenty of scope for hope. more http://www.thestirrer.co.uk/May_10/commercial-break-310510.html 0962CB1E-F47B-41F4-8577-D21AF8B71F4C Mon, 31 May 2010 13:07:23 +0100 Budget constraints have seen staff at Birmingham Council’s planning and regeneration department switch from Alpha Tower in the city centre to Lancaster Circus on the edge of town. One worker – let’s call her Molly Malone – is strugglomg to adapt to her new surroundings. more http://www.thestirrer.co.uk/May_10/end-of-an-error-310510.html 5C193D59-F8C5-4FFE-BE48-99CCA44CED3A Mon, 31 May 2010 13:07:06 +0100 Spongers and scroungers, the feckless and the reckless…yep the usual suspects were rounded up and paraded in full tabloid view this week, as the new Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith unveiled plans for a crackdown on benefits cheats. But who are the real scroungers? more http://www.thestirrer.co.uk/May_10/who-are-the-scroungers-290510.html 9045FD34-A474-4C74-BEB6-CF32BDAAD8F2 Sat, 29 May 2010 23:19:46 +0100 The building of the new Library of Birmingham was predicated on the sale of the current site in Paradise Circus, which would help fund the new project. Alan Clawley claims the sums no longer add up, leading to the creation instead of a “cosy” relationship between local authority and favoured developers. more http://www.thestirrer.co.uk/May_10/changing-times-290510.html BDABF342-B20D-4D66-8827-C2880E79045A Sat, 29 May 2010 23:19:23 +0100 The former frontman of Icelandic oddballs Sigur Ros heads to Birmingham’s 02 Academy in the autumn on his first solo tour. Stirrer editor Adrian Goldberg catches him in action at London’s Kentish Town Forum. more http://www.thestirrer.co.uk/May_10/jonsi-290510.html 83F161C3-6165-48A7-A059-4BEF786CB520 Sat, 29 May 2010 23:19:03 +0100 Thieves stole jewellery from Birmingham's Museum and Art Gallery yesterday afternoon from under the noses of security staff who've been complaining about cuts in their budget. more http://www.thestirrer.co.uk/May_10/cuts-blamed-for-cuts-290510.html 57732759-158E-4C91-8778-27F30394FF8E Sat, 29 May 2010 23:18:42 +0100 Changes to the libel laws were one of the hottest topics of the last session of the new parliament - before being scuppered by West Bromwich East MP Tom Watson among others. Now new legislation has been launched in the Lords. more http://www.thestirrer.co.uk/May_10/its-libel-to-change-290510.html AB446C8C-4356-4E55-97DB-7CB22BAC8FF4 Sat, 29 May 2010 23:18:22 +0100 2010 marks 50 years of independence for 15 African nations and the ever enterprising BIFS - based at Birimingham's Library Theatre - are showing a film each from two of them. Here are next week's selections. more http://www.thestirrer.co.uk/May_10/birmingham-international-film-soc-290510.html 6B5B46D6-6635-4A12-B098-BAB09FC35ABE Sat, 29 May 2010 23:18:01 +0100 The Stirrer recently reported on calls by Birmingham councillor Ayoub Khan to introduce photo ID at the ballot box to combat postal voting fraud. Local Conservative blogger Guy The Mac reckons the city might need independent observers after a day spent touring the city’s polling booths which revealed numerous abuses of the system. more http://www.thestirrer.co.uk/May_10/observer-call-for-elections-280510.html F862C9B0-840E-44A8-8E73-B184546DEF5A Fri, 28 May 2010 09:45:35 +0100 Birmingham photographer Pogus Caesar talks to Richard Lutz about his latest exhibition, his days filming the Bullring under construction and how his snapper-career all started. more http://www.thestirrer.co.uk/May_10/the-lutz-report-pogus-caeser-280510.html 93675394-BED7-48BE-AAAF-0B2112D6B682 Fri, 28 May 2010 09:45:15 +0100 The Stirrer’s less than flattering review of the Toby Jug in Rubery on a recent pub crawl has drawn a polite but firm rebuttal from landlord Robert Cornwell. more http://www.thestirrer.co.uk/May_10/beer-goggles-280510.html EE9C9FAE-37AE-41DD-9942-790836F27799 Fri, 28 May 2010 09:44:52 +0100 Neurophobia - the ‘disease’ you have never heard of, and its more dangerous than swine flu says Dr David Nicholl. more http://www.thestirrer.co.uk/May_10/the-killer-instinct-280510.html 2617442F-B711-4E0A-82ED-22E9E7CC7D5E Fri, 28 May 2010 09:44:33 +0100 Is it time to re-evaluate the British media’s “Mr Nasty” Rupert Murdoch? You bet says Stirrer editor Adrian Goldberg. more http://www.thestirrer.co.uk/May_10/rupert-murdoch-270510.html FCE8FBA6-9929-4C10-AAB1-674AB84C43DB Thu, 27 May 2010 09:24:24 +0100 Residents of Walsall are the third most likely in Britain to be snooped upon by Town Hall officials, but that doesn’t trouble Council leader Mike Bird – in an astonishing interview this week he said he was aiming for top spot. He’s now been given a national “Bad Boy” award and been compared to M in James Bond. more http://www.thestirrer.co.uk/May_10/i-spy-with-270510.html DE5CB88A-A489-405C-9103-9F69E9FB8121 Thu, 27 May 2010 09:24:07 +0100 Is this a sign of things to come at cost cutting Birmingham Council? New Tory Cabinet member Tim Huxtable will have to grapple with three top jobs instead of just one. more http://www.thestirrer.co.uk/May_10/jobs-worth-270510.html CF041516-43FB-4F7E-9323-1571D16C46DC Thu, 27 May 2010 09:23:48 +0100 The controversial English Defence League have called off a planned demonstration against a proposed mosque in Walsall after learning that the biggest single group opposed to the scheme are Muslims. George Makin reports. more http://www.thestirrer.co.uk/May_10/edl-demo-cancelled-270510.html D00AA267-98CF-4C8A-881D-B8BCEE9730C9 Thu, 27 May 2010 09:23:22 +0100 The classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical is at the Alex in Birmingham until Saturday. Terry Wills goes wild for the wild west. more http://www.thestirrer.co.uk/May_10/oklahoma-270510.html 97937477-BBA8-40ED-9A45-6D83725625CF Thu, 27 May 2010 09:23:10 +0100 Walsall Council’s Labour Group is demanding Prime Minster David Cameron launches an investigation into the running of the local Conservative Party after a second Walsall Tory has been arrested in connection with electoral fraud. more http://www.thestirrer.co.uk/May_10/cameron-probe-walsall-270510.html FE6D2D75-059F-48AA-9871-5A30E58206DF Thu, 27 May 2010 09:22:53 +0100