The Dispatch
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Birmingham's new quality newspaper: sending local stories to your inbox. Always looking for new writers & new stories.
That's not all. The Ahmed's HMO is run by Dawson Housing - a company set up by the former CEO of one of the most controversial providers in the city, Reliance.
January 14, 2026 at 5:08 PM
That's not all. The Ahmed's HMO is run by Dawson Housing - a company set up by the former CEO of one of the most controversial providers in the city, Reliance.
Colin Jordan was a post-war fascist from Smethwick, who was obsessed with mysticism and bizarre rituals.
When he married Françoise Dior - the fashion designer's niece - the couple cut their ring fingers letting the blood mingle as it dripped onto a copy of Mein Kampf.
When he married Françoise Dior - the fashion designer's niece - the couple cut their ring fingers letting the blood mingle as it dripped onto a copy of Mein Kampf.
January 10, 2026 at 10:58 AM
Colin Jordan was a post-war fascist from Smethwick, who was obsessed with mysticism and bizarre rituals.
When he married Françoise Dior - the fashion designer's niece - the couple cut their ring fingers letting the blood mingle as it dripped onto a copy of Mein Kampf.
When he married Françoise Dior - the fashion designer's niece - the couple cut their ring fingers letting the blood mingle as it dripped onto a copy of Mein Kampf.
West End actor Andy premiered his take on Santa in the Noughties, at a Birmingham leisure complex famous for its stabbings.
20 years later and he's still donning the red suit, having witnessed tears, tantrums and even the odd Christmas miracle!
20 years later and he's still donning the red suit, having witnessed tears, tantrums and even the odd Christmas miracle!
December 20, 2025 at 10:33 AM
West End actor Andy premiered his take on Santa in the Noughties, at a Birmingham leisure complex famous for its stabbings.
20 years later and he's still donning the red suit, having witnessed tears, tantrums and even the odd Christmas miracle!
20 years later and he's still donning the red suit, having witnessed tears, tantrums and even the odd Christmas miracle!
Also in today's issue: does hard-to-reach Hall Green North councillor Akhlaq Ahmed live in Birmingham? Our investigations suggest he might not, despite the fact he has been selected by Labour to stand again in next year's local elections.
December 17, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Also in today's issue: does hard-to-reach Hall Green North councillor Akhlaq Ahmed live in Birmingham? Our investigations suggest he might not, despite the fact he has been selected by Labour to stand again in next year's local elections.
The McDonalds ramp is an unexpectedly iconic spot in the city centre, beloved by frazzled shoppers, teenagers and bemused passers-by.
But what do we know about its grand history as the Exchange building?
But what do we know about its grand history as the Exchange building?
December 17, 2025 at 1:08 PM
The McDonalds ramp is an unexpectedly iconic spot in the city centre, beloved by frazzled shoppers, teenagers and bemused passers-by.
But what do we know about its grand history as the Exchange building?
But what do we know about its grand history as the Exchange building?
The CBSO's audiences are on the mature side. In 30 years, most of the current attendees (to put it as politely as possible) will have bowed out of life.
Can the historic orchestra persuade young ppl that classical music is for them - and keep the show going?
Can the historic orchestra persuade young ppl that classical music is for them - and keep the show going?
December 13, 2025 at 10:11 AM
The CBSO's audiences are on the mature side. In 30 years, most of the current attendees (to put it as politely as possible) will have bowed out of life.
Can the historic orchestra persuade young ppl that classical music is for them - and keep the show going?
Can the historic orchestra persuade young ppl that classical music is for them - and keep the show going?
'Dirty' games and scathing letters - Birmingham City Council faces backlash for its approach to selling off parks.
December 3, 2025 at 10:07 AM
'Dirty' games and scathing letters - Birmingham City Council faces backlash for its approach to selling off parks.
Our Christmas quiz is fast approaching! Make a team, test your general knowledge and ring in the festive season with The Dispatch.
£100 prize up for grabs 💰
£100 prize up for grabs 💰
November 26, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Our Christmas quiz is fast approaching! Make a team, test your general knowledge and ring in the festive season with The Dispatch.
£100 prize up for grabs 💰
£100 prize up for grabs 💰
“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...
Read the full story on The Dispatch.
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/red-flags-th...
October 4, 2025 at 6:52 AM
“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...
Read the full story on The Dispatch.
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/red-flags-th...
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. 💰
September 24, 2025 at 12:04 PM
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. 💰
These joy rides came to define Phillips’ work on canvas, where he sliced apart, multiplied and reassembled mechanical car parts, signs and slogans, industrial designs and pin up girls.
September 10, 2025 at 6:44 AM
These joy rides came to define Phillips’ work on canvas, where he sliced apart, multiplied and reassembled mechanical car parts, signs and slogans, industrial designs and pin up girls.
As a teenager, pop-artist Peter Phillips spent evenings and weekends cruising from Selly Oak Road, through the suburbs and towards the city centre.
"I sat in the front seat… until we picked up girls — which was the whole gesture of it. That’s what you do when you have a car.”
"I sat in the front seat… until we picked up girls — which was the whole gesture of it. That’s what you do when you have a car.”
September 10, 2025 at 6:44 AM
As a teenager, pop-artist Peter Phillips spent evenings and weekends cruising from Selly Oak Road, through the suburbs and towards the city centre.
"I sat in the front seat… until we picked up girls — which was the whole gesture of it. That’s what you do when you have a car.”
"I sat in the front seat… until we picked up girls — which was the whole gesture of it. That’s what you do when you have a car.”
In the West Midlands, dozens of architecturally valuable buildings stand derelict, seemingly awaiting their fates.
From the monumental brutalism of the Smallbrook Queensway Ringway Centre to the grandeur of Methodist Central Hall.
From the monumental brutalism of the Smallbrook Queensway Ringway Centre to the grandeur of Methodist Central Hall.
August 20, 2025 at 6:14 AM
In the West Midlands, dozens of architecturally valuable buildings stand derelict, seemingly awaiting their fates.
From the monumental brutalism of the Smallbrook Queensway Ringway Centre to the grandeur of Methodist Central Hall.
From the monumental brutalism of the Smallbrook Queensway Ringway Centre to the grandeur of Methodist Central Hall.
Jones herself thinks the party has become increasingly censorious and undemocratic. As she put it: “I didn’t leave the Labour party. The Labour party left me.”
August 13, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Jones herself thinks the party has become increasingly censorious and undemocratic. As she put it: “I didn’t leave the Labour party. The Labour party left me.”
A catch up: Cllr Morrall was suspended from the Conservatives after a stalking and harassment charge in 2023. He was convicted of harassment in 2024.
He's still a councillor and says he's also a Conservative. Brum Conservatives say differently.
He's still a councillor and says he's also a Conservative. Brum Conservatives say differently.
August 7, 2025 at 9:02 AM
A catch up: Cllr Morrall was suspended from the Conservatives after a stalking and harassment charge in 2023. He was convicted of harassment in 2024.
He's still a councillor and says he's also a Conservative. Brum Conservatives say differently.
He's still a councillor and says he's also a Conservative. Brum Conservatives say differently.
Did you catch our story yesterday about the curious case of the (maybe?) Conservative councillor in Frankley Great Park?
Northfield MP Laurence Turner says he's written to the Conservative Party as a result of our story, asking for clarity on Simon Morrall's membership status.
Northfield MP Laurence Turner says he's written to the Conservative Party as a result of our story, asking for clarity on Simon Morrall's membership status.
August 7, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Did you catch our story yesterday about the curious case of the (maybe?) Conservative councillor in Frankley Great Park?
Northfield MP Laurence Turner says he's written to the Conservative Party as a result of our story, asking for clarity on Simon Morrall's membership status.
Northfield MP Laurence Turner says he's written to the Conservative Party as a result of our story, asking for clarity on Simon Morrall's membership status.
As for Birmingham's Conservatives? They don't seem to know either. “Since he was expelled, he’s attempted to rejoin various Conservative associations across the city but has been refused membership each time,” one Tory councillor alleges.
But Morrall says he IS a member again.
But Morrall says he IS a member again.
August 6, 2025 at 11:19 AM
As for Birmingham's Conservatives? They don't seem to know either. “Since he was expelled, he’s attempted to rejoin various Conservative associations across the city but has been refused membership each time,” one Tory councillor alleges.
But Morrall says he IS a member again.
But Morrall says he IS a member again.
In 2024, Morrall pleaded guilty to a single charge of harassment. The court heard Morrall and his ex had a mostly 'secret' relationship, because of family 'disapproval'.
In documents seen by The Dispatch, it was claimed this animosity was due to them being a “Labour family”.
In documents seen by The Dispatch, it was claimed this animosity was due to them being a “Labour family”.
August 6, 2025 at 11:19 AM
In 2024, Morrall pleaded guilty to a single charge of harassment. The court heard Morrall and his ex had a mostly 'secret' relationship, because of family 'disapproval'.
In documents seen by The Dispatch, it was claimed this animosity was due to them being a “Labour family”.
In documents seen by The Dispatch, it was claimed this animosity was due to them being a “Labour family”.
Until last year, Simon Morrall was a great hope for Birmingham’s Conservatives. He increased his vote share in 2022, when his party was waning nationally and locally.
This all changed in 2023, when Cllr Morrall was charged with the stalking and harassment of an ex-partner.
This all changed in 2023, when Cllr Morrall was charged with the stalking and harassment of an ex-partner.
August 6, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Until last year, Simon Morrall was a great hope for Birmingham’s Conservatives. He increased his vote share in 2022, when his party was waning nationally and locally.
This all changed in 2023, when Cllr Morrall was charged with the stalking and harassment of an ex-partner.
This all changed in 2023, when Cllr Morrall was charged with the stalking and harassment of an ex-partner.
When The Dispatch was asked to get to the bottom of a mystery - was Cllr Simon Morrall, convicted of harassment last year, back in the Conservatives and/or running for re-election in 2026? - we thought it would be an easy task.
We were wrong.
We were wrong.
August 6, 2025 at 11:17 AM
When The Dispatch was asked to get to the bottom of a mystery - was Cllr Simon Morrall, convicted of harassment last year, back in the Conservatives and/or running for re-election in 2026? - we thought it would be an easy task.
We were wrong.
We were wrong.
🗞️ Want a shot of easily digestible West Midlands news to start your week?
Great, because every Monday, The Dispatch publishes a totally FREE morning round-up of the latest headlines, reads and events coming up.
Today there's long reads on HS2 & culture war talks.
Great, because every Monday, The Dispatch publishes a totally FREE morning round-up of the latest headlines, reads and events coming up.
Today there's long reads on HS2 & culture war talks.
July 21, 2025 at 12:29 PM
🗞️ Want a shot of easily digestible West Midlands news to start your week?
Great, because every Monday, The Dispatch publishes a totally FREE morning round-up of the latest headlines, reads and events coming up.
Today there's long reads on HS2 & culture war talks.
Great, because every Monday, The Dispatch publishes a totally FREE morning round-up of the latest headlines, reads and events coming up.
Today there's long reads on HS2 & culture war talks.
But the situation has had a lasting impact. “I feel we’ve been tagged a bit as being this bad guy,” he says, adding the Stirchley scene can feel like a bit of a closed circle at times. “It can feel a bit snooty.”
July 10, 2025 at 8:50 AM
But the situation has had a lasting impact. “I feel we’ve been tagged a bit as being this bad guy,” he says, adding the Stirchley scene can feel like a bit of a closed circle at times. “It can feel a bit snooty.”
Chloe, who founded seasonal small plates restaurant Verbena in 2020, directly opposite Deadbeat, was one of those who opposed the application.
“I’m not against late licenses in general, but [...] even if Deadbeat were responsible, would the next people be?”
“I’m not against late licenses in general, but [...] even if Deadbeat were responsible, would the next people be?”
July 10, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Chloe, who founded seasonal small plates restaurant Verbena in 2020, directly opposite Deadbeat, was one of those who opposed the application.
“I’m not against late licenses in general, but [...] even if Deadbeat were responsible, would the next people be?”
“I’m not against late licenses in general, but [...] even if Deadbeat were responsible, would the next people be?”
TRANSPORT.
After decades of work, Greater Manchester now has something approaching a comprehensive rapid transit network.
What really counts for a city’s economy is people’s ability to move within the city region.
After decades of work, Greater Manchester now has something approaching a comprehensive rapid transit network.
What really counts for a city’s economy is people’s ability to move within the city region.
July 4, 2025 at 8:32 AM
TRANSPORT.
After decades of work, Greater Manchester now has something approaching a comprehensive rapid transit network.
What really counts for a city’s economy is people’s ability to move within the city region.
After decades of work, Greater Manchester now has something approaching a comprehensive rapid transit network.
What really counts for a city’s economy is people’s ability to move within the city region.