While there may be no local elections in Birmingham on May 2nd 2024, unless you are in Bournbrook and Selly Park ward where there is a byelection, we will be having the opportunity to vote in the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Mayoral election taking place on the same day.
The WMCA comprises the 7 local authorities of the West Midlands conurbation namely Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton. The Metro Mayor in effect oversees the work of the West Midlands Combined Authority which in theory complements and adds to the work of the 7 local authorities. The Metro Mayor is the only directly elected role on the WMCA; all the other political spaces are filled by councillors from the 7 local authorities.
The WMCA has certain responsibilities with respect to a variety of environmental and social strategies and as such Friends of the Earth and a variety of partners from across the region lobbies and campaigns at this level on a variety of fronts. Learn much more about the role and its responsibilities here.
As such Friends of the Earth have produced a number of campaign assets in the run up to the election for you to use. These comprise our West Midlands Climate Action Plan and a pledge that we would like to see all of the candidates sign.
At the moment there are five candidates for the role of West Midlands Metro Mayor from May 2024 and the term of office will be for 4 years. They will be responsible for delivering important stages of the regions Climate Commitments through their Climate Strategy #2041 which we think is not going to do enough and not do it quickly enough and launching a Local Nature Recovery Strategy as of March 2025. Those five candidates are as of late March:
- Conservative and Unionist Party – Andy Street (andy@andy4wm.co.uk)
- Green Party – Siobhan Harper Nunes (info@siobhan4wmmayor.co.uk)
- Labour Party – Richard Parker (richard_parker@labour.org.uk)
- Liberal Democrat Party – Sunny Virk (sunny@birminghamlibdems.org.uk)
- Reform uk – Elaine Williams (walsallandbloxwich@reformuk.com)
So far Sunny and Siobhan have signed up so can you reach out to Andy, Elaine and Richard asking them to sign our pledge.
Do reach out to them and encourage them to sign the pledge as well as urging them to read and digest our West Midlands Climate Action Plan.
I think you have to come out against spending – is it £15 billion by 2040 or £6.1 billion by 2032 for mainly Metro and Sprint tram extensions? Both are bandied about.
The £15 billion for 150 miles and 8 lines and 380 tram stops by 2040 is Andy’s manifesto from Jan 2020. The £6.1 billion from 2017 to 2032 is from TfWM’s announcement in March 2024.
Rough rule of thumb is:-
More money spent MEANS more greenhouse gas emissions emitted to change the chemical composition of the atmosphere for the worse. Therefore, FoE should be on my side. Why are you not?
Simply concentrate on stopping the destruction of railway lines, put the trains back, NOT trams or buildings and get Fare-Free Public Transport for EVERYONE not just my age group!