1,800 job losses at Birmingham City Council

"We have got the four horsemen of the apocalypse identified as the sale of assets, reduced staff, reduced services and increased council tax to pay for it"

This is how respected grandee Councillor Paul Tilsley described the four ways that the council would face major problems asa result of the cuts. 

It has been less than a year since then leader of Birmingham Labour, Cllr Ian Ward proudly described the City's best financial position in 30 years, hailing a "Golden Decade" for Birmingham. Whilst there were problems, there were also reasons back then to be proud. 

Today marks one of those dark days when the depth of Birmingham Labour's austerity, that is yet to impact the city, is laid bare. The frustration we feel as a council group pales in comparison to that of the staff who are taking this in. 

With increased council tax and reduced services too; staff that are Birmingham residents set to be among those who have the most to lose from this financial crisis. 1,800 staff from 600 posts look set for redundancy. We acknowledge that these are very difficult times for staff.