Council’s Financial Mess and Poor Road Safety Record Challenged by Moseley By-Election Candidate

Charity finance director, Philip Mills, pledges to hold the Labour council in Birmingham to account after the financial ‘mess’ of the bankruptcy – leading to hiked council taxes but poorer services - if he is elected in the Moseley by-election.

Philip has already challenged the council leadership on its poor record on road safety, particularly in relation to dangerous pavement parking, when he asked a question at September’s meeting of the city council.  

He asked: “When will the council take responsibility and ensure effective enforcement of pavement parking?”

The Moseley by-election is set to be a close contest between the Liberal Democrats and Labour, with both parties winning one seat in the ward in the last local elections.

No other party has won in Moseley in the past 20 years. The Green Party and the Conservative Party can’t win in Moseley, each securing less than 10 per cent of the vote in the last local elections. This is not a seat where Reform UK will do well.

But support for the Liberal Democrats is growing and they have a good opportunity to beat Kier Starmer’s candidate and take a step closer to ending the Labour chaos in Birmingham.

Safer streets – tackling speeding and dangerous driving, inconsiderate pavement parking and accessibility, and poor street lighting - is a priority for Philip, after the Labour Council has failed to act on the road safety emergency it called more than a year ago.

Philip has also committed to work:

• with local police to increase visibility and tackle anti-social behaviour; 

• with community groups and businesses to attract investment, improve the local economy, and keep Moseley looking clean and welcoming;

• with Moseley Society to protect the history and character of Moseley, in the best interests of its residents.

Philip said: “Moseley Councillor, Izzy Knowles, and other Liberal Democrat Councillors in Birmingham work hard to serve their communities. 

“Moseley is a special place, with many independent shops, restaurants and cafés, but also a great community, where lots of groups give back, and I want to serve and protect that community from bad council decisions.”

Philip added that as well as being a principled councillor, he would listen and respond to residents.

Leader of Birmingham Liberal Democrats, Councillor Roger Harmer, said:  

“Labour has let Birmingham down badly and is failing to deliver nationally, and we are confident that Labour will lose control of the city council next May.

“Across the country, the Liberal Democrats are not just beating Labour in local elections, but we are also the only party taking on and beating Reform.

“Philip, Izzy and the campaign team have already had hundreds of great conversations with Moseley residents, and the Liberal Democrats will serve those residents even better with two councillors.” 

About Philip: 

• Philip has lived in Birmingham for 40 years and, as well as having friends in Moseley, he worships at St Mary’s Church and over the years has enjoyed visits to the Farmers’ Market, Cannon Hill Park, MAC and Moseley Bog;

• Philip works as the finance director for national charity LionHeart ‘that helps people back onto their feet when life trips them up’;

• Philip also volunteers for local and national charities (e.g. Visionary, The Stringcredibles) and ‘giving back’ is at the heart of his life; 

• Philip also supports the arts and is a patron of both the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) and the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), as well as enjoying opera. He is also a fan of cricket and the Bears, as a member of Warwickshire County Cricket Club (WCCC).

• Philip is severely sight impaired (blind) and knows what it’s like to live with a disability, and will champion accessibility and inclusion for everyone in Moseley;

• Philip’s introductory video can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Sts5nPW3BPc

• Philip’s full question on road safety to the September meeting of Birmingham City Council is here and below: https://youtu.be/UjavlJq1GWM?feature=shared

  “Dangerous parking, including on pavements and junctions, is a danger to pedestrians, particularly those with sight loss, wheelchair users and parents with prams, forcing them into the road or preventing them from getting about safely. When it is reported to the Police, they direct people to the Council, and the Council directs them to the Police. 

  “In December 2024 a scrutiny report into road safety made 16 recommendations to cabinet members, including completing the parking enforcement service review and re-introducing the annual parking report, which hasn't been published since 2019. These recommendations were due for completion in March 2025 but are still outstanding.

  “When will the Council take responsibility and ensure effective enforcement of pavement parking?”

• Follow Philip’s campaign on Facebook @MoseleyLibDems @Mills4Moseley and websites https://moseleylibdems.com and https://birminghamlibdems.org.uk;

• The Moseley by-election will be held on Thursday 23 October 2025, following the death of Labour Councillor Kerry Jenkins. Two councillors represent Moseley ward, and the other seat is held by Liberal Democrat Councillor Izzy Knowles;

• The deadline to register to vote is Tuesday 7 October and to apply for a postal vote is Wednesday 8 October.