‘Rising tide of hatred’ a factor as ex-deputy leader exits
Stalwart Jones had variety of top roles in 13 years of council service
BIRMINGHAM City Council’s former deputy leader Brigid Jones has announced she is stepping down as a councillor after 13 years.
She said the rising tide of hatred against politicians has played a part in her decision.
Cllr Jones, who represents Bournbrook and Selly Park, said she was stepping down to take up new challenges outside politics it is understood she is taking up a new job.
But in a statement, the 36-year-old said: “Whilst this is a decision I’m taking for purely personal reasons, I can’t pretend that the rising tide of hatred against politicians hasn’t been a small part of it, as has the silence from some who should have acted.
“But these are a minority – most people are wonderful and it’s a true privilege of this job to meet them and work with them.”
Cllr Jones was caught up in the fallout when the Labour Party ousted ex-leader Cllr Ian Ward last year, resulting in them both losing their senior roles. She had served as his deputy since 2017.
While Cllr Ward rejected the decision, Cllr Jones was later made Cabinet member with oversight for financial affairs in the new team led by Cllr John Cotton.
Prior to that she was cabinet member for children’s services for five years.
This put her in the forefront of the fallout from the Trojan Horse affair that alleged a potential Islamic takeover of some city schools.
She has also recently held the portfolios for devolution and levelling up in the West Midlands Combined Authority.
Last year she also put herself forward for selection as the Labour candidate to take on sitting Tory MP Gary Sambrook in Northfield, losing out to Alex Aitken.
Cllr Jones was personally targeted in a union campaign during a dispute between the council and home care workers in 2019, and has previously spoken about that as a distressing experience.
She has also spoken out about the challenges that face women, and young women in particular, in the public eye, describing social media as a particular outlet for hate and misogyny.
Earlier this year Cllr Jones said she had not considered leaving the party or her job after party officials appeared to turn on her. Labour council leader John Cotton said: “She has been central to the delivery of a difficult budget that will start to get the council back onto a sound financial footing. I wish her the very best of luck in whatever she decides to do next.”
He said he would now personally pick up the finance brief in the interim. Birmingham City Council will now have to call a by-election for a new councillor for the ward of Bournbrook and Selly Park.
The city’s opposition Conservative group of councillors wished her well. Group leader Cllr Robert Alden said he knew she “came into politics to try and make a difference like almost all councillors do”.
His deputy Cllr Ewan Mackey added: “Public life is always difficult, and right now public life in Birmingham is particularly difficult. I think Cllr Jones has done the right thing here though, and I really do wish her well in future.”
However, he added: “Responsibility for the administration’s failings must be shared across the Labour Cabinet. Now that Brigid has done the right thing, it’s time for Cllr Cotton to seriously think about whether he shouldn’t be joining her.”
I can’t pretend that the rising tide of hatred against politicians hasn’t been a small part of it Brigid Jones