Birmingham & Black Country

Local elections 2026
Local elections 2026

Parties brace for talks over Birmingham's political split

With five parties now holding seats it is unclear how the council is going to be run.
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  1. A police car is parked partly on a kerb outside a building in a street. There are dark benches outside, with blue and white police tape in front of them. Two officers are standing outside brown doors.

  2. Paulette Hamilton pictured against a grey background. She is wearing a green pattered shirt underneath a blue blazer and dark-framed glasses. Her dreadlocks are pinned in a high-side bun.

  3. Noel Kelly pictured with a neutral expression on his face. He is wearing a black body warmer on top of a long sleeved blue shirt.

  4. A brick wall painted with turquoise murals with the words Stay Wild in black lettering on a turquoise background on either side of a shuttered metal door covered in graffiti

  5. The image appears to be an older photograph of two people at a wedding. One person is wearing a bridal veil and headpiece, while the other is dressed in a suit with a wide-collared shirt and tie. Both are holding small glasses, possibly for a toast. The style of clothing and photo quality suggest it may have been taken several decades ago.

  6. A blonde woman in a denim jacket and a teenage girl with glasses stand on either side of a young boy, both holding him up between them. The boy is wearing a red protective helmet and a navy top, and is holding something to his mouth. They are inside what appears to be a restaurant or function room.

  7. A browny/grey building with five columns at the front which are lit up. there are numerous windows on either side of the columns which go to three floors up. The building is ornate with stone arches above the columns. The sky is grey.

  8. A woman wearing a black and white patterned top and a light blue suit jacket is sitting on a red sofa. She is looking to the left of the shot.

  9. A grey metal shutter with orange graffiti is pulled over the entrance to Luna Springs. Murals are painted on the red brick wall around its entrance. Signs either side of the entrance say 'Stay Wild' in blue, with a white 'Luna Springs' sign above.

  10. A woman with blonde tied back hair is wearing a hospital gown and lying down in a hospital bed. Nestled in her armpit is a newborn baby girl in pink knitted hat and outfit

  11. Kate Igbinigie is a black woman with curly hair cut into a bob. She's wearing black, square framed glasses and gold hoop earrings.

  12. A screen on an arena floor showing a rainbow of circular dots, each representing a seat on Birmingham City Council. There are fairly equal shares of dark blue, green, light blue, red, orange and grey.

  13. Two police officers talk in the street next to a police van in a residential street in Birmingham.

  14. A group of young people indoors holding up long dresses on hangers, with clothing racks and costumes in the background.

  15. People stand at a busy outdoor market, with stalls, shoppers, and buildings in the background.

  16. The image is a three-panel collage. On the left, a child holds up a BMX racing number plate marked “01”. In the centre, two beavers are pictured close together in water. On the right, a person wearing glasses, a red head covering and an apron is eating food with a fork.

  17. A man with ginger hair looking solemn, wearing a red and yellow 'Vote Labour' rosette.

  18. Jubilant Reform candidates applaud as they win seats at Sandwell Council

  19. A grey haired man in an election counting venue. he's wearing a black jacket with black and white patterned shirt

  20. Prince William, wearing a blue coat, is cheering with his fist in the air at chest height

  21. Fans in blue scarfs and shirts outside a football stadium entrance.

  22. A number of men in orange reflective clothing and white helmets standing on railway lines with a large carriage in front of them

  23. A black and white still of Charlie Chaplin from The Gold Rush. He is wearing a dark suit and time with a white shirt. He is lifting a shoelace with a fork, with a knife in his right hand

  24. Claudia Winkleman wears a black coat as she smiles at the camera. Behind her is part of a castle and three people in black hoods and golden masks.