Birmingham pushed ‘over edge’, says Angela Rayner, as commissioners prepare to run city

The housing secretary, Michael Gove, announced on Tuesday that commissioners will run Birmingham city council, the UK’s largest authority, after the council issued a section 114 notice stating it did not have the resources to balance its budget. Speaking in parliament, Gove said: ‘Poor leadership, weak governance, woeful mismanagement of employee relations and ineffective service delivery have harmed the city.’

The deputy Labour leader, Angela Rayner, hit back: ‘Birmingham has experienced some of the most severe cuts of the last 13 years.’ She added: ‘Local authorities across the country are struggling and after 13 years he can’t possibly say it is all their fault.’

Commissioners to run Birmingham city council, Michael Gove says