Backbench Business Committee

14 April 2026

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Backbench Business Committee Tue, 14 Apr 2026 House of Commons

00:04 - 00:27

Speaker 1

Order. Welcome to the meeting of the backbench business committee where we'll be considering applications from colleagues for debates in both the chamber and in Westminster Hall. The first application is from Graham Morris, which is for a debate on the Bourbonian bin strikes, and this is for a half day debate in the chamber. Graham, do want to present your case?

00:27 - 03:05

Speaker 2

Thanks very much, chairman. And could I begin by thanking you chairman and the committee members and indeed the committee clerks for their advice in in compiling debate and thanks very much for taking time to consider the application. As I'm sure all the committee members are aware, Birmingham is currently experiencing severe and ongoing disruption to its waste collection, refuse collection service due to an industrial dispute. It's actually now gone on for for more than a year. It started on the March 25 in 2025.

Refuse workers that are represented by Unite and mister Blackman, I've got to declare an interest on a member of Unite, began an all out strike in March 2025 following changes that were imposed by Birmingham City Council that removed key roles and reduced pay for for some workers by up to £8,000 a year. The dispute escalated further in December when agency workers who were employed by the local authority themselves took strike action raising serious concerns about work workplace practices And indeed since then negotiations have stalled and there's currently no clear route to resolution. Residents are facing significant concerns. Our refuse has gone collected for extended periods building up in the streets and communal areas. A major incident had been declared and there are growing concerns about public health, vermin, and environmental damage.

As you may tell from my accent, mister Blackman, I'm not Birmingham MP. However, MPs across Birmingham and indeed the West Midlands are reporting very high volumes of complaints from constituents. And there's been some quite recent national press coverage about flight being not not within the boundaries of Birmingham, but within the boundaries of neighboring boroughs, in in in including Solly Hull and Sutton Colfitt and a number of other areas adjacent. And while this is formally a local dispute, its impact and implications are very much wider. We've got 26 members who signed the application, 13 from the government party and 13 from the opposition parties including, her majesty's, opposition and a wide selection of other parties including one reform MP.

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