After eight years in opposition, Roger Harmer and Julien Pritchard have stepped up as the new leaders of Birmingham City Council, taking charge of the largest local authority in the UK with a £4.4 billion budget. Harmer, from the Liberal Democrats, serves as council leader, while Pritchard, representing the Green Party, is his deputy. Together, they helm a minority coalition that includes 19 Green Party councillors, 12 Liberal Democrats, and seven Better Birmingham Independents — a combined 38 seats out of 101.
Their coalition lacks an outright majority, meaning they must collaborate with other parties to pass major policies. Both leaders have promised to put aside party rivalries in favor of compromise and shared values, aiming to “restore hope” to a city grappling with financial difficulties, ongoing bin strikes, and the pressures of poverty and rising demand for services.
Roger Harmer, 60, is a seasoned local politician representing Acocks Green, with intermittent service since 1995 and full-time commitment over the past decade. He leads the fifth-largest group on the council and takes on the council leader role with an annual allowance of £76,531. Harmer is known for his pragmatic approach, valuing diversity and prioritizing action over endless strategy discussions. He emphasizes the immediate need to address basic services, including waste management and litter control, to rebuild trust with Birmingham residents.
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Julien Pritchard, 40, a lifelong Birmingham resident and the city’s first Green councillor elected in 2018, leads the council’s second-largest group. He has a background in campaigning, particularly around transport and community advocacy. His deputy leader role comes with a £65,215 annual allowance. Pritchard champions collaborative, value-driven politics and expresses commitment to green initiatives like making roads safer and investing in parks. The leadership duo plans for Pritchard to take over as council leader in two years, with Harmer becoming deputy—a rotation some critics dismiss but which they defend as fitting the new political landscape.
Despite their collaborative pledges, the coalition faced early controversy by allocating all seven scrutiny committee chair positions to the Conservatives, excluding Reform UK and Labour, leading to accusations of backroom deals. Additionally, pressure has mounted to remove Councillor Kamel Hawwash from his cabinet post due to allegations related to his political views on the Israel-Palestine conflict. The leadership has so far resisted these calls, standing firm amid criticism from multiple parties and local groups.
Both leaders stress that addressing Birmingham’s day-to-day challenges is their utmost priority. Harmer remarks, “The real issue has been not in creating strategies, but actually delivering results that improve the lives of our residents.” Pritchard adds, “This coalition is about hope — for a fairer, greener, and more just Birmingham.”
Together, Harmer and Pritchard represent a new chapter for Birmingham City Council—balancing diverse political perspectives with a shared resolve to meet the city’s pressing needs head-on.