Greens deputy leader sorry over bin strike question

The deputy leader of the Green Party has apologised to the residents of Birmingham after admitting she did not know enough about the city's near two-year bin strike to comment on why it was yet to be resolved.

Rachel Millward said she had not been up to date with the dispute when questioned about it during an interview with BBC Radio WM - part of a series of 12 consecutive interviews with regional TV and radio stations across England.

In a minority coalition with the Liberal Democrats and independents, Millward's party has for several months been running Birmingham City Council, which has been in a standoff with members of the union Unite over pay and job roles.

In a post on X following the interview with BBC Radio WM's Ed James, Millward said she had had to "face the reality" of not having up-to-date information on the strike.

She said she was "so sorry to the people of Birmingham" and added that she would return to the air to discuss the issue "asap".

When asked during the interview why the dispute remained unresolved despite recent suggestions of an imminent deal, Millward had said: "I don't know, because I don't have the briefing."

Millward appeared on James's show ahead of the Green Party's annual conference which starts in Brighton on Friday.

Challenging Millward on "the biggest issue we have in our city", James asked the politician: "Is Birmingham not important to the Green Party?"

She replied: "Birmingham is incredibly important to the Green Party. The whole nation is."

A council spokesperson said extensive efforts continued to find a "lawful and reasonable" end to the dispute.

An all-out strike, which began in March 2025, initially centred on the council's decision to remove Waste Recycling and Collection Officer (WRCO) roles.

Unite The Union claimed about 170 affected workers faced losing up to £8,000 a year as a result. The council has disputed those figures.

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