Birmingham City Council leader John Cotton has robustly defended his style of leadership, emphasising "grown up" discussions with government over public confrontation. He rejected suggestions that his approach meant he was putting party loyalty ahead of the city's needs.
A Question of Style and Substance
The Labour council leader faced questions during an end-of-year Q&A with BirminghamLive about his reluctance to publicly pressure the government last year over the two-child benefit cap. This welfare policy was widely blamed for pushing more families into poverty in Birmingham than anywhere else in the UK.
Coun Cotton was asked why he did not support a Liberal Democrat council motion in December 2024 that demanded immediate government action to lift the cap. Instead, his majority Labour group backed a watered-down amendment. The motion also included measures from the Birmingham Live Child Poverty Emergency campaign, such as appointing a dedicated child poverty champion, which were rejected.
Critics argued he only publicly fought for the change once it became clear the government intended to lift the cap in Chancellor Rachel Reeves's November 2025 Budget.
'The Art of the Practical'
When challenged on whether this showed he was under the influence of national Labour leaders who selected him in 2023, Cotton was clear in his defence. "I think child poverty is a scandal that has disfigured this city for too long," he stated.
He explained his philosophy: "I have never been afraid of speaking out against any national line but what I will say is that I deal in the art of the practical and getting things done." He argued that passing resolutions which don't deliver change was easy, but his focus was on collaboration to achieve results.
Cotton said he was cognisant of the difficult finances inherited by the government and his own administration, preferring a strategy of "sustained lobbying" behind the scenes. "I am glad to see that as a result of that sustained lobbying the two child benefit cap has been lifted," he added.
Rejecting the 'War by Megaphone'
Asked if Birmingham residents would have preferred him "banging the table" for urgent action, as some other local leaders had done, Cotton outlined his core belief. "You need a constructive grown up relationship with government if you are going to deliver change," he responded.
He firmly rejected the idea of a public fight, stating: "What I’m not going to do is engage in a war by megaphone with Whitehall decision makers when I think there is a more constructive relationship you can have that delivers change."
Concluding, Cotton acknowledged his decisions were not always popular but asserted his priority was tangible outcomes. "Politics should not always be about being popular, it’s about getting things done that matter to people," he said.
