Stephen McCabe

'I thought I was settling into cosy retirement'

Former Labour MP, Steve McCabe, has been announced as one of 30 new peers.

The Labour MP has represented the Birmingham constituencies of Hall Green and Selly Oak since 1997.

The council is facing a £760m bill over equal pay claims which it says it cannot afford to pay.

In a letter to director general Tim Davie, 13 MPs say they are "dismayed" at programme-sharing plans.

Tributes are paid across the West Midlands following the death of the Labour Erdington MP.