Leader of Birmingham City Council resigns over bin dispute

The Leader of Birmingham City Council John Clancy has resigned just 21 months after his appointment, blaming 'frenzied media speculation' over the bin dispute.

There's been mounting pressure on Mr Clancy to step aside ever since a deal he personally brokered with striking refuse workers collapsed 10 days ago.

A personal involvement criticised by some as being beyond his authority as leader.

Afterwards he was adamant even pressure from within his own party wouldn't make him walk. This was Councillor Clancy speaking to ITV News Central correspondent Andy Bevan last week.

But on Friday there was an unprecedented move by all of the city's Labour MPs, who wrote a letter to the leader describing him as an 'obstacle' to resolving the dispute.

And tonight ahead of another meeting in which is was expected more of his own Labour Councillors would turn against him in a possible vote of no confidence, he's decided to go.

In a statement he said:

Unsurprisingly the reaction from opposition councillors has been positive to today's news, but they are maintaining pressure for the Labour cabinet to resolve the strike and get refuse workers back to their regular schedule.

The union Unite at the centre of this dispute is now also calling for the council's Chief Executive to resign too.

But as the strike enters its 75th day tomorrow, it's now not only the streets that are in a mess, but a council house too.