Given the first opportunity to fire questions at Labour’s new cabinet the opposition clearly had the head of education and children’s social care Brigid Jones in their sights.
Her appointment was, to all but Labour leader Sir Albert Bore’s closest associates, a bit of a surprise.
Having served as councillor for Selly Oak for just a year some muttered that Coun Jones had not paid her dues.
Unlike many politicians she does not seem to crave the limelight, is not prone to make grand speeches, and when she does speak in public is very understated.
It is not surprising that, apart from almost being called Bridget Jones (of the Diary fame) she has flown under the media radar.
So, during the 25 minutes of council time set aside to quiz the less senior members of the Labour Cabinet, she was singled out for a series of questions from the Conservative benches.
Her colleagues got off lightly by comparison with barely a question each.
First up to challenge the Cabinet member for children and family services was Deirdre Alden (Edbaston), who had dug into Coun Jones’ school days and asked if they had shaped her views on education.
The Bishop Bell CofE School in Eastbourne was almost unique in having consistently improved its exam results since 1997 – which includes the period Coun Jones was there. What had Brigid learned from this that she could bring to education in Birmingham Coun Alden enquired.
Coun Jones explained that reasons for improvement are complex and there had also been major investment in the school and buildings.
Next up was Alan Rudge who enquired about the Boldmere school places row – a local issue of concern to residents in his Sutton Vesey ward.
And finally came the attempted trick question on academies from her Tory shadow James Bird.
He asked if she was in favour of academy schools or not and her views on proposed strike action by the NUT and NASUWT teaching unions over plans to convert several primary schools to academies.
This has been a political hot potato for several years. Academies have been advocated by both Labour and Conservative Governments. Birmingham’s last Tory education chief, Les Lawrence, was famously opposed to academies, which caused him to clash with a string of education secretaries including Michael Gove.
It was wondered if Coun Jones would support the Government policy or support the unions.
Instead she played a straight bat and said the council would work in partnership with those academy schools.
But added: “I do not believe I said I supported Conservative party policy on academies.”
She said that she was talking to unions, parents and governors at schools involved to work out the best way forward for those schools. It was one of those answers which leaves room for interpretation and buys time for the Cabinet member.
If the Conservatives thought they had found a weak link in the Cabinet it is unlikely to be Coun Jones.
This was a view bourne out by her former Lib Dem councillor Alastair Dow who said that he had been impressed by her during their 12 months serving the Selly Oak ward.
There is of course another explanation for the attack, given by Alan Rudge – that she is likely to get more questions because “her title and role is the only cabinet position I can understand”.
There was a Beatles theme to the line of questioning posed by Councillor Deirdre Alden over Sir Albert Bore’s two jobs.
She questioned whether Sir Albert could fulfil his five days a week at the council and three days a week at chairing the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
“We all remember the hit Eight Days A Week, but we don’t have to live it,” she said before adding that he must endure a Hard Days Night after running both the city council and the University Hospital Trust.
The two jobs, among the highest profile in Birmingham’s public sector, pay a combined total of £110,000 a year.
Sir Albert has been robust in his claim that he can handle both jobs – pointing out that a good trade union negotiates for a full time role of 37 hours a week.
“My attendance and hours at Birmingham City Council are far in excess of that and my attendance at the hospital trust is more than the requirement,” he explained.
It was also muttered by his partner Victoria Quinn that he puts in enough hours and work for ten jobs.
But the Tories are not the only ones concerned at the two jobs as Sir Albert has also facing calls from some in his own Labour group to stand down from one of the roles.
They are not only worried about the time issue but the possibility of a conflict of interest.
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The council’s first ever public question time began brightly with resident Lesley Adams enquiring about the location of a funfair in Cannon Hill Park.
But there then followed a couple of attacks on the Tory-Lib Dems which were helpful to the new Labour council leadership.
They may be people genuinely upset with actions of the previous council and hopeful of a change of tack, but opposition councillors were quick to suggest that the questions were partisan and planted.
Even if there is a whiff of that it will not help the new system bed in.
I suggested last month that the vetting process must guard against public questions coming from would-be candidates and party activists otherwise it becomes a training ground for politicians.
And it would be interesting to see what questions were rejected?
