Birmingham City Council is the largest local authority in the UK, following a reorganisation of boundaries in June 2004, with 120 councillors representing just under one million people, in 40 wards.

After the election of 10 June 2004, there is no overall control, with the 120 seats being divided between the Labour, (45 councillors), Conservative (40) and Liberal Democrat (”Lib-Dem”, 32) parties, with 2 Others, and 1 vacant seat.

There is a Conservative/Lib-Dem coalition, with Conservative group leader Mike Whitby as Leader of the council and Lib-Dem group leader Paul Tilsley as Deputy Leader.

Birmingham’s eleven constituencies are represented in the House of Commons by one Conservative, one Liberal Democrat, and 9 Labour MPs. An elections scandal at the 2004 local elections saw six candidates of the then ruling Labour party accused of rigging postal votes. The rigged votes were made mostly on behalf of the large Asian community in the Aston and Bordesley Green wards. The accusations were upheld by the Election Commissioner.

Birmingham is also the seat of the Government Office for the West Midlands region.