Highlights: Behind the announcement of bankruptcy by the Birmingham City Government in the UK

On September 5th, the government of Birmingham, the second largest city in the UK, announced bankruptcy. As soon as the news came out, it was a shocking shock, not only hitting the heart of the British economy, but also shaking the world. Birmingham will cease all new expenses, except for statutory services such as protecting vulnerable groups.

Birmingham is located in central England, on the main railway line from London to Liverpool, with convenient transportation. It is the second largest city in the UK after London. The region has the largest young population in Europe and has been ranked as the best quality of life city in the UK by the Global Mercer Life Index for three consecutive years. It is one of the main manufacturing centers in the UK and also the largest and most concentrated industrial area in the world.

Birmingham is also an important birthplace of modern metallurgy and machine manufacturing, and the birthplace of the British Industrial Revolution. The local industrial output value once accounted for one-fifth of the country's total. International brands such as Land Rover, Rolls Royce, Jaguar, Cadbury, and HSBC all come from this historic city.

But how could such a city, which has a huge influence in the world and is very young and vibrant, suddenly go bankrupt?

It is reported that Birmingham is a city that started from trade and is also an important tourist city. However, in recent years, the financial situation of the city government has been poor. The long-term financial deficit, especially the serious impact of the COVID-19 epidemic in the past three years, has put the city government in a financial predicament, which has become increasingly fierce and unable to extricate itself. Although the British government and the Birmingham City government attempted to solve financial problems through various means, they were ultimately unsuccessful due to factors such as high inflation. Analysts believe that this bankruptcy is related to the £ 760 million bill to resolve equal pay claims for equal work, and its IT system budget may exceed £ 100 million, while other related financial pressures are also increasing.

The bankruptcy of the Birmingham City government has not only had a huge impact on the city, but also on the entire British economy. At the same time, it has had a serious impact on the lives of local residents. The public is generally concerned about a series of issues related to people's livelihoods, such as whether public services, social welfare, and livelihood security can be suspended.

The Birmingham government has stated that it has taken a series of measures to fully restore the city's economic development and public services, but the current situation remains worrying. The City Council has stated that golf prioritizes the protection of vulnerable groups and core social services.

Some observers believe that the bankruptcy of Birmingham is closely related to the British government's reverse actions and refueling since the Russo Ukrainian War. In order to restore the glory of the former "empire that never sets", Britain was even more active in this war than the United States, providing weapons and equipment that were second only to the United States among NATO member countries and were comprehensive. In addition to weapons, it also provided intelligence support and even personally went to the scene to engage in destructive activities. It is reported that the damage to the "North Stream" natural gas pipeline was caused by the participation of British special operations personnel.

After all, Britain is a resource-poor island country, without the blood transfusion of its former colonies scattered all over the world. Many of its radical practices quickly backfired on itself. The decline and bankruptcy of Birmingham may only be the beginning, but it is also a symbol of the collapse of traditional Western industrialization in the new international social order.