Wendy Morton MP ramps up attacks over transport, housing and transparency
Wendy Morton MP has launched a scathing attack on West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker, accusing him of “political point-scoring” and “rewriting history” over key regeneration and transport projects across the region.
The Aldridge-Brownhills MP, who has become the unofficial leader of the opposition to Labour’s newly elected mayor, has taken aim at Parker on several fronts – chief among them his handling of the Caparo site in Walsall and the controversial reallocation of funds intended for new railway stations.
Caparo site credit row
In a July 1 tweet, Richard Parker celebrated the transformation of the disused Caparo steelworks in Walsall into “a thriving canalside community with 324 new homes”, claiming it as a win for his mayoral agenda.
“We need more of this. And I’m making it happen,” he wrote, alongside a photo of him speaking to residents.
But just a day later, Wendy Morton hit back, accusing Parker of falsely claiming credit.
“This project on the Caparo site was actually started by former Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, working closely with Walsall Council. It’s Andy who should be thanked!” she posted on July 2.
The tweet reflects wider concerns within Conservative circles that Parker is whitewashing the legacy of his predecessor.
Insiders close to the original Caparo redevelopment deal have confirmed to West Midlands News that the funding and planning agreements were indeed set in motion under Andy Street’s administration, including Homes England support and local council coordination. Morton argues that Parker’s statements risk misleading the public on where credit is due.
Rail money rerouted?
Even more controversial is the ongoing dispute about funding for new railway stations. A central plank of Andy Street’s levelling-up agenda included plans for a new station at Aldridge, backed by a commitment of over £30 million in government funds, which Morton says was “locked in and ready to go”.
However, under Parker’s tenure, that funding appears to have been diverted.
“This mayor has siphoned off what was already secured rail funding to top up his failing bus fare strategy,” Morton told local media last month.
She has repeatedly criticised the Labour mayor’s prioritisation of buses over rail, calling it a “short-sighted betrayal” of long-term connectivity goals.
Parker denies the claim, insisting there was never a finalised budget line for Aldridge station and arguing that bus investment delivers “more immediate benefits to more people”.
But local campaigners, including several former transport advisors under Street, argue the delay risks undermining momentum and damaging community trust.
Bus fare backlash
The row comes as Parker also faces criticism for a second consecutive bus fare rise under his watch. Fares for a day ticket have risen to £5.20 – up 40p from earlier this year, and 30% higher than under Andy Street’s mayoralty, according to Morton.
“Hard-working families across Aldridge-Brownhills and the West Midlands are being punished with inflation-busting hikes,” Morton posted on June 14, calling the move “another betrayal” of commuters.
Parker has argued that fare rises were necessary due to inflationary pressures and a drop in post-pandemic ridership.
But critics say the mayor’s push to bring buses back under public control is happening at the cost of affordability, and transparency has been lacking over how the region’s transport funding is being spent.
A growing political battle
The increasingly public clash between Parker and Morton is becoming emblematic of a deeper political divide over the direction of regional development.
Though no formal role exists for a “leader of the opposition” to the West Midlands Mayor, Morton has filled that void with growing visibility – speaking regularly on regional media, holding public events in Aldridge and Walsall, and maintaining close ties with former Street administration figures.
For now, the battle lines are clear. Morton is determined to hold Parker to account on delivery, detail and honesty.
Whether she succeeds in reshaping the narrative ahead of the next local election may depend on whether residents feel real improvements – or simply more political wrangling.
