Thank you. It is unfortunate that the Conservative members have chosen to leave thereby depriving their own residents of their voice in this [Council] chamber.

I’d like to address everybody – Mayor, fellow Councillors and residents of Wirral.

I nip out during Christian prayers here partly because I’m Jewish. My great grandparents were refugees from ethnic cleansing and fascism in Europe. My grandfather never knew his cousins because they perished in the Holocaust.

The trials of the people accused of deliberately causing the New Ferry explosions will begin later this month, and we hope in the coming months to finally get to the bottom of what has been a tragic and worrying time for New Ferry.

Since the explosion however, "Not a single penny from the government has been raised to support local businesses" and people have been left to fend for themselves despite homes and livelihoods being lost.

Cllr Jo Bird gave her first speech to Wirral Council, moving a successful motion on the ongoing impact of New Ferry explosion.

"Thank you Mr Mayor. I am delighted to represent Bromborough ward and all the people in it, following in the footsteps of Cllr Warren Ward. I am honoured to give my first speech to Council, FOR THE MANY not the few.

In politics it is easy to use personal attacks rather than sticking to the real issues affecting our society, especially when we are living in a time of austerity and Brexit, when we feel more divided than ever.

As Cllr Jo Bird points out, Yvonne Nolan has recently been singled out by Councillors on the Wirral unfairly with no right to reply as a member of the public.

My speech at Together Against Trump rally, for Liverpool Friends of Palestine and Jewish Voice for Labour

"My name is Jo Bird. Thank you to the organisers of this creative and excellent protest. I’m here to say, 4 things:

Firstly. Refugees are welcome here but President Trump is not!

Not until every single kidnapped child is re-united with their parents. Leaders who give fascist orders are not welcome here.

Asking Janette Williamson, Cabinet Member for Finance and Growth, for an update on plans to help regenerate deprived areas of the Wirral.

A full transcript and a link to Cabinet Question Time is available below.

I have met and listened to thousands of people in Bromborough ward. The number one issue is the huge gas explosion that devastated New Ferry, in March last year.

At that time, I lived in Derry~Londonderry in Northern Ireland. In both places, I see communities that are doubly traumatised. Firstly by explosions, violence and poverty; and secondly by ongoing trauma of government indifference, inaction and injustice - although the causes are different.

Below is an article I wrote on 5th September in response to Frank Field MP's resignation from the Labour whip, and the weaponization of anti-semitism within the Labour Party.

I am a newly-elected Labour councillor who is Jewish in a ward bordering Birkenhead.

Frank Field MP chose to use anti-Semitism as his excuse to resign from the Labour whip.

I am, frankly fed up of anti-Jewish racism being used as a political weapon to attack Labour.

I am really delighted to be elected as Labour/Co-op Councillor for Bromborough.

Thank you to everyone who made this fantastic result possible…

I've listened and talked with thousands of people in this ward. Almost everyone is saying how important New Ferry is. New Ferry was devastated by a huge explosion, in March last year.

Jo Bird, of Jewish Voice for Labour, on antisemitism and what to do about it.

Don’t make the situation any worse than it already is. Don’t give our opponents ammunition, if possible. Educate ourselves about antisemitism and the way it is used as a weapon against us.

'I find the situation very hopeful and exciting now. This period is our best chance in a generation to mainstream co-operatives and solidarity in the economy'

Jo is a director of Co-operative Business Consultants, a co-operative consortium of individuals and organisations committed to social justice through solidarity co-ops, which has organised six Ways Forward conferences.

Jo Bird is a popular independent councillor for Bromborough on the Wirral.

First elected in August 2018 and re-elected in May 2021. She is a high profile campaigner for fairness and justice for everyone. Jo has three decades of experience supporting democratic businesses of all kinds.

Jo Bird is standing as Labour/Co-op candidate for Eastham, Wirral in north west England. Her back story is in this podcast.

Are you mixed heritage Jew-ish? You’re welcome in the diverse movement for Palestinian solidarity.

The Institute for Jewish Policy Research reported that the intermarriage rate in Britain has been 23-26% since the 1980s. In the USA, more than half of Jewish people marry out. Jewish people have intermingled for centuries, so there will be millions of people with Jewish heritage on one side of their family.

"I want to tell you the personal and political story of my journey through Derry and why you will always be part of my heart. It’s a good story. I came to Derry because of love.

"Sir, – As Jewish people, we agree with David Landy and Ronit Lentin (“Anti-Semitism claims are used for political end”, May 2nd). We question, why now?

We believe the smear campaign is partly because the British Labour Party, led by Jeremy Corbyn, is more socialist and promotes human rights for everyone – for Palestinians, for refugees and child refugees.

Below was an interview I gave to Derry journal about my life and times in Northern Ireland.

"This week’s Friday’s Child is Jo Bird. Jo moved to from Manchester to Derry for love a few years ago. She is a founder member of Jewish Voice for Just Peace – Ireland. Her day job is promoting and developing democratic businesses with Co-operative Alternatives.