Government minister Lucy Powell urged Unite to "step up" and continue talks with Birmingham council to reach an agreement as she answered questions in the House of Commons.Responding to criticism from the Conservatives, the Commons Leader told MPs: "I was in Birmingham just last weekend visiting my in-laws and my husband's family and the situation there is totally unacceptable, it is awful what people are living with and we want to see it end and end immediately."

Government minister Lucy Powell urged Unite to "step up" and continue talks with Birmingham council to reach an agreement as she answered questions in the House of Commons.Responding to criticism from the Conservatives, the Commons Leader told MPs: "I was in Birmingham just last weekend visiting my in-laws and my husband's family and the situation there is totally unacceptable, it is awful what people are living with and we want to see it end and end immediately."