Simon Morrall: Passion, Purpose, and Pride.

Simon Morrall is a Media Entrepreneur, Mental Health Campaigner and Politician on Birmingham City Council, Britain’s second city and the largest local authority in Europe. He has represented the Frankley Great Park Ward in the Birmingham Northfield constituency since 2018^[2]^[3].

Simon has been a long time mental health campaigner, achieving a suicide prevention strategy in Birmingham City Council and later passing a motion recognising working class boys to be treated as a disadvantaged group on the city’s inclusion strategy.

He founded and setup the Frankley Skills Show with former WM Mayor Andy Street. Simon has long has campaigned against youth violence and youth crime.

Simon Morrall Cllr Simon Morrall BIRMINGHAM City Council Mental Health Birmingham City Council Frankley

View Mental Health Awareness, Nurodivercity, and Suicide Prevention.

Mental Health Awareness, Nurodivercity, and Suicide Prevention.

In November 2018 Simon delivered his maiden speech on male suicide to Birmingham City Council. His speech convinced the chmaber to vote unanimously to adopt Birmingham's first Suicide Prevention Strategy. [12][13][14] During the speech Cllr Morrall spoke of loosing his best friend to suicide, who was his political opposite. He said "In a time when political has become more divided and extreme, he reminds me why I got into politics, we would debate all night, putting the world to rights over a pint and a packet of crisps." He told the council chamber how suicide was the biggest killer of men aged under 50 and how someone takes their lives too suicide every 2 hours.[13]

View Working Class Boys Failing behind in school and Educational Reform.

Working Class Boys Failing behind in school and Educational Reform.

In December 2021 Simon called for local authorities to address boys failing in education. Speaking in relation to his own experience, he said: “as a drop out myself growing up, I could of very easily got wrapped up in gangs and crime, but it was skateboarding that kept me on the straight and narrow. I used to sell my own skateboarding DVDs and this gave me a thirst for being my own boss." "When you are brought up poor on a council estate, the only thing you are interested in is how to escape poverty, and to most people that involves making money. [5] He also stated that "had my school taught me how to start a business - 'how to stand on my own two feet' - then I probably wouldn’t have dropped out. [5] Simon says we need "More technical, entrepreneurial, economics and business teaching is needed to address “our boys failing in education ”. Currently working class boys are at the bottom of the education attainment ladder and are three times more likely to be expelled then to go to University.

View Youth Violence and Criminal Justice Reform

Youth Violence and Criminal Justice Reform

Simon has been a long campaigner against youth violence and crime, he has worked with families the Friends of Frankly Community and the Police on tackling it and now supports the probation service. Speaking in relation to his own experience, he said: “as a drop out myself growing up, I could of very easily got wrapped up in gangs and crime, but it was skateboarding that kept me on the straight and narrow. I used to sell my own skateboarding DVDs and this gave me a thirst for being my own boss." When you are brought up poor on a council estate, the only thing you are interested in is how to escape poverty, and to most people that involves making money. He also stated that "had my school taught me how to start a business - 'how to stand on my own two feet' - then I probably wouldn’t have dropped out. "We need to encourage more technical and entrepreneurial education and start teaching GCSE economics and business in the class room as in the digital economy of the 21st century it should be easier than ever for our young people to be their own boss.”

In May 2022 Simon Morrall became the Shadow Cabinet Member for Young People on Birmingham City Council, the younger city in Europe. Simon Morrall is the longest serving member of the Economy and Skills Overview and Scrutiny committee, in Britain’s second city on the largest local authority in Europe…

In that time, Simon has talked about the need for a marketing strategy to reach young and disenfranchised. He has persistently talked about the struggle of working class boys drastically falling behind in Education, and he has called out how university has completely let down a generation, with over 40% of grads going in “public sector j0bs” with third going onto none professional roles. Creating the “defied” / “two-tier” society that we see today!

Simon Morrall has been a member of SEVEN inquiries on the council including: Into the youth skills strategy, Young people’s mental health, Child criminal exploitation, Council employment of young people.

Simon Morrall stood up for the SEND kids and he achieved a landmark motion on getting disenfranchised kids on the city’s “inclusive strategy.” Simon has also himself recently being disposed with ADHD and nurovisercity, having , and worked with the criminal justice system

“In the digital economy of the 21st century it should be easier than ever for our young people to be their own boss.”“When you are brought up poor on a council estate, the only thing you are interested in is how to escape poverty, and to most people that involves making money. ^[5] “had my school taught me how to start a business – ‘how to stand on my own two feet’ – then I probably wouldn’t have dropped out. Period. ^[5]

Simon Morrall was born and raised in Northfield, Birmingham. He was raised by a single mother on a council estate. At the age of 15 he dropped out of school.[4][5]

Simon grew up skateboarding around Great Park in Rubery where he says the local cinema and nursery used to let him skateboard on their car park. He added skateboarding gave him a purpose, confidence, the inspiration to try new things and ‘the value of the individual’.[6] [7][8]

Simon authored and produced his own skateboarding films by the age of 16 and would sell them on DVD. He stated that this set him on a “path to entrepreneurship”” [4][5] He said: “as a drop out growing up, I could of very easily got wrapped up in gangs and crime, but it was skateboarding that kept me on the straight and narrow. [5]

Simon went on to work in marketing and by 21 had he a music studio above a shop. He then worked for an entertainment magazine at 23, before at 25 moving onto work for the largest newspaper group in the UK. At 27 he started his own media business Morrall Media and at 29 he stood for Birmingham City Council in one of the most deprived areas of Birmingham. [1]

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Simon Morrall Cllr Simon Morrall BIRMINGHAM City Council Skills Show Birmingham City Council Frankley

View The Frankley Skills Show

The Frankley Skills Show

Frankley Skills Show 2019 with West Midlands Mayor Andy Street During Cllr Morrall election campaign in 2018, Simon made a promise to help bring opportunities to South Birmingham after it had largely been forgotten following the collapse of the MG Rover car factory in 2005, formally known as British Leyland. Commenting on his election pledge […]

View Encouraging Entrepreneurship and Supporting Small Business.

Encouraging Entrepreneurship and Supporting Small Business.

View Defending the Night Time Economy!

Defending the Night Time Economy!

Simon was a member of the Licensing and Public Protection Committee own Birmingham City Council from May 2018 to May 2024. and the city’s Planning Committee from March 2020 to April 2021. He made a reputation of defending of the night time economy. [37] He described plans for 1,000 flats near Digbeth’s Custard Factory as […]

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Simon was elected in 2018 in the new ward of Frankley Great Park Ward, following the boundaries changes. [9] He beat long time Labour Councillor for Longbidge Andrew Cartwright by a slim majority of 155 votes.[10] He was selected by the Conservative Party for the seat in March 2017 and stating to the paper that he “walked over a million steps, spoken to over a thousand people and worn out six pairs of shoes.”

[10] During his election campaign hurt very passionately about young men and male suicide saying: ” I see young people reverting to either a life of crime, or recluse away to a life trapped away in a bedroom, checking out of society. Many of our young people don’t have a purpose, they simply exist and it feels like the mainstream establishment are completely out of touch on this issue.” [11]

Simon was re elected in 2022 with an increased majority of 645 and over 61% of the vote.[43][44]

During the 2022 local election the Conservative would loose seats, including other critical working class areas such as Castle Vale [45] and Kingstanding [46], the former seat of Gary Sambrook the then Conservative MP for Birmingham Northfield.

The Conservatives also lost badly in key Northfield Wards such Kings Norton South, coming third behind the Labour Party with the Greens winning the seat. [47]

All of this now made Frankley Great Park Ward [44] the largest and safest Conservative majority in Birmingham, outside of Sutton Coldfield.[48]

Testimony to Simons Politcal Abality.

View Promoting Birmingham

Promoting Birmingham

In December 2021 Simon called for local authorities to address boys failing in education. Stating we need “More technical, entrepreneurial, economics and business teaching is needed to address “our boys failing in education ”.[5] Saying “We need to encourage more technical and entrepreneurial education and start teaching GCSE economics and business in the class room […]

View Pride in your Community

Pride in your Community

View Support for Veterans

Support for Veterans

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Following the passing of HM Queen Elizebeth II, Cllr Simon Morrall campaigned for a vigil up Beacon Hill Castle.^[52] He commented: “I’m happy to announce and that the City Coucil have come around with an agreement to host this event. At 8pm to tonight there is a National Moment of Reflection taking place across the UK and that minute’s silence will also be observed at the event, followed by the singing of the National Anthem.”^[53]

As night fell, candles were lit and Cllr Simon Morrall gave a speech where he described Queen Elizabeth II as ‘the mother of the nation and of British values’ and paid tribute to her lifetime of service. ^[54] After that, the National Anthem was sang by Charley Thompson and there were three cheers for King Charles III. To to round off the evening, bagpiper Alex Orchin played on the tower and later at the front of the castle. ^[54]

Cllr Simon Morrall went onto say it is had been best thing he had achieved in his political career! Saying in B31 Voices : “I just love this place, it’s my home, we have such truly amazing people, and an amazing community. While some of us may not see eye to eye, there is so much more that unites us. Let us reflect on this as we mourn today the funeral of a truly remarkable woman. this has been the greatest privilege of my political career so far. Thank you all for being involved in this special occasion. ” ^[55]