My friend Penny Holbrook, who has died suddenly after a short illness aged 43, was a talented and energetic Labour member of Birmingham city council for almost 20 years. Penny was dedicated to the community she served, and driven by a commitment to social justice.
Born and raised in north Birmingham, Penny was the daughter of Mollie (nee Anderton) and Doug Holbrook. The family lived in Erdington and later on the Falcon Lodge estate in Sutton Coldfield. She attended John Willmott school and studied politics and contemporary governance at the University of Central England (now Birmingham City University).
Penny worked in retail for Tesco while becoming increasingly active in the Labour party. In 2003, aged 25, she was elected councillor for Stockland Green ward, which she represented with just one short interlude until her death. She also worked in the offices of Sion Simon and Jack Dromey during their terms as MP for Birmingham Erdington between 2008 and 2014.
In 2012, a newly elected Labour administration in Birmingham transferred a range of frontline council services to 10 district committees. As chair of the Erdington district Penny was a champion of devolution, working closely with residents to develop responses to unemployment locally and to keep services open despite central government austerity policies.
In 2014 Penny joined the council’s cabinet, leading on skills, learning and culture. Her work in this helped to cut the number of young people not in education, employment or training. She also secured the future of the Library of Birmingham. The Labour administration had inherited the brand new (and very expensive) library, while at the same time having to deal with enormous budget cuts from central government. Penny worked to co-locate other services in the building, including the Brasshouse Language Centre, creating a vibrant hub of knowledge, learning and skills services and securing the library’s financial viability. She went on to chair the council’s housing and neighbourhoods scrutiny committee.
In 2015, Penny stood for the leadership of the council and after a hotly contested campaign came just one vote short of victory. She was determined and had tremendous creative energy.
Penny was honest and direct, but kind, compassionate and funny. This combination of characteristics enabled her to build coalitions and bring people together. Yet, as Jess Phillips MP put it: “Penny could never quite see how great she was.”
Alongside her council work, Penny supported the Birmingham Poverty Truth Commission as a freelance consultant.
Penny is survived by her mother and father, her sister, Vicky, and her niece, Coral.
