Whisper it softly, but there's a stench of mutiny aboard the good ship Progressive Partnership.
Liberal Democrat backbenchers, upon whose support Birmingham City Council's Tory-Lib Dem coalition depends, are revolting. And they're not very happy either.
My spies tell of a lively Liberal Democrat group meeting where the troops made it clear that they were far from happy with the performance of Tory council leader Mike Whitby.
Discontent was aimed chiefly at Whitby's less than subtle attempt to take powers away from the Lord Mayor and award them to himself. A recent "turf wars" change in the council constitution could in theory allow the council leader to play a more presidential role.
The Lib Dems are also concerned about Whitby's "obsession" with media criticism of his administration.
No formal resolutions were tabled at the meeting, but it was suggested that Lib Dem group leader Paul Tilsley have a diplomatic word with Whitby.
Tilsley as a diplomat? Now, there's a thought.
As luck would have it, Whitby is off on his hols next week leaving Tilsley in charge of Birmingham.
The perfect opportunity for a coup?
There is some good news for Whitby, who had to sit and take it on Thursday as David Cameron enthused about the benefits of directly elected mayors. Whitby is dead against the idea, but could still find himself becoming Brum's first all-powerful mayor.
If the Conservatives win the next General Election, and Cameron accepts the recommendations of a report by Lord Heseltine into the future of local government, Birmingham will have to hold an election for a mayor. But what is not generally known about Heseltine's proposal is that, as a one-year interim solution, the existing council leader automatically becomes mayor until an election can be organised.
So there. We could have Mayor Mike after all, if only for a year.
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There's a cast iron rule at any political conference - if you want a fringe event to be well attended, offer free food and booze.
So when the bright sparks at the West Midlands Local Government Association decided to lay on unlimited wine and sandwiches at the launch of their 'Bigger Picture' event, they could have forecast an enthusiastic response.
Probably unwise, in retrospect, to have held the bash inside a very small narrow boat on the canal at the back of the ICC in Birmingham.
Delegates from the Local Government Association conference braved lashing rain, hail and gale-force winds, careering over the Brindleyplace bridge and on to the boat, in order to hear WMLGA chairman David Smith outline his message to the new prime minister.
Captain Smith carried on gamely, stressing how local government could be trusted to organise things properly and spend money wisely, while chaos was breaking out all around him. With everyone on board getting up close and personal - there was no alternative - the vessel took on a distinct list.
Even that old sea dog Paul Tilsley, the deputy leader of Birmingham City Council, looked decidedly green around the gills. That, of course, could have been due to over-indulgence of the vol-au-vents...