Birmingham Cabinet meeting should not be just a gimmick, says local Euro MP

3.30.00pm GMT Mon 8th Sep 2008

Birmingham Euro MP Liz Lynne has today said that the Cabinet meeting held in the city has to be more than just a political gesture.

Gordon Brown has chosen Birmingham to stage the first Cabinet meeting to be held outside London since 1921. The Cabinet will meet at an undisclosed location in Birmingham for their first full assembly since July before travelling to meet with people in the local area.

Liz Lynne welcomed the decision to hold the Cabinet in the city but warned that Birmingham needs more than just a publicity stunt.

Speaking today she said:

"I am pleased to discover that Gordon Brown actually knows where Birmingham is, though, judging from his government's treatment of the area, that is all he understands about the city.

"During the last ten years Birmingham has been hit and hit hard. Under Labour's watch we have seen the loss of huge businesses from the city famous for it's manufacturing industry. The closure of factories belonging to the likes of the former Metro-Cammell and Rover, coupled with chronic under-funding of infrastructure and transport links have left Birmingham lagging behind its European rivals.

"As London continues to be showered with transport investments such as the £16 billion to be spent on Cross-Rail, Birmingham has become the largest city in Europe without a metro network.

"While capital is receiving billions in funding in the run up to the Olympics, the government continues to delay spending on crucial upgrades to Birmingham's West-Coast Main Line.

"On top of all this the Government has now decided to decimate the Birmingham Post Office network through closures rather than find the money to support this vital local service.

"All this has left Birmingham's residents wondering if Labour really cares about them.

"I hope that today Gordon Brown and his ministers actually listen to the people of Birmingham and go back to Westminster willing to change Labour's approach to Britain's second city."

ENDS

Notes:

• Prior to the Cabinet meeting Gordon Brown announced £64 million in 'new' spending for the West Midlands area. However, this money is to come from regional development agency Advantage West Midlands' pre-existing £300 million budget, meaning that their announcement does not actually give any new investment to the area.