West Midlands counts huge cost of City Region snub
Apr 22 2009 by Nick McCarthy, Birmingham Post
The West Midlands will miss out on millions of pounds of investment and thousands of new jobs after it was snubbed in the race to become the country’s first City Region.
Chancellor Alistair Darling will announce later today that Manchester and Leeds are to be given the status – and with it economic autonomy – ahead of the West Midlands scheme, which was led by Birmingham.
Last night, the deputy leader of Birmingham City Council, Paul Tilsley, described the decision as “appalling” and a “real kick in the teeth”.
He added: “We are in the middle of an economic crisis and Birmingham has been affected more by this economic downturn than any other part of the country. It’s an appalling decision and we will fight tooth and nail against it.
“This shows the poor regard that this Government holds this region in. This is a real kick in the teeth from the Government who actively encouraged us to go for this status.
“I sincerely hope that the Labour MPs in the West Midlands kick up a stink and do all they can to change the Government’s mind.”
The plan would have allowed the seven local councils to raise cash themselves, instead of depending on handouts from Whitehall.
Share
