The Birmingham Post: Mr Brown, Can We Introduce You to the Midlands?

Birmingham Post › May 16, 2007

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Summary

Glyn Pitchford, the new voice of the business community on the shadow West Midlands city region board, is confident that the Government is serious about devolving power. It may be of course that Mr Pitchford has inside information, for he seems certain that Gordon Brown will back the city region concept if and when he becomes prime minister. We hope that he is right, although Whitehall's silence on the matter is not encouraging.

To be fair to those responsible for running the machinery of Government in Birmingham and the West Midlands, the period between the departure of Tony Blair and the arrival of Mr Brown was bound to be one of uncertainty where difficult matters would be placed to one side to await a decision at a later date. City regions, if they are to be any more than expensive talking shops, must be led by Government willingness to really transfer power and income streams as opposed to grand promises that turn out to be a cosmetic exercise. There is no sign, yet, that Mr Brown is serious about devolution.