It can be transformative for young people, their families, their communities and – by creating a better skilled workforce – the wider economy too.
Meanwhile, the general public is also mobilising against council cuts. Backed by the city’s Conservative councillors, they are getting ready to fight their corner.
Thanks to our innovative approach, tens of thousands of West Midlands people are being handed the keys to their own properties. Housing targets have played a valuable part in making that happen – by galvanising us to work together and deliver on a regional level.
Last week’s Autumn Statement signalled a significant shift in power in the UK. For the West Midlands, it delivered not only announcements that will help supercharge our economy, but a fundamental change in how this region will be run.
Only last week, the current PCC announced the closure of ‘at least’ 30 police stations, further exacerbating citizen’s safety concerns. I cannot sit on my hands and watch this happen.
The Prime Minister’s proposals for Euston provide the key: a new partnership with business to draw up a new, viable plan for a 21st-century railway between Birmingham and Manchester.
Part of Birmingham’s role is to be the city at the centre the West Midlands, as our mission to renew our region continues. It saddens me that this self-inflicted wound could make that more difficult.
Better skills not only improve the earning power of families, they also drive aspiration, social mobility, and ambition, while rewarding those who work hard – all fundamental Conservative values.
As the party of business, we Conservatives must press those energy retailers to do the right thing, but if that approach fails, we must be willing to step in again to help firms keep the lights on.
As the place where the first cracks appeared in the Red Wall, our region is of huge political significance, and results here matter.
I want to pay tribute to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up who, backed by the Chancellor and Prime Minister, pushed through this deal, which rewrites so many of the long-standing and outdated rules between Whitehall and the regions.
It represents just a tenth of that price tag of Crossrail, yet will improve the economic prospects of huge swathes of the UK.
The West Midlands must compete with Barcelona, Boston, and Beijing – not with London and Manchester.
The real returns we are seeing on Birmingham 2022 show what can be achieved by devolved decision making and local leadership.
We already have a track record of getting real results – imagine what we could do if the shackles were off.