You want it? Come and earn it!

In the week the General Election is called, lobby group Birmingham Forward is bidding to ensure the voice of Birmingham's business community is heard within the corridors of power. Members are sending out a clear message to all prospective parliamentary candidates (PPCs): If you want our vote; earn it. To make sure members' opinions are heard, Birmingham Forward is arranging a series of political breakfasts: Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Yardley, John Hemming, is addressing the breakfast on 8 April; Conservative parliamentary candidate for Sutton Coldfield, Andrew Mitchell, will be speaking on 15 April; and Labour's Liam Byrne (Hodge Hill) and Gisela Stuart (Edgbaston) will speak on 22 April. Derek Inman, chair of Birmingham Forward, said: "Those who will be elected as the city's MPs must work as a team, championing Birmingham, rather than as a disparate collection of individuals with their own agendas. "Members of the city's professional and financial services sector have already started the ball rolling for them. "The professional and financial services sector in the city is internationally renowned. We are building on this reputation by taking forward the 'Advised in Birmingham' campaign to unequivocally put the sector on the map. "This combination of reputation and commitment to promoting the sector is, in part, what enticed the Islamic Bank of Britain, the first British bank to operate entirely in accordance with Sharia'a principles, to choose Birmingham as its headquarters. "Our backing of the London office is also a significant step forward. We most certainly have the opportunity to fight our corner, be part of the debate and be heard by our MPs - the question is, 'are they ready to listen?' "During the campaign we want to hear how they will advocate our needs. How will they bend the ear of the minister of transport over delays in New Street Station? How will they lobby with DTI and the Department of Education to close the current skills gap? Are they even going to fight for a simpler regulatory environment? These are just some of the questions we want the PPCs to answer before we place our vote."

• Login to post comments