Lord Digby Jones sparks second city debate

FORMER trade minister and CBI boss Lord Digby Jones has said his hometown of Birmingham is in danger of losing out to Manchester as the country’s second city.

Speaking after a weekend which saw both Manchester’s football clubs clinching domestic football’s major honours, Lord Jones said this, and cultural ‘buzz’ around the city were setting it apart.

“I think when you see the buzz about Manchester, I think a lot of people in Britain would think of it as Manchester, not Birmingham. No matter how much that grieves me.

“From Manchester United, it’s Manchester City, it’s Oasis, it’s Coronation Street. It’s all the things which give people this identity and ability to believe in themselves.”
Lord Jones said Birmingham was also in “grave danger” of losing the title if universities, transport, skills bases and civic leadership were compared.

“Birmingham has almost always apologised for itself. Birmingham has never had the leg-up that northern cities have had. Government has always thought Birmingham could look after itself,” he added.

What do you think? Is Manchester England’s Second City? In a globalised business world does it matter?