Heseltine urges Chamber audience to ‘get out the vote’
BIRMINGHAM Chamber’s annual dinner turned into a rally for a yes vote in next week’s elected mayor referendum.
Veteran statesman and former cabinet minister Lord Heseltine gave an impassioned speech urging the audience to vote yes to ensure Birmingham punched its weight in the country and abroad.
Andy Street, of the Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership said the good work of the LEP and partners was already helping the city to raise its game ion Whitehall.
But Lord Heseltine warned of complacency, saying: “You can sit here and agree and then go home and do nothing. Or you can urge your staff to say yes, and you can tell friends and colleagues why you think there should be a yes vote. You can even volunteer to go to polling stations and deliver leaflets.”
Chamber president Mike Ward told 900 delegates at the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Group annual dinner and awards at the ICC that Birmingham needed to speak with one voice through an elected mayor.
He said: “On May 3 the residents of Birmingham will be able to say yes to having the opportunity of appointing a Mayor of this great city.
“I attended a meeting at 10 Downing Street chaired by Lord Heseltine at which the Prime Minister David Cameron, announced that he would chair the first meeting of the Committee of Mayors formed to share good ideas and practice.
“Like the Chamber, the Mayor is a brand which is recognised throughout Europe and the world as representing the city which elects them. Birmingham Chamber has vigorously supported the principal of an elected mayor representing this city on a regional, national and global basis.
“It is clear that the Government is intent on devolving powers to cities who demonstrate the required level of governance. The time is right for Birmingham to accept this challenge and to speak with one voice for the region through the office of a Mayor.
“When Government is devolving power to the regions it wants to know that we are capable of using those powers and more particularly are united in the manner in which they are to be used. The mayoral system provides this. “
