Black Country and Birmingham need to act as allies, says Chamber boss

THE president of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce says that Birmingham and the Black Country need to act as allies rather than rivals.

Echoing comments made by Birmingham City Council leader Sir Albert Bore, Paul Bennett said Birmingham is more of an opportunity than a threat to the Black Country.

“The relationship between Birmingham and the Black Country should be one of allies rather than rivals. Sir Albert Bore is entirely right when he suggests that we need to consider the economic geography of the region,” he said.

“The people of the Black Country are fiercely proud of their identity and rightly so. Although they will never regard themselves as Brummies, their identities are built around local towns and communities rather than local authority boundaries. The local authority of Sandwell came into existence in 1974, but communities like West Bromwich, Tipton and Cradley Heath have been around for centuries.  

“Politicians find it difficult to accept that local people have greater affinity with their towns and communities than they do political structures.”

“Local politicians need to recognise that we elect them to focus upon our jobs not theirs. 

“Change takes political courage, but the future prosperity of the Black Country and wider region demands strong civic leadership right now and that requires a pragmatic evaluation of the Black Country in a global market and its relationship with Birmingham.

“We need to move the debate beyond local politics and bin collections and put it into a global context.”

Bennett has called for a reality check locally, citing the fact that China’s 20th largest city has a population many times larger than the whole of the Black Country.

“There is no denying that some question the relevance of the Black Country on the global stage. Although we should constantly challenge those views, we cannot just ignore them,” he said.

“It’s hugely beneficial to the Black Country that we are right next door to Britain’s Second City. That status is hugely significant, particularly to inward investors. 

“We can and should leverage off our proximity to Birmingham and work strategically with our neighbours and develop a more dynamic relationship. 

“Birmingham is more of an opportunity than a threat to the Black Country.”