A new agenda for Birmingham

While we’re on the subject of new agendas, I’ll be posting shortly my speech to the Be Birmingham conference this morning, trailed in the Birmingham Post yesterday. The argument was blunt. In the 19th century we were called ‘the best governed city in the world’. I say that we should set that as our ambition again. We could be leaders in new industries like digital, low carbon and life sciences. And we can open new jobs to citizens from all corners of Birmingham if we use the £1 billion we’re given on education and skills spending better. And with the new wealth its possible to create we can renew our communities, starting with stronger community justice and a renaissance of home-building.