Cllr Robert Alden (pictured), Leader of the Conservative group on Birmingham City Council said, “The impact of the pandemic on industry could have a devastating long term impact on this city. The West Midlands produces one third of the nearly two million vehicles manufactured in the UK and one-fifth of the UK’s motor vehicle parts and accessories businesses are located here, worth £3.2 billion to the local economy. The response to this needs to be national and regional, but also local. The city council has to take a key leadership role in finding ways to protect and grow industry, ensuring that we are getting the right support to the right places.”

He added, “Companies like Jaguar Land Rover are world leaders and the council needs to work with them to safeguard the long-term future of the companies, supply chains and the skilled jobs they provide locally. I urge the Labour group to agree with us that we should be protecting and growing these jobs and back this call for a taskforce.”

Conservative group deputy leader Cllr Ewan Mackey said, “Whilst there has been a shift to financial, service and retail sectors in recent decades, manufacturing remains vital to our City and is an area of potential growth as we move to a more green economy, with opportunities to lead the way in electric vehicles and other green technology. What we are asking for is to ensure the council uses every possible lever make the most of these opportunities by working across political divides to put Birmingham first.”