The Midlands

0:00:03 > 0:00:06There are exactly two weeks to go until the West Midlands chooses

0:00:06 > 0:00:09its first directly elected mayor.

0:00:09 > 0:00:12Potentially, the most influential local politician

0:00:12 > 0:00:15since Joseph Chamberlain became mayor of Birmingham almost

0:00:15 > 0:00:17a century and a half ago.

0:00:17 > 0:00:24So, who get your vote?

0:00:24 > 0:00:27All six candidates aiming for the top job with this tonight.

0:00:27 > 0:00:29And so too is our studio audience, ready with

0:00:29 > 0:00:30the questions for our debate.

0:00:30 > 0:00:35A Mayor for the West Midlands.

0:00:45 > 0:00:50APPLAUSE.

0:00:54 > 0:00:55Good evening.

0:00:55 > 0:00:58Welcome to Birmingham's Ormiston Academy.

0:00:58 > 0:01:02So, there's an election on.

0:01:02 > 0:01:06No, not the general election, we have our own big one right

0:01:06 > 0:01:13here for our West Midlands metro mayor and I'm delighted to tell you,

0:01:13 > 0:01:16we're joined here this evening by all six of the candidates.

0:01:16 > 0:01:17For the Greens, James Burn.

0:01:17 > 0:01:21For Ukip, Pete Durnell.

0:01:21 > 0:01:23For Labour, Sion Simon.

0:01:23 > 0:01:24For the Conservatives, Andy Street.

0:01:24 > 0:01:26For the Liberal Democrats, Beverley Nielsen.

0:01:26 > 0:01:28And for the Communists, Graham Stevenson.

0:01:28 > 0:01:38And that, everybody, is your panel tonight.

0:01:40 > 0:01:44And you at home can join in our debate as well on social

0:01:44 > 0:01:48media, using the hashtag that's on your screen now.

0:01:48 > 0:01:53Let's begin with our first question tonight and it

0:01:53 > 0:01:55comes from Graham Slater.

0:01:55 > 0:01:56Your question.

0:01:56 > 0:01:57Good evening.

0:01:57 > 0:02:01Do we need a metro mayor, or is it just another expensive

0:02:01 > 0:02:05level of bureaucracy?

0:02:05 > 0:02:08Sion Simon, you stood down from parliament in order to fight

0:02:08 > 0:02:10for an earlier mayoral role and you know, you've heard

0:02:10 > 0:02:14the evidence of referendums and the rejection in Stoke,

0:02:14 > 0:02:17there's no great appetite, as we heard here from Mr Slater.

0:02:17 > 0:02:20The most important thing isn't that we have a metro mayor,

0:02:20 > 0:02:23the most important thing is that we run our own region.

0:02:23 > 0:02:26What this needs to be and it can be if we do it right,

0:02:26 > 0:02:30what this needs to be is part of a process of taking back control,

0:02:30 > 0:02:34real control, real power, from the London government that has

0:02:34 > 0:02:38real control, real power, from the London Government that has

0:02:38 > 0:02:40let is down for 40 years in the West Midlands,

0:02:40 > 0:02:42and finally starting to run the West Midlands ourselves.

0:02:42 > 0:02:44Running our own transport system, our own housing,

0:02:44 > 0:02:47our own health and social care, our own education and skills policy.

0:02:47 > 0:02:52We can do all that much better by doing it ourselves.

0:02:52 > 0:02:54The way that the Government has set out for us to do

0:02:54 > 0:02:56that is they are giving as a mayor.

0:02:56 > 0:02:59That isn't actually the most important thing.

0:02:59 > 0:03:03In terms of the cost, what I've said is at the end of three years,

0:03:03 > 0:03:06I'll publish an independently audited super scrutinised report

0:03:06 > 0:03:10which sets out exactly how much it cost and exactly what's been saved

0:03:10 > 0:03:17and exactly how much has been generated and if we have got

0:03:17 > 0:03:20and exactly how much has been generated and if we haven't got

0:03:20 > 0:03:23a massive surplus and outstanding value, then I will consider

0:03:23 > 0:03:25myself to have failed and I won't stand again.

0:03:25 > 0:03:27Peter Durnell, your party was in line with Mr Slater's idea

0:03:27 > 0:03:30for quite some time, thinking that it was an expensive

0:03:30 > 0:03:32indulgence, a vanity project, devolution from the people

0:03:32 > 0:03:34to the establishment, said one of your MEPs.

0:03:34 > 0:03:35So, why have you changed your mind?

0:03:35 > 0:03:37We don't believe this is true devolution.

0:03:38 > 0:03:41In the form that it setup now.

0:03:41 > 0:03:43We have a big issue with the authority, rather

0:03:43 > 0:03:44than the mayor position.

0:03:44 > 0:03:45I said I'll only take 30,000.

0:03:45 > 0:03:47I'm not in it for the money.

0:03:47 > 0:03:50It is expensive, so I'm actually looking to keep control of the cost

0:03:50 > 0:03:53It is expensive, so I'm actually looking to keep control of the cost

0:03:53 > 0:03:56of the combine authority which has been running since last summer,

0:03:56 > 0:03:5814 million just to set it up.

0:03:58 > 0:04:00Who knows how many million per year it's already costing?

0:04:00 > 0:04:02I don't believe that it will actually generate the money

0:04:02 > 0:04:04in itself to actually pay for itself.

0:04:04 > 0:04:05So, I'm saying...

0:04:05 > 0:04:06Why run?

0:04:06 > 0:04:09One of the reasons that I'm running is absolutely to keep

0:04:09 > 0:04:12control of those costs, to let you know what it's doing.

0:04:12 > 0:04:15If you walk down the street, almost no one would be able to tell

0:04:15 > 0:04:18you what the combined authority is, how it works, how it's running,

0:04:18 > 0:04:20how it's self scrutinising itself, all these things.

0:04:20 > 0:04:22One of the reasons I'm running is that.

0:04:22 > 0:04:25There are a lot of reasons but that is one of them.

0:04:25 > 0:04:26James Burn, you also said...

0:04:26 > 0:04:28APPLAUSE.

0:04:28 > 0:04:31You also have said that she would live

0:04:31 > 0:04:34on something more like a typical West Midlands income.

0:04:34 > 0:04:36Isn't that just a piece of gesture politics on your part?

0:04:36 > 0:04:39Not at all.

0:04:39 > 0:04:41In 2012, people in Coventry and Birmingham voted

0:04:41 > 0:04:49against having a mayor and now they have their that they didn't

0:04:49 > 0:04:52against having a mayor and now they have a mayor that they didn't

0:04:52 > 0:04:53want and didn't vote for.

0:04:53 > 0:04:56One thing that is really clear from all the hustings that we have

0:04:56 > 0:04:58done is people don't want a mayor.

0:04:58 > 0:05:01Mayors can work but the difference between here and in London

0:05:01 > 0:05:04is when you vote for a mayor in London, on the same day you vote

0:05:04 > 0:05:07for assembly members to speak up for every single area of the whole

0:05:07 > 0:05:11region to hold that mayor to account and make sure that mayor is working

0:05:11 > 0:05:13for you and for your benefit, you're not going to

0:05:13 > 0:05:14have that vote here.

0:05:14 > 0:05:17Here, you're going to have a mayor, he'll be held to account

0:05:17 > 0:05:20by colleagues of the people running the authority, will meet handful

0:05:20 > 0:05:22of times a year with no opposition politicians there at all.

0:05:22 > 0:05:23It's a real scandal.

0:05:23 > 0:05:26So, a mayor could work and can work but we need more accountability

0:05:26 > 0:05:28and more scrutiny and more honesty.

0:05:28 > 0:05:29APPLAUSE.

0:05:29 > 0:05:31Beverly Nielsen, where talking to people who believe

0:05:31 > 0:05:33it is an extra level of unwanted bureaucracy.

0:05:33 > 0:05:36Well, I've lived and worked here for 20 years and in that time

0:05:36 > 0:05:38I've seen this region overlooked by both the Conservatives

0:05:38 > 0:05:40and the Labour Party because I noticed that Sion says,

0:05:40 > 0:05:43this is about the London government, he says, letting us down,

0:05:43 > 0:05:45but actually it's the Labour Party and the Conservative Party

0:05:45 > 0:05:47that have let us down.

0:05:47 > 0:05:49What we need is, yes, our fair share.

0:05:49 > 0:05:51We need investment, not cuts but what were not hearing

0:05:51 > 0:05:53from the Conservative Party is where getting 4 billion

0:05:53 > 0:05:54more cuts for 2020.

0:05:54 > 0:05:57If were going to fight the cuts, get the investment, we need a strong

0:05:57 > 0:06:01voice and we need to make sure that the opportunities are heard.

0:06:01 > 0:06:05Would you then take home the full ?79,000 pay packet,

0:06:05 > 0:06:08given the austerity that you are saying is all around us.

0:06:08 > 0:06:10I don't think it's an extravagant salary, actually.

0:06:10 > 0:06:11It's three times average earnings.

0:06:11 > 0:06:15It's the average wage for a mayor in America and, actually,

0:06:15 > 0:06:20if we really want to get this job done, let's take it seriously.

0:06:20 > 0:06:23You're accused there of letting the region down, your party,

0:06:23 > 0:06:25you say you would work on performance related pay.

0:06:25 > 0:06:29The question we should answer first of all is do we need a mayor

0:06:29 > 0:06:30and the categoric answer is yes.

0:06:30 > 0:06:38One of the reasons why this region has done relatively poorly over

0:06:38 > 0:06:41the last 40 years is that we have not had somebody championing

0:06:41 > 0:06:43the region around Britain and around the world.

0:06:43 > 0:06:48For the first time, will have an individual

0:06:48 > 0:06:51who is responsible for doing that and, if I may say, it's

0:06:51 > 0:06:53the Conservative government that has begun to pass power back

0:06:53 > 0:06:56to the regions.

0:06:56 > 0:06:59What about this suggestion of yours of performance-related pay

0:06:59 > 0:07:02which suggests to me a more business mind than a political mind.

0:07:02 > 0:07:04And isn't it the job of the electorate decide

0:07:04 > 0:07:06whether your good value for money or not?

0:07:06 > 0:07:09Of course it is, and that's why I have indicated in my renewal plan

0:07:09 > 0:07:12the things we will achieve in our first three years and I'm

0:07:12 > 0:07:13accountable for that.

0:07:13 > 0:07:16I've also said, though, I'm prepared to put some skin in the game,

0:07:16 > 0:07:19in terms of some of my pay being on the table, depending

0:07:19 > 0:07:20on the results we achieve.

0:07:20 > 0:07:21Graham Stevenson.

0:07:21 > 0:07:25If you want a man to do the job, it's often said, get somebody

0:07:25 > 0:07:26who doesn't really want to do it.

0:07:26 > 0:07:29Like many people, I campaigned against the directly elected mayor,

0:07:29 > 0:07:31mainly for the reason, we already have already have

0:07:31 > 0:07:33government in the West Midlands, we already have councils,

0:07:33 > 0:07:36council leaders, this isn't an extra layer of government,

0:07:36 > 0:07:40it's an extra layer of fog, designed to create a circumstance

0:07:40 > 0:07:45whereby leaders of local councils can do deals with a Chancellor

0:07:45 > 0:07:50of the Exchequer operating under austerity government guidelines

0:07:50 > 0:07:57in order that they can carry out cuts to welfare and social services

0:07:57 > 0:07:59just as they are continuing to do.

0:07:59 > 0:08:01I'm standing because I want to campaign against that.

0:08:01 > 0:08:04I want to abolish that.

0:08:04 > 0:08:08I want to create people's assemblies in every borough so there's a much

0:08:08 > 0:08:10more connected kind of democracy between the professional politicians

0:08:10 > 0:08:12and ordinary people.

0:08:12 > 0:08:13APPLAUSE.

0:08:13 > 0:08:16Can I just quickly ask you about the salary.

0:08:16 > 0:08:20The 79,000 because some people obviously feel it's too much.

0:08:20 > 0:08:23Yet, if you look at the relativities, it's considerably

0:08:23 > 0:08:25less than the one suggested for the mayor of Manchester,

0:08:25 > 0:08:28certainly much less than the Mayor of London.

0:08:28 > 0:08:30Less than the police and crime commission,

0:08:30 > 0:08:31which is rather curious, I think.

0:08:31 > 0:08:33I don't think politicians should set their own pay,

0:08:33 > 0:08:36I think there should be an independent body that sets

0:08:36 > 0:08:38the pay and whatever they say is the pay,

0:08:38 > 0:08:39I'll take it.

0:08:39 > 0:08:42Let me just come back on Graham say, in case people think it's true,

0:08:42 > 0:08:47that we already have government in the region.

0:08:47 > 0:08:50We don't already have government in the region.

0:08:50 > 0:08:51We don't run our own education system.

0:08:51 > 0:08:53We don't run our own schools.

0:08:53 > 0:08:56We don't run our own skill centres.

0:08:56 > 0:08:59We don't have control over our health and our social care.

0:08:59 > 0:09:00We don't run any of these things.

0:09:00 > 0:09:01And they are huge problems.

0:09:01 > 0:09:05We can fix them if we are allowed to fix them ourselves and that's

0:09:05 > 0:09:07what this is all about.

0:09:07 > 0:09:08Quick word from the audience.

0:09:08 > 0:09:10The gentleman in the second row here.

0:09:10 > 0:09:12There's been a lot of blame on the Conservatives for this

0:09:12 > 0:09:15but only one member of the panel in front of us has actually

0:09:16 > 0:09:16been in government.

0:09:16 > 0:09:19Why wasn't the power given back when you have the chance

0:09:19 > 0:09:20and were in office?

0:09:20 > 0:09:23Also, very quickly, sorry you're putting

0:09:23 > 0:09:25in the average salary is 28 grand.

0:09:25 > 0:09:27I'm nowhere near on ?28,000.

0:09:27 > 0:09:28It's not an average salary.

0:09:28 > 0:09:31Sorry.

0:09:31 > 0:09:34Final word from Mr Slater on this because you asked this question.

0:09:34 > 0:09:36What you make of what you've heard?

0:09:36 > 0:09:39I still think it's just a waste of money.

0:09:39 > 0:09:43And when it comes to casting my vote I'm going to spoil my paper

0:09:43 > 0:09:53and write across it "No mayor, please".

0:09:53 > 0:09:55And that's going to be it.

0:09:55 > 0:09:58Isn't that a great waste of an opportunity that you've got here.

0:09:58 > 0:09:59It sends a message back.

0:09:59 > 0:10:02I tell you, when they come the votes you may well find

0:10:02 > 0:10:04that the overwhelming majority will be spoilt papers and,

0:10:04 > 0:10:09if that's the case, that message will go back to central government

0:10:09 > 0:10:12and they'll say, look, we do not want a mayor here.

0:10:12 > 0:10:14Anybody have any sympathy for this argument that we don't

0:10:14 > 0:10:15really need this mayor?

0:10:15 > 0:10:16It's unwanted.

0:10:16 > 0:10:18Yes.

0:10:18 > 0:10:20The county council look after the whole of the West Midlands

0:10:20 > 0:10:24from 1974 until it lasted in 1986 and it was closed down

0:10:24 > 0:10:26because central government didn't like the way

0:10:26 > 0:10:31they were spending the money.

0:10:31 > 0:10:35Who's going to stick up for the role of having an elected mayor?

0:10:35 > 0:10:37Lady on the front row here.

0:10:37 > 0:10:40I think we should have the elected mayor, especially with the Brexit

0:10:40 > 0:10:43negotiations because we need somebody who can travel to Europe,

0:10:43 > 0:10:47the rest of the world and really sell Birmingham

0:10:47 > 0:10:52and the West Midlands and get inward investment into the region.

0:10:52 > 0:10:53OK.

0:10:53 > 0:10:57Right, well, we've heard that the opening positions,

0:10:57 > 0:11:02if you like, from each of the candidates and, indeed,

0:11:02 > 0:11:04from some people in the audience giving a take on this

0:11:04 > 0:11:07new mayoral role.

0:11:07 > 0:11:10But in which parts of the region will he or she be responsible for?

0:11:10 > 0:11:14Who exactly can vote in this election?

0:11:14 > 0:11:16And how precisely will the new leader be able to shape

0:11:17 > 0:11:19people's day-to-day lives?

0:11:19 > 0:11:23Elisabeth Glinka now considers the prospects.

0:11:27 > 0:11:29There's no gold chain.

0:11:29 > 0:11:31And it's not about opening school fetes.

0:11:31 > 0:11:35This mayor will be a directly elected politician making decisions

0:11:35 > 0:11:38that impact the lives of three million people.

0:11:38 > 0:11:41Two million will be eligible to vote.

0:11:41 > 0:11:44Think Giuliani, think BoJo, this person will represent us

0:11:44 > 0:11:49to the rest of the country and even the rest of the world.

0:11:49 > 0:11:52The metro mayor will cover seven metropolitan boroughs.

0:11:52 > 0:11:53Dudley.

0:11:53 > 0:11:54Solihull.

0:11:54 > 0:11:55Sandwell.

0:11:55 > 0:11:56Walsall.

0:11:56 > 0:11:57Wolverhampton.

0:11:57 > 0:11:58Coventry.

0:11:58 > 0:12:00Birmingham.

0:12:00 > 0:12:04And the people of those boroughs have different ideas

0:12:04 > 0:12:05about what the priority should be.

0:12:05 > 0:12:08I think it's important to focus on training for young people.

0:12:08 > 0:12:11I think in proving the railway will be a real good step forward.

0:12:11 > 0:12:13I think we need more smaller housing.

0:12:13 > 0:12:15Somebody really needs to grab the bull by the horns

0:12:15 > 0:12:21and say to the world, here we are, guys, come and see us.

0:12:21 > 0:12:27It's a big job with some big responsibilities.

0:12:27 > 0:12:33Overseeing the budget worth ?8 billion over 30 years.

0:12:33 > 0:12:36They'll be responsible for training at colleges and also

0:12:36 > 0:12:39for apprenticeships.

0:12:39 > 0:12:41Housing will also fall to them.

0:12:41 > 0:12:47Including compulsory purchase powers.

0:12:47 > 0:12:50And they'll control the region's transport budget, with final say

0:12:50 > 0:12:57over bus franchises, roads, and trams.

0:13:00 > 0:13:02In greater Manchester, the elected mayor will also take over the job

0:13:02 > 0:13:05of the Police Commissioner and responsibility for

0:13:05 > 0:13:07health and social care.

0:13:07 > 0:13:09It's hoped that here in the West Midlands,

0:13:09 > 0:13:11the mayor could also get these powers after the next

0:13:11 > 0:13:17election in 2020.

0:13:19 > 0:13:22The election takes place on May the 4th and it's

0:13:22 > 0:13:25using the supplementary voting system which means that

0:13:25 > 0:13:35as well as your first choice, you also get a second preference.

0:13:36 > 0:13:38Whomever wins, building a reputation and the standing

0:13:38 > 0:13:45of the West Midlands has got to be key amongst their priorities.

0:13:49 > 0:13:52Yes, it's one starting pistol after another

0:13:52 > 0:13:55at the moment, isn't it?

0:13:55 > 0:13:58Let's get on to our next question which comes from Mohammed Arlene

0:13:58 > 0:14:00and it's from transport.

0:14:00 > 0:14:01Your question?

0:14:01 > 0:14:04Evening, panel.

0:14:04 > 0:14:07Investing in transport is fundamental if we are to get

0:14:07 > 0:14:09West Midlands moving again.

0:14:09 > 0:14:11What are your plans, including reducing congestion,

0:14:11 > 0:14:16especially on our motorways and your views about

0:14:16 > 0:14:20nationalising the M6 toll?

0:14:20 > 0:14:22Right, well, Andy Street, you've said that congestion

0:14:22 > 0:14:24in the West Midlands is dreadful, or appalling.

0:14:24 > 0:14:27I'm not sure that restarting the super Prix Road race

0:14:27 > 0:14:30would improve congestion in Birmingham but what's your

0:14:30 > 0:14:34solution to the obvious gridlock in our part of the world?

0:14:34 > 0:14:38So, the long-term answer has to be about investing in public transport.

0:14:38 > 0:14:41We've got to get people out of their cars and give

0:14:41 > 0:14:42them an alternative.

0:14:42 > 0:14:45So, we've talked about reopening disused railway lines,

0:14:45 > 0:14:47we've talked about extending the Metro, and we've talked

0:14:47 > 0:14:51about genuine boss prioritisation.

0:14:51 > 0:14:53about genuine bus prioritisation.

0:14:53 > 0:14:56But the real question underlying all this is how we going to get

0:14:56 > 0:14:58the funds necessary to do that?

0:14:58 > 0:15:01And I would put it to you, if you look at the failure of this

0:15:01 > 0:15:04region over the last few decades, the local Labour leadership has

0:15:04 > 0:15:07not won the investment to invest in our transport.

0:15:07 > 0:15:17I am going to be able to get that investment.

0:15:17 > 0:15:18That is my my clear commitment.

0:15:18 > 0:15:21I want voters to think who is most able to win that

0:15:21 > 0:15:22investment for our region.

0:15:22 > 0:15:25So, it's a reproach to your party, the local decision-makers here.

0:15:25 > 0:15:28I'm glad that Andy has been a bit more party political than usual.

0:15:28 > 0:15:30He normally presents itself as an independent

0:15:30 > 0:15:31but you're not an independent.

0:15:31 > 0:15:32A Tory.

0:15:32 > 0:15:34And it's because he's a Tory that he opposes

0:15:34 > 0:15:36the nationalisation of the M6 toll.

0:15:36 > 0:15:39Business across the West Midlands is in favour of it.

0:15:39 > 0:15:40It is a no-brainer.

0:15:40 > 0:15:44Congestion costs, according to Greater Birmingham

0:15:44 > 0:15:46and Solihull Chamber of Commerce, West Midlands businesses

0:15:46 > 0:15:47at least 2 billion a year.

0:15:47 > 0:15:50Black Country Chambers of commerce, they say it's their number one

0:15:50 > 0:15:53priority and it is a fact that if the government nationalised

0:15:53 > 0:15:57the M6 toll and made it free, that would take tens of thousands

0:15:57 > 0:16:01of vehicles a day of our motorways and local roads

0:16:01 > 0:16:03in the West Midlands.

0:16:03 > 0:16:05And he doesn't want to do it because the Tory government

0:16:05 > 0:16:08in London doesn't want to pay the one off 1 billion pounds,

0:16:08 > 0:16:12although they announced this week they've got ?6 billion for roads

0:16:12 > 0:16:13in the south of England.

0:16:13 > 0:16:16It is typical.

0:16:16 > 0:16:18APPLAUSE.

0:16:18 > 0:16:23Pete Durnell, Ukip called for a while for nationalisation

0:16:23 > 0:16:26of the M6 toll but you've gone in for some toned down

0:16:26 > 0:16:31version of that, just subsidising HGVs, haven't you?

0:16:31 > 0:16:34That was actually a little while ago and I've spoken to a few people

0:16:34 > 0:16:36who actually took me all through the statistics.

0:16:36 > 0:16:38So, I've actually change that position.

0:16:38 > 0:16:41My position is, it's always been Ukip's policy that we want

0:16:41 > 0:16:43that road nationalised.

0:16:43 > 0:16:45We don't agree with toll roads.

0:16:45 > 0:16:48We think all roads should be free for everyone to use.

0:16:48 > 0:16:52What I have said since then is, if I had ?1 billion, or 2 billion,

0:16:52 > 0:16:54people disagree how much it would cost.

0:16:54 > 0:16:56And you gave that to me, it probably wouldn't

0:16:56 > 0:16:57be my number one priority.

0:16:57 > 0:17:00To spend it all on the M6 toll road.

0:17:00 > 0:17:03I would look at a lot of pinch points across the region

0:17:03 > 0:17:08as a priority, rather than that because, bluntly speaking,

0:17:08 > 0:17:11round about peak times 90 - 95% of HGVs already use the M6 toll.

0:17:11 > 0:17:13It will have benefits that it's not going to solve

0:17:13 > 0:17:15our congestion problem.

0:17:15 > 0:17:17Graham Stevenson, do you think public ownership is the fundamental

0:17:17 > 0:17:18answer to our problems?

0:17:18 > 0:17:20I do.

0:17:20 > 0:17:22I've always said a Communist is a socialist who really means

0:17:22 > 0:17:27what he says and I read Mean what I say I say that I want to not

0:17:27 > 0:17:34only nationalised the M6 but also bring into public ownership,

0:17:34 > 0:17:36owned by the local council, every single bus company

0:17:36 > 0:17:41in the West Midlands.

0:17:41 > 0:17:45Now, you don't need to pay huge sums of money to nationalise the M6 toll.

0:17:45 > 0:17:50We could do what government did in 1946, the departing Chancellor

0:17:50 > 0:17:56of the Exchequer only paid off the last bit of it quite recently.

0:17:56 > 0:17:58The bank of England was bought by providing low interest long-term

0:17:58 > 0:18:01bonds, that could be done in this case.

0:18:01 > 0:18:08We wouldn't have to pay a penny now, we could defer it till later.

0:18:08 > 0:18:10We're against toll roads, we're against making people pay

0:18:10 > 0:18:12twice to use something that they already pay for.

0:18:12 > 0:18:16APPLAUSE Just on driving the multimodal shift,

0:18:16 > 0:18:19the first thing is, we have perfectly good plan for transport

0:18:19 > 0:18:21for the West Midlands it is massively underfunded,

0:18:21 > 0:18:22even with the additional monies coming through that

0:18:22 > 0:18:25devolution package.

0:18:25 > 0:18:28We need about 700 million a year more than we are receiving

0:18:28 > 0:18:30in order to be competitive.

0:18:30 > 0:18:35The Conservative government that hasn't given is that funding over

0:18:35 > 0:18:38the past term of this government is responsible for this,

0:18:38 > 0:18:42can give us the money and can find at the drop of the hat the money,

0:18:42 > 0:18:4522 billion, to get the access into Heathrow.

0:18:45 > 0:18:50APPLAUSE Tricky issue this, isn't it for you, James,

0:18:50 > 0:18:54given that, obviously, transport has an environmental cost

0:18:54 > 0:19:00and, yet, we've got the cost of the congestion that

0:19:00 > 0:19:03we're all agreed is such a block on economic development.

0:19:03 > 0:19:05How do you square the circle and find an affordable answer?

0:19:06 > 0:19:06Absolutely.

0:19:06 > 0:19:08It's a real problem because congestion doesn't just

0:19:08 > 0:19:10cost businesses money for being stuck in traffic.

0:19:10 > 0:19:16Actually, it's causing gigantic levels of air pollution,

0:19:16 > 0:19:19we're seeing about 3000 people in our region every year dying early

0:19:19 > 0:19:20because of air pollution.

0:19:20 > 0:19:23The simple fact is, we do not have a good enough public transport

0:19:23 > 0:19:25system that most people can use every day.

0:19:25 > 0:19:26We do not have that.

0:19:26 > 0:19:27We need more funding.

0:19:27 > 0:19:31I respect a lot of what Andy says but I would see it very

0:19:31 > 0:19:33differently around funding.

0:19:33 > 0:19:36We voted in a government who said they would cut funding

0:19:36 > 0:19:37and that's what they've done.

0:19:37 > 0:19:39There isn't a magic pot of money.

0:19:39 > 0:19:41Until 2030, over the life of this combined authority deal,

0:19:41 > 0:19:43they are saying we will give you ?7 billion.

0:19:43 > 0:19:46At the same time, will be ?37 billion worse off

0:19:46 > 0:19:47because of government cuts.

0:19:47 > 0:19:48The money is not there.

0:19:48 > 0:19:49This is a real problem.

0:19:49 > 0:19:53No matter who is mayor, government is not going to give out free money.

0:19:53 > 0:19:55We've heard a lot about the toll road.

0:19:55 > 0:19:56Specifically, can I just pursue for your position

0:19:57 > 0:19:58on how you stand on that?

0:19:58 > 0:20:02I think I would open the toll road when there

0:20:02 > 0:20:04is congestion and traffic, perhaps on the M6, but if I think

0:20:04 > 0:20:06it's ?1 billion there's better things to do,

0:20:06 > 0:20:09for example there's 115 kilometres of railway lines that are disused

0:20:09 > 0:20:10throughout the entire region.

0:20:10 > 0:20:13They run alongside and near roads.

0:20:13 > 0:20:14People like going on trains.

0:20:14 > 0:20:17So, let's use that money to reopen those disused railway lines and get

0:20:17 > 0:20:20people moving within the region.

0:20:20 > 0:20:24APPLAUSE.

0:20:24 > 0:20:27The concentration on the M6 toll is understandable, given

0:20:27 > 0:20:29the impact of traffic congestion.

0:20:29 > 0:20:32Is it an example of market failure here?

0:20:32 > 0:20:33Government failure and market failure together?

0:20:33 > 0:20:34No.

0:20:34 > 0:20:37We've got to look at actually what the real issue is here.

0:20:37 > 0:20:38The issue is very clear.

0:20:38 > 0:20:40The issue is people travelling to destinations

0:20:40 > 0:20:44within the conurbation, not travelling around

0:20:44 > 0:20:46the conurbation.

0:20:46 > 0:20:49So, I'll absolutely clear, every investment decision

0:20:49 > 0:20:50as about a choice.

0:20:50 > 0:20:54It is not the right use of the money to nationalise the M6 toll

0:20:54 > 0:21:04and we should actually subsidise people travelling around our

0:21:05 > 0:21:07and actually subsidise people travelling around our

0:21:07 > 0:21:09conurbation not into destinations within the West Midlands.

0:21:09 > 0:21:11Let me be clear, Patrick, I'm certainly not saying

0:21:11 > 0:21:14that we in the West Midlands should pay for that road.

0:21:14 > 0:21:15The government should nationalise that road precisely

0:21:15 > 0:21:17because it is people going around the West Midlands...

0:21:17 > 0:21:20I'm going to bring the audience in at this point.

0:21:20 > 0:21:23There is a gentleman on the back row over there who has been trying

0:21:23 > 0:21:25for some time to get in.

0:21:25 > 0:21:27Is it on this question of public ownership?

0:21:27 > 0:21:28Nationalising or even the re-nationalising,

0:21:28 > 0:21:30as Jeremy Corbyn wants to do with public transport,

0:21:30 > 0:21:34is breaking EU law, is it not?

0:21:34 > 0:21:37How much of a problem is that going to be?

0:21:37 > 0:21:39So, if you wanted to renationalise the M6 toll road,

0:21:39 > 0:21:44or renationalise the railways, anything like that, we would have

0:21:44 > 0:21:49to wait until we formally leave the use until that

0:21:49 > 0:21:52to wait until we formally leave the EU until that

0:21:52 > 0:21:53could actually be possible.

0:21:53 > 0:21:54OK.

0:21:54 > 0:22:00Any support for taking the M6 toll into public ownership?

0:22:00 > 0:22:02What's the view generally, so far as that question is concerned?

0:22:02 > 0:22:05I have to ask whether it is actually feasible,

0:22:05 > 0:22:08given the legislation and so on.

0:22:08 > 0:22:11We are obsessed with the M6 toll, most people, most voters

0:22:11 > 0:22:14in the West Midlands are worried about the absence of bus services.

0:22:14 > 0:22:19We were told that deregulating and privatising bus services

0:22:19 > 0:22:21would mean more buses and they'd be cheaper and they'd

0:22:21 > 0:22:22be more plentiful.

0:22:22 > 0:22:24No, they're not.

0:22:24 > 0:22:26All that happened is, they swapped public monopoly

0:22:26 > 0:22:29for private monopoly.

0:22:29 > 0:22:33We need, not just a complete freeze on fares, we need an massively

0:22:33 > 0:22:36reduced fare before we can start ordering people not

0:22:36 > 0:22:37to use their cars.

0:22:37 > 0:22:38OK.

0:22:38 > 0:22:39I'm going to move it on now...

0:22:39 > 0:22:41APPLAUSE.

0:22:41 > 0:22:43I'm going to move it onto the next question

0:22:43 > 0:22:46which is about housing, which is, again, another

0:22:46 > 0:22:49of the primary responsibilities of the metro mayor, so-called.

0:22:49 > 0:22:52Although some public policy analysts would like the mayor to have an even

0:22:52 > 0:22:55bigger role than the one suggested at the moment.

0:22:55 > 0:22:57The question comes from Dan Jones.

0:22:57 > 0:22:59Dan Jones, your question on housing.

0:22:59 > 0:23:02How would the mayor ensure that more affordable housing is created

0:23:02 > 0:23:09across the region without negatively impacting on-screen space?

0:23:09 > 0:23:11across the region without negatively impacting on green space?

0:23:11 > 0:23:14Bearing in mind, James BUrn that you got a precise example

0:23:14 > 0:23:17there in Solihull of a proposed development coming up on green belt.

0:23:17 > 0:23:18Big issue, big talking point there.

0:23:18 > 0:23:20And the pressure for affordable housing.

0:23:20 > 0:23:21How do you answer it?

0:23:21 > 0:23:22Big question.

0:23:22 > 0:23:23Thank you.

0:23:23 > 0:23:24There is a housing crisis.

0:23:24 > 0:23:25Let's be clear.

0:23:25 > 0:23:28As a local councillor, I get at least two phone calls every

0:23:28 > 0:23:31single week from people in tears because they find themselves

0:23:31 > 0:23:33homeless and there is literally nowhere to go.

0:23:33 > 0:23:35You walk through the streets of Birmingham and the number

0:23:35 > 0:23:37of rough sleepers has risen unbelievably in five years.

0:23:37 > 0:23:40I cannot imagine what it would be like to not have a house.

0:23:40 > 0:23:42The reason this has happened is because we haven't

0:23:42 > 0:23:44built enough houses, we've left the market to it.

0:23:44 > 0:23:47In the region, we need to build between ten

0:23:47 > 0:23:48and 15,000 houses per year.

0:23:48 > 0:23:51We are building between three and 4000.

0:23:51 > 0:23:53We are building between 3000 and 4000.

0:23:53 > 0:23:55The main reason for that is government has not stepped

0:23:55 > 0:23:58in to build houses since the 1980s, to make affordable housing

0:23:58 > 0:24:01and we've seen prices rocket.

0:24:01 > 0:24:03We need a giant investment of government

0:24:03 > 0:24:05money in-house building.

0:24:05 > 0:24:06money in house building.

0:24:06 > 0:24:09Until we see that, were not going to end the housing crisis.

0:24:09 > 0:24:12People are going to go homeless and, quite frankly, if the government

0:24:12 > 0:24:13cannot provide homes to its citizens, it is

0:24:13 > 0:24:15failing in its basic duty.

0:24:15 > 0:24:18Sion, you got yourself into some hot water with voters in Solihull

0:24:18 > 0:24:21recently by saying that James's town had a big role to play

0:24:21 > 0:24:22in providing new homes.

0:24:22 > 0:24:26What would you say to people there?

0:24:26 > 0:24:28What I was actually saying then wasn't what was reported

0:24:28 > 0:24:33but was precisely the answer to the question.

0:24:33 > 0:24:36It sounds a bit boring but what we need is a regional spatial plan.

0:24:36 > 0:24:37It's absolutely essential.

0:24:37 > 0:24:39That is a power that the mayor doesn't have.

0:24:39 > 0:24:40Initially.

0:24:40 > 0:24:43What does it mean, precisely?

0:24:43 > 0:24:46What it means is, you've got this whole big region,

0:24:46 > 0:24:49seven different local authorities, another one stuck on the outside,

0:24:49 > 0:24:52and scattered across this region there is employment land,

0:24:52 > 0:24:55and there is housing land, and there are brown field sites,

0:24:55 > 0:24:58and greenfield sites and there are places where more jobs

0:24:58 > 0:25:00are going to be an places where more people live

0:25:00 > 0:25:06and there are all the questions of connectivity between them all.

0:25:06 > 0:25:13Now, you have to plan all of that together in one plan and the fact

0:25:13 > 0:25:16that we haven't got a plan like that and the fact that most developed

0:25:16 > 0:25:19regions in the world have got it, means that we can't attract

0:25:19 > 0:25:20investment into our region.

0:25:20 > 0:25:23So, we have to have spatial plan before we can do anything,

0:25:23 > 0:25:25before we can put the right things in the right place.

0:25:25 > 0:25:28Then we can build more council housing, we can enable the building

0:25:28 > 0:25:31of more social housing, of building housing of other kinds,

0:25:31 > 0:25:34we can clean up the private rented sector and we will get investment

0:25:34 > 0:25:36in to the private house-building sector, as well.

0:25:36 > 0:25:38And it will lower the price in the private sector.

0:25:38 > 0:25:41If you're serious about the West Midlands and you believe

0:25:41 > 0:25:43in our region, you have to have a plan that

0:25:43 > 0:25:52puts it all together.

0:25:52 > 0:25:54Pete Durnell, you've been majoring on brown field development and,

0:25:54 > 0:25:56indeed, refurb of derelict areas but surely that's not

0:25:56 > 0:25:57going to be enough.

0:25:57 > 0:26:00It's a question of the green belt if we're going to deal

0:26:00 > 0:26:02with this, isn't it?

0:26:02 > 0:26:06I accept to a certain extent what Sion is saying but you can

0:26:06 > 0:26:09have a spatial plan as much as you like, what the spatial plan

0:26:09 > 0:26:12will tell you is there's a lot of land on the west side

0:26:12 > 0:26:15of Birmingham, in the Black Country, which is available for development.

0:26:15 > 0:26:18OK, it might cost quite a bit of money because it's brownfield,

0:26:18 > 0:26:19it may have pollution, or whatever.

0:26:19 > 0:26:22If you go along to East side, around Coventry, Solihull,

0:26:22 > 0:26:23there is a huge shortage of land.

0:26:23 > 0:26:26There is not enough Brownfield land there so you have two choices.

0:26:26 > 0:26:29You either build up with high-rise or you have to go

0:26:29 > 0:26:32across and the only way you can go across is on green belt.

0:26:32 > 0:26:34So, that is the situation we're in.

0:26:34 > 0:26:36A bit of green belt development is inevitable, Beverley?

0:26:36 > 0:26:39Well, I think there's a couple of really important points here.

0:26:39 > 0:26:43Firstly, the builders of social housing, affordable housing,

0:26:43 > 0:26:46have been starved of thecash that they require to invest in order

0:26:46 > 0:26:48to build the housing stock for affordable homes

0:26:48 > 0:26:50by the Conservative government, cutting the rents for social

0:26:50 > 0:26:53housing associations, cutting the new homes bonus

0:26:53 > 0:26:56and the right to buy which means as fast as we build affordable

0:26:56 > 0:26:58homes, we sell them at a massive discount

0:26:58 > 0:27:00and were not replacing them.

0:27:00 > 0:27:02So, what do we need?

0:27:02 > 0:27:06We need more money, as James is saying, we need to lift the cap

0:27:06 > 0:27:10on the housing revenue account, enabling others to borrow more

0:27:10 > 0:27:13in the region, and we need to pull the money straight down from housing

0:27:13 > 0:27:15and communities agency.

0:27:15 > 0:27:18In terms of greenfield and brownfield development, the land

0:27:18 > 0:27:23commission that was commissioned by the combine authority recently

0:27:23 > 0:27:25commission that was commissioned by the combined authority recently

0:27:25 > 0:27:28came out with a detailed report stating very clearly that

0:27:28 > 0:27:30unless we use very sensibly some of the greenfield land

0:27:30 > 0:27:34that is already allocated through the local area plans

0:27:34 > 0:27:37for development, we will not reach our target and we cannot spend

0:27:37 > 0:27:38all our time remediating.

0:27:38 > 0:27:41Andy Street, what Beverley is saying there is that the ambitions that

0:27:41 > 0:27:45you've expressed an housing are trapped, in effect,

0:27:45 > 0:27:47by the limitations and failures of government policy

0:27:47 > 0:27:48by your party in office.

0:27:48 > 0:27:50And I don't accept that.

0:27:50 > 0:27:53The question was how were going to build more homes,

0:27:53 > 0:27:56including affordable homes.

0:27:56 > 0:28:01And the answer is, in my plan, I've committed very clearly

0:28:01 > 0:28:03to doubling the rate of house-building and the tactic

0:28:03 > 0:28:06that will be used and the policy that will be used very clearly

0:28:06 > 0:28:07is brownfield first.

0:28:07 > 0:28:10Now, everybody says that but, if you look around this area,

0:28:10 > 0:28:13you will all know hundreds of derelict sites that have laid

0:28:13 > 0:28:18derelict for 10-20, 30 years.

0:28:18 > 0:28:20It's a wonderful example of failure in the past and what this

0:28:20 > 0:28:24is about is using new money that is there to clean the site

0:28:24 > 0:28:27and then develop them out.

0:28:27 > 0:28:30What I'm standing for is a person that will change

0:28:30 > 0:28:33what has gone before.

0:28:33 > 0:28:35So there are more homes built.

0:28:35 > 0:28:39Were then do you stand on this great argument

0:28:39 > 0:28:41going on between Andrew Mitchell who has got this proposed 6000

0:28:41 > 0:28:45development of housing in Sutton Coldfield and Sajid Javid,

0:28:45 > 0:28:50the Communities Secretary, who is promising tough

0:28:50 > 0:28:51decisions on this?

0:28:51 > 0:28:52It's very straightforward.

0:28:52 > 0:28:54We should never have got to that point at all.

0:28:54 > 0:28:57Because, quite simply, the reason we are at that point

0:28:57 > 0:29:00is we have failed to do exactly what I have been talking about.

0:29:00 > 0:29:04So, what I've said is that will never happen again in that way.

0:29:04 > 0:29:07We shouldn't be building on the green belt, we should be

0:29:07 > 0:29:08building on the rich belt.

0:29:08 > 0:29:16Fancy asking a bunch of accountants, financiers, estate agents,

0:29:16 > 0:29:21developers, what shall we do to develop our housing and building

0:29:21 > 0:29:23policy in West Midlands?

0:29:23 > 0:29:27Of course, they're going to tell us the land that they want,

0:29:27 > 0:29:32the land that they don't currently have, the land they prefer to have.

0:29:32 > 0:29:35What I'd like to see is a massive expansion of council house building

0:29:35 > 0:29:45so that every single 16-35-year-old has a home that they want.

0:29:45 > 0:29:50And every single 40-plus-year-old is paying reasonably for mortgages

0:29:50 > 0:29:53and or rents that's the kind of massive change that we need.

0:29:53 > 0:29:56We can only do it by introducing a land tax and by controlling

0:29:56 > 0:30:00the land in our area.

0:30:00 > 0:30:02Let's go back to our questioner, Dan Jones, you've been

0:30:02 > 0:30:05patiently listening to all that, what you make of the answers you've

0:30:05 > 0:30:06been hearing?

0:30:06 > 0:30:09I'd like to take Andy Street to task on his commitment to

0:30:09 > 0:30:12redevelop brownfield sites, which is very commendable,

0:30:12 > 0:30:16but the commitment needs to be about developing it for housing.

0:30:16 > 0:30:19In the area in which I live we have lots of brownfield sites, we

0:30:19 > 0:30:21have a massive one that was meant to be

0:30:21 > 0:30:23going for Tesco, Tesco have now

0:30:23 > 0:30:26pulled out and that's a prime location for housing, and I would

0:30:26 > 0:30:28like to see housing there, not another Asda, a supermarket coming

0:30:28 > 0:30:30in that we don't need.

0:30:30 > 0:30:32We do need affordable housing and that's what

0:30:32 > 0:30:39I'd like to see.

0:30:39 > 0:30:42For the final word on this subject to the man in the blue

0:30:42 > 0:30:44shirt, just near the front, here, if you could?

0:30:45 > 0:30:46Thank you so much, Patrick.

0:30:46 > 0:30:47Briefly, if you would.

0:30:47 > 0:30:52Yeah, very quickly, it's indirectly but directly directed to something

0:30:52 > 0:30:53that you said.

0:30:53 > 0:30:56I'm with an organisation called Let's Feed Brum.

0:30:56 > 0:31:01Six nights a week, on the streets of Birmingham, handing out

0:31:01 > 0:31:02sandwiches and hot food to the homeless.

0:31:02 > 0:31:05It is a growing crisis, it does need looking at, and whoever

0:31:05 > 0:31:09wins as mayor I invite you to come and join me for one hour to come out

0:31:09 > 0:31:13on the streets of Birmingham, meet some of them and see what we can

0:31:13 > 0:31:18directly do to help these people.

0:31:18 > 0:31:23Your invitation has been heard by all the candidates, so I'm sure they

0:31:23 > 0:31:26were listening.

0:31:26 > 0:31:30If you are just joining us, you are watching

0:31:30 > 0:31:33A Mayor For The West Midlands, it is our BBC Midlands debate

0:31:33 > 0:31:34from Birmingham's Ormiston Academy.

0:31:34 > 0:31:39You can continue this discussion right

0:31:39 > 0:31:41now on social media using the hashtag WMMayor.

0:31:41 > 0:31:45I'm going to move on to our next question.

0:31:45 > 0:31:48You have a question about the early impact of

0:31:48 > 0:31:52the new mayor, don't you?

0:31:52 > 0:31:54Indeed.

0:31:54 > 0:31:57It's a new role, I'm just interested in what will have changed for me or

0:31:57 > 0:32:00my children after your first 100 days in office.

0:32:00 > 0:32:04Pete Durnell, you have talked as others have about

0:32:04 > 0:32:07making an initial, clear impact, so how do you intend

0:32:07 > 0:32:09to set about this?

0:32:09 > 0:32:11Actually, I have not promised great things after 100 days.

0:32:11 > 0:32:19I think it would be wrong to do that.

0:32:19 > 0:32:22I think we always have to remember here that

0:32:22 > 0:32:24the mayor with very few exceptions

0:32:24 > 0:32:28has to work with seven council leaders.

0:32:28 > 0:32:30It is not a presidential position, you cannot say, right,

0:32:30 > 0:32:32I want this done, and it happens.

0:32:32 > 0:32:34That is not the way it works.

0:32:34 > 0:32:36You sit in a cabinet with seven council

0:32:36 > 0:32:38leaders and it is a collaborative decision on almost everything.

0:32:38 > 0:32:47The thing that I would be doing for the

0:32:47 > 0:32:50first 100 days quite honestly is finding out what is going on,

0:32:50 > 0:32:52because I don't think anybody really knows what is going on

0:32:52 > 0:32:54in the combined authority.

0:32:54 > 0:32:57I've seen some of the reports and I can't...

0:32:57 > 0:32:59She wants to know how her life will be affected.

0:32:59 > 0:33:02It seems you're saying it's not going to be affected very

0:33:02 > 0:33:03much at all.

0:33:03 > 0:33:04In 100 days, no, it isn't.

0:33:04 > 0:33:07Because the mayor will have to get to grips with all the stuff

0:33:07 > 0:33:11that is going on already, find out whether is being spent, find out how

0:33:11 > 0:33:13far the plans have got, all this sort of stuff.

0:33:13 > 0:33:15Because, essentially, people don't know and I

0:33:15 > 0:33:16don't know...

0:33:16 > 0:33:18Beverley Nielsen, would you have an instant influence

0:33:18 > 0:33:19on her everyday life?

0:33:19 > 0:33:20Yes, yes, absolutely.

0:33:20 > 0:33:22I'm very clear actually that I would introduce universal

0:33:22 > 0:33:25fare so we would have the opportunity to buy a ticket that is

0:33:25 > 0:33:26integrated.

0:33:26 > 0:33:28I am very interested in last mile solutions so I'm talking

0:33:28 > 0:33:32about park and ride with Sprint buses so we can clean up the air,

0:33:32 > 0:33:34very quickly change, start giving people choice, and of course I'm

0:33:34 > 0:33:36going to introduce my Beverley's Bikes right across

0:33:36 > 0:33:37the West Midlands.

0:33:37 > 0:33:38Good.

0:33:38 > 0:33:40Sion Simon, your 100 days promise?

0:33:40 > 0:33:42One of my commitments is to cap bus and tram

0:33:42 > 0:33:44fares at ?4.40 a day.

0:33:44 > 0:33:48Can you do that?

0:33:48 > 0:33:50It's a deregulated market.

0:33:50 > 0:33:51Give me a minute, Patrick.

0:33:51 > 0:33:56Give me a minute.

0:33:56 > 0:33:58?4.40 a day applied automatically and electronically

0:33:58 > 0:34:01like they've been doing in London and similar regions for years and

0:34:01 > 0:34:05years.

0:34:05 > 0:34:08And free public transport on bus and trams for 16 to 19-year-olds

0:34:08 > 0:34:10in further education.

0:34:10 > 0:34:12Now, some people, Patrick has just revealed

0:34:12 > 0:34:15himself to be one of them, say to me, you don't really

0:34:15 > 0:34:17have the powers to do that at all.

0:34:17 > 0:34:20I think that I can probably do that in 100 days.

0:34:20 > 0:34:22And I think that, going back to the previous

0:34:22 > 0:34:25gentleman's point, about the absolutely shameful

0:34:25 > 0:34:28scandal of homelessness

0:34:28 > 0:34:31in the West Midlands, going back to that, we're not going

0:34:31 > 0:34:34to solve that problem in 100 days, obviously not.

0:34:34 > 0:34:37But I would like to think that we can start to make a

0:34:37 > 0:34:38difference in 100 days.

0:34:38 > 0:34:40I would like to think that you, sir, will feel

0:34:40 > 0:34:42the difference in 100 days in having a mayor

0:34:42 > 0:34:45in the West Midlands who actually cares about and wants

0:34:45 > 0:34:49to solve that problem and does come down to see you and is asking you

0:34:49 > 0:34:51what do you need, how can we help,

0:34:51 > 0:34:54because it is a disgrace to our region that we have people sleeping

0:34:54 > 0:34:57and dying on our streets in a rich country like this.

0:34:57 > 0:35:00Absolutely outrageous.

0:35:00 > 0:35:04Your 100 day pledge.

0:35:04 > 0:35:07One thing I would say is a very respected from Pete

0:35:07 > 0:35:08throughout the campaign is honesty.

0:35:08 > 0:35:12I agree with this spirit of what Sion and Beverley are saying but it

0:35:12 > 0:35:13is not deliverable in 100 days.

0:35:13 > 0:35:16What I think you can do in 100 days

0:35:16 > 0:35:18is change direction.

0:35:18 > 0:35:21At the moment we are set on a course for a

0:35:21 > 0:35:23trickle-down economic plan that invests a lot in wealthy areas

0:35:23 > 0:35:26and hopes it trickles down for everyone else's benefit.

0:35:26 > 0:35:28That hasn't worked in the last 25 years, it's not going

0:35:28 > 0:35:29to work now.

0:35:29 > 0:35:32So the first thing I would do in my first ten days would

0:35:32 > 0:35:35be to appoint a deputy mayor to make sure everyone benefits

0:35:35 > 0:35:37from the economic plan...

0:35:37 > 0:35:40No, the mayor has to have a deputy mayor it is in the

0:35:40 > 0:35:41constitution.

0:35:41 > 0:35:44So I would make sure that deputy mayor is in charge for

0:35:44 > 0:35:46every decision that comes to that cabinet, saying will face benefit

0:35:46 > 0:35:49ordinary people, yes or no, if no how do we change it?

0:35:49 > 0:35:51And what is your key policy within that?

0:35:51 > 0:35:53Can you just hit the bull's-eye with the

0:35:53 > 0:35:55key...?

0:35:55 > 0:35:58One in three children in the West Midlands living in poverty.

0:35:58 > 0:35:59It's that high.

0:35:59 > 0:36:01That has to change.

0:36:01 > 0:36:04To change that, we need new economic plans.

0:36:04 > 0:36:07And what we have got to do is make sure that these plans come about.

0:36:07 > 0:36:08Graham Stevenson.

0:36:08 > 0:36:13Well, the general election, actually creates the

0:36:13 > 0:36:15possibility for addressing the issue of municipal ownership

0:36:15 > 0:36:17of bus and tram sector.

0:36:17 > 0:36:19The Tories have currently got a bill in the

0:36:19 > 0:36:21Lords which will probably fail which would prevent

0:36:21 > 0:36:22that from happening.

0:36:22 > 0:36:23Very undemocratic.

0:36:23 > 0:36:30If, therefore, it's possible to proceed after the

0:36:30 > 0:36:33election of a mayor with the new municipalisation of bus

0:36:33 > 0:36:35services, I think major companies like that which produces the

0:36:35 > 0:36:38electric taxi owned by a huge Chinese conglomerate would be very

0:36:38 > 0:36:42interested in the manufacturing of electric buses and electric trams.

0:36:42 > 0:36:45Instead of bringing them from Italy on a low loader across a motorway,

0:36:45 > 0:36:46all the way across Europe...

0:36:46 > 0:36:49You could spend a lot of money on this.

0:36:49 > 0:36:51There's a lot of money being consumed, isn't there?

0:36:51 > 0:36:54We've already worked out throughout the campaign

0:36:54 > 0:37:00there could well be an introduction of a West Midlands bond but one of

0:37:00 > 0:37:03the things about this crap devolution deal is that the mayor

0:37:03 > 0:37:07would need to go back to whatever government we have after the general

0:37:07 > 0:37:10election and say it needs to be re-negotiated.

0:37:10 > 0:37:12Before we can get people out of their cars, we have to

0:37:13 > 0:37:13provide massive carrots.

0:37:13 > 0:37:19We can only do that with really serious money.

0:37:19 > 0:37:21Andy Street.

0:37:21 > 0:37:23It's an interesting question.

0:37:23 > 0:37:28I've been reflecting and I think the answer is,

0:37:28 > 0:37:31I'd choose something that costs no money at all but actually

0:37:31 > 0:37:34illustrated what this job is all about and it's all about leadership.

0:37:34 > 0:37:38So, the thing I would choose is that in the first 100 days I would make

0:37:38 > 0:37:47sure we had a Brexit summit which brought

0:37:47 > 0:37:49gether big businesses that have got a lot

0:37:49 > 0:37:50at stake, which employ thousands of people.

0:37:50 > 0:37:53And get them together with key government ministers who are

0:37:53 > 0:37:55negotiating a future deal.

0:37:55 > 0:37:57And there are really practical matters in that

0:37:57 > 0:37:58deal that are going to affect our prosperity.

0:37:58 > 0:38:01For example?

0:38:01 > 0:38:03For example, our automotive companies

0:38:03 > 0:38:10are talking about whether they are able to move goods between European

0:38:10 > 0:38:11countries in the supply chain.

0:38:11 > 0:38:13That needs to be tariff free.

0:38:13 > 0:38:18When the Prime Minister was last here, I was

0:38:18 > 0:38:20briefing her and the Secretary of State for business on that.

0:38:20 > 0:38:22It's those practical matters that come

0:38:22 > 0:38:25from a new leadership role.

0:38:25 > 0:38:27That's what I mean by speaking up for the region.

0:38:27 > 0:38:30It's interesting because...

0:38:30 > 0:38:33We'll come onto some Brexit related matters in a moment but it's very

0:38:33 > 0:38:36interesting just to go back to the person who post this

0:38:36 > 0:38:37really quite challenging question.

0:38:37 > 0:38:39I'm just wondering what you are making about

0:38:39 > 0:38:42what the candidates have said so far on this.

0:38:42 > 0:38:45I'm not impressed by anyone who says 100 days is no time at all.

0:38:45 > 0:38:48OK.

0:38:48 > 0:38:51So what would be your choice?

0:38:51 > 0:38:54If you could rule the world and the, let's say, not the world

0:38:54 > 0:38:57but the West Midlands, what would be your big initiative,

0:38:57 > 0:38:59your big idea to make an instant impact?

0:38:59 > 0:39:01The instant impact is to change the way

0:39:01 > 0:39:04we approach house-building, for instance.

0:39:04 > 0:39:08I think the UK has been stuck in this format of government,

0:39:08 > 0:39:18managers, house-building, the house builders

0:39:18 > 0:39:21there are plenty of other areas within Europe

0:39:21 > 0:39:23where is not managed in blocks by individuals.

0:39:23 > 0:39:25OK.

0:39:25 > 0:39:29Woman in blue in the middle of the audience.

0:39:29 > 0:39:32I'm just interested in your pet ideas,

0:39:32 > 0:39:34pet suggestions, if you could absolutely

0:39:34 > 0:39:37have a word in the ear of the incoming Mayor and say

0:39:37 > 0:39:38this is what you want.

0:39:38 > 0:39:44I'm not sure I have a pet idea but talking from a project

0:39:44 > 0:39:50management perspective, if you are a mayor,

0:39:50 > 0:39:53why not look at the job as a project?

0:39:53 > 0:39:56Why don't you look at the plan back from the day your

0:39:56 > 0:40:00mandate finishes and why not to be able to deliver in the first 100

0:40:00 > 0:40:03days at least one or two points, be that important or not.

0:40:03 > 0:40:04I don't see why not.

0:40:04 > 0:40:05Very briefly, if you would.

0:40:05 > 0:40:07I actually agree with Sion.

0:40:07 > 0:40:09The first 100 days priority would be to

0:40:09 > 0:40:11sort out some of our homelessness.

0:40:11 > 0:40:13It's shameful to society what's happening with our homeless people.

0:40:13 > 0:40:22I don't agree we can change the way we do

0:40:22 > 0:40:23housing in 100 days

0:40:23 > 0:40:25but I absolutely agree with Sion that we

0:40:25 > 0:40:28need to sort out the homeless crisis.

0:40:28 > 0:40:32As I said, we are going to move on and it is Brexit and all

0:40:32 > 0:40:34these use and challenges that go with that,

0:40:34 > 0:40:38the burning issue of the day.

0:40:38 > 0:40:40Davinci has a question on Brexit?

0:40:40 > 0:40:43How will you use Brexit to boost the economy?

0:40:43 > 0:40:44Now, that is the question for you, Beverly.

0:40:44 > 0:40:46Of course the Liberal Democrats have made

0:40:46 > 0:40:49anti-Brexit very much your signature issue and you've talked about

0:40:49 > 0:40:54leading everybody through the challenges and uncertainties.

0:40:54 > 0:40:55What's your answer?

0:40:55 > 0:40:58I think it is a risk for our economy.

0:40:58 > 0:41:02I think the danger is that if we do not have tariff

0:41:02 > 0:41:05free access that we have tariffs imposed on the imports used in our

0:41:05 > 0:41:08cross European supply chain we make 30% of all cars here but my whole

0:41:08 > 0:41:11approach as mayor would be around investing in our home grown

0:41:11 > 0:41:14businesses, so building up the manufacturing businesses,

0:41:14 > 0:41:17businesses that start here and pulling through

0:41:17 > 0:41:20those businesses young talent that we are equally skilling up and

0:41:20 > 0:41:24training in this region and not losing them as part of the brain

0:41:24 > 0:41:28drain because we have the highest

0:41:28 > 0:41:29proportion of students in this region.

0:41:29 > 0:41:32Our human gold mine.

0:41:32 > 0:41:35I want to see them going into our businesses and driving and powering

0:41:35 > 0:41:38the next generation of growth because we're on the verge

0:41:38 > 0:41:40of a transformation.

0:41:40 > 0:41:44I don't agree with my colleagues who say that we're

0:41:44 > 0:41:47promising too much because what's the point of a mayor if you're not

0:41:47 > 0:41:50actually going to change things.

0:41:50 > 0:41:53I don't agree for a minute that this is about being restricted

0:41:53 > 0:41:54by the devolution powers.

0:41:54 > 0:41:57This is about an individual who is going to work with

0:41:57 > 0:42:00everybody in this region, have grand ambition,

0:42:00 > 0:42:0215 years hence, start with

0:42:02 > 0:42:06the end in mind and work towards it will stop we pass the 1 million mark

0:42:06 > 0:42:10with electric vehicles last year.

0:42:10 > 0:42:1120 million will be sold by 2025

0:42:11 > 0:42:13and 100 million by 2030.

0:42:13 > 0:42:18Electric vehicles, battery power, new renewable energy

0:42:18 > 0:42:27and life sciences and nano sciences, that is going

0:42:27 > 0:42:28to power growth for us.

0:42:28 > 0:42:30Pete Durnell.

0:42:30 > 0:42:32Beverly Nielsen is saying there that she has

0:42:32 > 0:42:35got an idea for get over the challenges of Brexit.

0:42:35 > 0:42:41At the same time spelling at least a certain

0:42:41 > 0:42:42amount of disaster, at least uncertainty.

0:42:42 > 0:42:44I disagree.

0:42:44 > 0:42:46Essentially, Beverly wants to give everything to

0:42:46 > 0:42:47everybody.

0:42:47 > 0:42:52That's great.

0:42:52 > 0:42:54I'll tell you now, our councils are deeply in debt

0:42:54 > 0:42:57every single one of all southern councils are deeply in debt.

0:42:57 > 0:43:00They are getting cut back every year.

0:43:00 > 0:43:04I know my own Council of Sandwell

0:43:04 > 0:43:07has put pretty much every green area up for sale.

0:43:07 > 0:43:09So that's the kind of state that we are in.

0:43:09 > 0:43:11To pretend that we can actually spend loads of

0:43:11 > 0:43:14money on lots of things is unfortunately not realistic,

0:43:14 > 0:43:16in my opinion.

0:43:16 > 0:43:18In terms of Brexit, I'm passionate about Brexit.

0:43:18 > 0:43:22I believe the opportunities that were going to

0:43:22 > 0:43:24have with trade with the world essentially massively outweigh any

0:43:24 > 0:43:26drawbacks.

0:43:26 > 0:43:29I do accept there is some uncertainty but I've spoken a lot

0:43:29 > 0:43:31with people in the chambers of, as and actually businesses

0:43:31 > 0:43:32are quite excited about it.

0:43:32 > 0:43:35They are thinking in different ways, they are going to

0:43:35 > 0:43:36work in different ways.

0:43:36 > 0:43:38It is not all doom and gloom and uncertainty

0:43:38 > 0:43:39by any shadow of a doubt.

0:43:39 > 0:43:41Is it doom and gloom for you?

0:43:41 > 0:43:42Brexit is going to happen.

0:43:42 > 0:43:45We've all got to shut up and get on with it, basically.

0:43:45 > 0:43:46And I think there are opportunities.

0:43:46 > 0:43:48Actually, there is a massive opportunity to build

0:43:48 > 0:43:49a more home-grown economy.

0:43:49 > 0:43:52At the moment, if a supermarket opens in the area

0:43:52 > 0:43:54for every pound that you spend there, 50p is

0:43:54 > 0:43:55sucked out of our economy.

0:43:55 > 0:43:57Sorry, 95p is sucked out of our economy.

0:43:57 > 0:43:59If a local shop opens, every pound spent there,

0:43:59 > 0:44:0050p remains in the economy.

0:44:00 > 0:44:03This is our chance to build a more home-grown economy,

0:44:03 > 0:44:05trading with each other, based on small businesses, based on West

0:44:05 > 0:44:08Midlands people being employed by West Midlands businesses which

0:44:08 > 0:44:10operate for the benefit of everyone seeing more money staying here,

0:44:10 > 0:44:12flowing around here and actually using that to address

0:44:13 > 0:44:13things like poverty.

0:44:13 > 0:44:16This is a real opportunity and one we must take.

0:44:16 > 0:44:18Brexit is happening and it's in our grasp

0:44:18 > 0:44:19to make what we can of it.

0:44:19 > 0:44:22Sion Simon, you sit as a member of the European

0:44:22 > 0:44:26Parliament so you see issues from both sides of the travel, so to

0:44:26 > 0:44:28speak.

0:44:28 > 0:44:29How do you bring that experience together

0:44:30 > 0:44:31to answer the question?

0:44:31 > 0:44:33Let me answer.

0:44:33 > 0:44:37Great question and, if you don't mind me

0:44:37 > 0:44:41saying, cracking name, Da Vinci.

0:44:41 > 0:44:45The first thing we need is a seat at the table.

0:44:45 > 0:44:47The Tory government has been progressing as one

0:44:47 > 0:44:49and they've done nothing about it.

0:44:49 > 0:44:51They are negotiating a London Brexit

0:44:51 > 0:44:52that suits Conservative government in London.

0:44:52 > 0:44:54It's all about financial services, it's not about

0:44:54 > 0:44:58manufacturing, they don't care about how engineering base,

0:44:58 > 0:45:01Dave tried to destroy it once in the 70s and 80s already.

0:45:01 > 0:45:03They're not interested in our higher education institutions

0:45:03 > 0:45:04which are crucial part of our economy.

0:45:04 > 0:45:07We need a West Midlands seat at the table because actually

0:45:07 > 0:45:10it's not about how Brexit or soft Brexit, what we need and what we

0:45:10 > 0:45:16need to deliver is a West Midlands Brexit.

0:45:16 > 0:45:18Andy Street, do you take up the point there that Sion

0:45:18 > 0:45:21was making, particularly at Jaguar, Land Rover, who are very worried

0:45:21 > 0:45:25about access to their principal markets which are indeed our

0:45:25 > 0:45:30neighbouring European partner nations at the moment.

0:45:30 > 0:45:33All right, they sell big in China and all

0:45:33 > 0:45:36around the world but that's the big worry that they have.

0:45:36 > 0:45:38They say that they want clear, open access

0:45:38 > 0:45:39which is in question.

0:45:39 > 0:45:41That of course is what I said in response to the

0:45:41 > 0:45:44previous question, my 100 day priority was ensuring that would

0:45:44 > 0:45:46happen and making sure the Prime Minister and others actually

0:45:46 > 0:45:49understood what is at stake for the West Midlands.

0:45:49 > 0:45:51Can you make them deliver a tailor-made solution?

0:45:51 > 0:45:55Yes.

0:45:55 > 0:45:57You make sure and I have done it personally, discussed with the

0:45:57 > 0:46:00chambers of commerce and then make sure that the issues are understood

0:46:00 > 0:46:04by the government ministers.

0:46:04 > 0:46:07That's why you need a powerful mayor.

0:46:07 > 0:46:09Can I answer the question with more broadly.

0:46:09 > 0:46:10Briefly.

0:46:10 > 0:46:16I want to put a thought to you.

0:46:16 > 0:46:18The thought was very much is their opportunity in this?

0:46:18 > 0:46:21My general approach to this is yes.

0:46:21 > 0:46:31I want to reflect on my business experience here in answering that.

0:46:32 > 0:46:35I was leading John Lewis at the time of

0:46:35 > 0:46:37the global recession and everyone said disaster, terrible.

0:46:37 > 0:46:38But in every adversity, opportunities.

0:46:38 > 0:46:40Fundamentally I disagree with Sion.

0:46:40 > 0:46:43The most challenged part of our economy is the financial services

0:46:43 > 0:46:44sector in London.

0:46:44 > 0:46:46It means that the government are looking particularly

0:46:46 > 0:46:48at areas like this.

0:46:48 > 0:46:51They've got a rich manufacturing future

0:46:52 > 0:46:53and we're thinking with them...

0:46:53 > 0:46:54They are.

0:46:54 > 0:46:56That might be what they're telling you

0:46:56 > 0:46:59that if you read what they're doing, it's all about

0:46:59 > 0:47:00defending financial services.

0:47:00 > 0:47:01They don't say a thing about manufacturing.

0:47:01 > 0:47:02That is not true.

0:47:02 > 0:47:08They've invested in the London taxi company In Coventry.

0:47:08 > 0:47:09They've invested in electric vehicles, they're investing in

0:47:09 > 0:47:10research and development.

0:47:10 > 0:47:12Beverly Nielsen.

0:47:12 > 0:47:15I'd like to know, Andy, how you're going to guarantee tariff

0:47:15 > 0:47:18free access when we have absolutely said we are leaving

0:47:18 > 0:47:19the single market.

0:47:19 > 0:47:20I did not say I guaranteed it.

0:47:20 > 0:47:23What I said was that we make sure our negotiators understand

0:47:23 > 0:47:24what is required.

0:47:24 > 0:47:25That is the commitment I gave.

0:47:25 > 0:47:27Graham Stevenson.

0:47:27 > 0:47:29Until 2009, the UK had its own seat at the

0:47:29 > 0:47:33World Trade Organisation and that was consolidated into an EU seat

0:47:33 > 0:47:36dominated by a committee of France and Germany running things.

0:47:36 > 0:47:39The next thing, a trade deal with China was

0:47:39 > 0:47:49concluded whereby solar panels were supplied

0:47:52 > 0:47:54by EU, to China, a massive emerging market

0:47:54 > 0:47:54of air conditioning. A big thing in China.

0:47:56 > 0:48:05In consequence, factories in the West Midlands

0:48:05 > 0:48:06closed, factories in Germany expanded.

0:48:06 > 0:48:09Now, I think it's possible to make a change.

0:48:09 > 0:48:11I spent a half a lifetime as president of the

0:48:11 > 0:48:18European transport workers Federation.

0:48:18 > 0:48:24I've been in the EU, I know what they do.

0:48:24 > 0:48:26I know how it's stiched up.

0:48:26 > 0:48:27I negotiated with transnational corporations like OCI

0:48:27 > 0:48:29and quarry, which have been mentioned.

0:48:29 > 0:48:32I think it's possible to work on the fact that the EU needs

0:48:32 > 0:48:35as as much as we need them but the world needs is even more.

0:48:35 > 0:48:37I think we can get a revived manufacturing

0:48:37 > 0:48:38capacity in the West Midlands on the back of Brexit.

0:48:40 > 0:48:42That clearly struck a chord.

0:48:42 > 0:48:45I'd be very interested to know which of you think is Brexit

0:48:45 > 0:48:49good or bad for the West Midlands?

0:48:49 > 0:48:51Give me your views?

0:48:51 > 0:48:54Got a view on that?

0:48:54 > 0:48:57I think it'll be very good for the West Midlands because

0:48:57 > 0:49:03the focus will be to bring back investment and talk to all the

0:49:03 > 0:49:06overseas world industrialists to get investment back

0:49:06 > 0:49:08into the West Midlands. So the focus will be there.

0:49:08 > 0:49:09OK.

0:49:09 > 0:49:11Gentleman towards the back of the audience there.

0:49:11 > 0:49:13OK. I run a small business

0:49:13 > 0:49:16and most of my work actually is in Europe so I'm

0:49:16 > 0:49:17bringing money into this country.

0:49:17 > 0:49:21I'd like to know what going to be done for the small businessman.

0:49:21 > 0:49:24I know it's really important that all

0:49:24 > 0:49:26of the big companies but what about my small business, if they

0:49:26 > 0:49:30introduced tariffs, if we have problems with access to countries,

0:49:30 > 0:49:37my business is finished.

0:49:37 > 0:49:40Any others.

0:49:40 > 0:49:45Yes, at the back of the audience on this side.

0:49:45 > 0:49:47You've been talking about investing in manufacturing

0:49:47 > 0:49:56and financial services in the West Midlands.

0:49:56 > 0:49:58For example, Deutchebank are in Birmingham, HSBC are coming

0:49:58 > 0:50:00to Birmingham.

0:50:00 > 0:50:03Would it not be an idea to try and attract these London

0:50:03 > 0:50:05centric companies, services, et onto the West Midlands

0:50:05 > 0:50:06following the HSBC model?

0:50:06 > 0:50:09All right. Interesting stuff.

0:50:09 > 0:50:12I am now going to move on to rather a pointed question.

0:50:12 > 0:50:13One which is often bandied around.

0:50:13 > 0:50:15Fairly or unfairly.

0:50:15 > 0:50:21It's about Birmingham's place in the world.

0:50:21 > 0:50:24Many people feel that Birmingham

0:50:24 > 0:50:28lost the second city status to Manchester.

0:50:28 > 0:50:30One of you candidates will be successful

0:50:30 > 0:50:31and hopefully putting Birmingham back on the map.

0:50:31 > 0:50:34I'd like to know how you propose to do it.

0:50:34 > 0:50:40OK.

0:50:40 > 0:50:42From Coventry, are you bothered about where

0:50:42 > 0:50:44Birmingham sits on the map?

0:50:44 > 0:50:48I moved from Coventry to Birmingham in about

0:50:48 > 0:50:521972, so hopefully I am an immigrant that accepted in the city.

0:50:52 > 0:50:55What's pre-evident to me is the European Union has treated us

0:50:55 > 0:51:00as a declining region.

0:51:00 > 0:51:02We got lots of nice things in the city

0:51:02 > 0:51:06centre, in Birmingham, I know people who say,

0:51:06 > 0:51:15you come from Birmingham, but a bit of crap place, isn't it?

0:51:15 > 0:51:17"No, it's changed a lot recently.

0:51:17 > 0:51:21It looks really good."

0:51:21 > 0:51:23We've got lots of nice glitzy stores and

0:51:23 > 0:51:26statues in the city centre but the districts, the outlying

0:51:26 > 0:51:28districts are not doing as well and we need

0:51:28 > 0:51:30much more into education, into training into helping young people,

0:51:30 > 0:51:33get a ladder on life and that's really where it counts.

0:51:33 > 0:51:35That's what I want to see out of this process.

0:51:35 > 0:51:39It's a devolution deal that hasn't really done

0:51:39 > 0:51:42well for Birmingham and if it does

0:51:42 > 0:51:44what it seems to be trying to

0:51:44 > 0:51:45do to make Birmingham the

0:51:45 > 0:51:48dominant partner in the West Midlands it won't do well for all of

0:51:48 > 0:51:58the others, as well, including my beloved Coventry.

0:51:59 > 0:52:01Talking about glitzy stores, possibly John Lewis

0:52:01 > 0:52:03which you had a relationship with?

0:52:03 > 0:52:04Never glitzy.

0:52:04 > 0:52:06The question is that is seen as part of the ambition of

0:52:06 > 0:52:09second city status and yet you've got to cascade the wealth around.

0:52:09 > 0:52:12If I may be slightly cheeky in answering the question, first of

0:52:12 > 0:52:16all, I don't want to be second in anything and we spend far too long

0:52:16 > 0:52:17obsessing about this.

0:52:17 > 0:52:19That's perhaps why you said it was a slightly

0:52:19 > 0:52:20provocative question.

0:52:20 > 0:52:30I'm actually much more interested in how we

0:52:30 > 0:52:32compete with Berlin , Barcelona and Boston.

0:52:32 > 0:52:34That is what this is really all about.

0:52:34 > 0:52:36But if we take the debate that you have put on

0:52:36 > 0:52:38the table, the truth is

0:52:38 > 0:52:40that we are doing far better than Manchester,

0:52:40 > 0:52:41fastest-growing city in

0:52:41 > 0:52:42Britain, the best inward investment, the best

0:52:42 > 0:52:44export performance, the best quality of life.

0:52:44 > 0:52:47So all those things are there and I am pleased to

0:52:47 > 0:52:48have played my part.

0:52:48 > 0:52:50The issue, though, is we have lost the PR game.

0:52:50 > 0:52:53So what the mayor has to do is get out there

0:52:53 > 0:52:55and tell the story, and that is exactly what you learn

0:52:55 > 0:52:56as CEO of a company.

0:52:56 > 0:52:57APPLAUSE

0:52:57 > 0:53:00Pete Durnell, as a Black Country man, does it matter

0:53:00 > 0:53:01about Birmingham, Manchester and all the rest?

0:53:02 > 0:53:03It does matter.

0:53:03 > 0:53:05Absolutely, we all want to see Birmingham succeed, but we don't

0:53:05 > 0:53:09want to see what has happened which is other parts of the region

0:53:09 > 0:53:10actually falling into disrepair.

0:53:10 > 0:53:13I see in town centres all across the Black Country

0:53:13 > 0:53:20which are gradually going downhill, and one of the

0:53:20 > 0:53:23reasons the Black Country voted a big vote to come out of the EU was

0:53:23 > 0:53:26they felt that they had been left behind in a massive way.

0:53:26 > 0:53:28And it is absolutely essential for the mayor

0:53:28 > 0:53:31to promote Birmingham, promote Coventry, to go out there and do it

0:53:31 > 0:53:32across the country, across the world.

0:53:32 > 0:53:36But at the same time you also need to be fair to the other regions.

0:53:36 > 0:53:37Don't let them be left behind.

0:53:37 > 0:53:40Don't just wait for the trickle-down effect from the great

0:53:40 > 0:53:42things that are happening in Birmingham or Coventry.

0:53:42 > 0:53:48One of the big things I'm promoting is

0:53:48 > 0:53:50reinvigorating the town centres, buying up disused offices, the

0:53:50 > 0:53:53mayor has the actual ability to do that, turn them into a living space

0:53:53 > 0:53:55inside town centres, create a nice environment there,

0:53:55 > 0:53:57but also gives the opportunity to local businesses

0:53:57 > 0:54:02to sell into those people.

0:54:02 > 0:54:04So let's get the towns back up

0:54:04 > 0:54:06on their feet again.

0:54:06 > 0:54:09Sion, Pete suggests maybe we're worrying a bit too much about

0:54:09 > 0:54:11Birmingham.

0:54:11 > 0:54:16Maybe focusing too much on the second city.

0:54:16 > 0:54:18Answering the question, Andy said we are doing

0:54:18 > 0:54:20great, we are doing better than anywhere else.

0:54:20 > 0:54:22Let's be clear, some people are doing great.

0:54:22 > 0:54:25You are not doing so great if you're one of the

0:54:25 > 0:54:27people dying under a bridge in Birmingham.

0:54:27 > 0:54:29You're not doing so great if you're one of the 1500

0:54:29 > 0:54:33people who are homeless in Coventry or one of the 27.5% of young people

0:54:33 > 0:54:34that is unemployed in Wolverhampton.

0:54:34 > 0:54:35Those people are not doing so great.

0:54:35 > 0:54:37APPLAUSE

0:54:37 > 0:54:40However, let's also be clear,

0:54:40 > 0:54:46my family moved to Sandwell in 1975.

0:54:46 > 0:54:49I am massively proud to be from this region because this is the

0:54:49 > 0:54:50best place in the world.

0:54:50 > 0:54:52This is an extraordinary place, where we built

0:54:52 > 0:54:54the first steam engines, the Spitfires that won

0:54:54 > 0:54:55the Battle of Britain, the first...

0:54:55 > 0:54:59We are all in agreement that it is a wonderful place!

0:54:59 > 0:55:01We are in agreement but we don't talk about it,

0:55:01 > 0:55:02we don't celebrate it.

0:55:02 > 0:55:04The region of Shakespeare and Elliott and Elgar

0:55:04 > 0:55:05and...

0:55:05 > 0:55:06Extraordinary achievement, a fabulous place.

0:55:06 > 0:55:08When did you ever hear that?

0:55:08 > 0:55:10When do we ever say that to each other?

0:55:11 > 0:55:12And that is what this job is about.

0:55:12 > 0:55:13APPLAUSE

0:55:13 > 0:55:14As well.

0:55:14 > 0:55:15OK...

0:55:15 > 0:55:19It's about combining the poetry and the genius of the West

0:55:19 > 0:55:20Midlands with understanding that people dying under bridges

0:55:20 > 0:55:23is not the kind of society that we ought to be.

0:55:23 > 0:55:24Is Birmingham falling behind Manchester?

0:55:24 > 0:55:26That is a ridiculous question.

0:55:26 > 0:55:28Birmingham and the West Midlands is so much better than

0:55:28 > 0:55:29Manchester it is unbelievable!

0:55:29 > 0:55:32LAUGHTER APPLAUSE

0:55:32 > 0:55:35We have heard again and again,

0:55:35 > 0:55:37Beverly Nielsen extolling the virtues of what is made

0:55:37 > 0:55:40in Birmingham...

0:55:40 > 0:55:43I was going to say that I haven't just talked about going to do

0:55:43 > 0:55:46something about promoting Birmingham and the West Midlands, I have been

0:55:46 > 0:55:48doing it for the last 20 years.

0:55:48 > 0:55:5220 years ago I promoted West Midlands First,

0:55:52 > 0:55:54it was all about the firsts we have invented here.

0:55:54 > 0:55:56From radar, thermal imaging, liquid-crystal display, of course

0:55:56 > 0:55:59launching the Industrial Revolution, Coalbrookdale, Abraham Darby, and

0:55:59 > 0:56:04changing the world not just once, twice,

0:56:04 > 0:56:07three times, but now we are going to do it again.

0:56:07 > 0:56:09And this is the thing that I think is really

0:56:09 > 0:56:10important here.

0:56:10 > 0:56:12It is not just about Birmingham alone.

0:56:12 > 0:56:14It is about the whole of the West Midlands,

0:56:14 > 0:56:17how by coming together we are the greatest region in the UK.

0:56:17 > 0:56:19And we are going to change the world again

0:56:19 > 0:56:21with our great ingenuity, our creativity and our

0:56:21 > 0:56:23innovation and design, Patrick.

0:56:23 > 0:56:25And Birmingham Made Me is part of it.

0:56:25 > 0:56:27James Burn.

0:56:27 > 0:56:30APPLAUSE

0:56:30 > 0:56:33Yes, so we've spent the last few

0:56:33 > 0:56:36months literally travelling around speaking to audiences across the

0:56:36 > 0:56:40West Midlands, and the common theme is a concern that this won't work

0:56:40 > 0:56:42for them, they will be forgotten, whether you live in

0:56:42 > 0:56:45the Black Country or in Solihull or Coventry or Birmingham,

0:56:45 > 0:56:47everyone shares that concern.

0:56:47 > 0:56:50Another thing is people are very proud of their areas,

0:56:50 > 0:56:51but they are really frustrated.

0:56:51 > 0:56:53They have restricted because they feel left

0:56:53 > 0:56:56behind, they feel the plans aren't working for them, and they are

0:56:56 > 0:56:57frustrated about a loss of identity.

0:56:57 > 0:57:00And so we need to bring back pride by rebuilding places, by

0:57:00 > 0:57:03rebuilding high streets, by rebuilding strong local economies.

0:57:03 > 0:57:08And also the mayor is covering 3 million people, no mayor

0:57:08 > 0:57:10with the best will in the world can understand the needs

0:57:10 > 0:57:12of every single place. It cannot happen.

0:57:12 > 0:57:15That is why we need to broaden it out, to stop

0:57:15 > 0:57:17it being run by exclusively older white men, to start involving

0:57:17 > 0:57:20more people from more communities, from more areas, to make sure this

0:57:20 > 0:57:22authority understands the needs of everyone across the region

0:57:22 > 0:57:24and can meet those needs.

0:57:24 > 0:57:26Is the mayor principally a champion at home

0:57:26 > 0:57:27and abroad for Birmingham, the West Midlands?

0:57:27 > 0:57:29How do you get the message across?

0:57:29 > 0:57:32Because if you go to China, for example, you see

0:57:32 > 0:57:35Birmingham on the map but you don't see the West Midlands on it.

0:57:35 > 0:57:38How'd you go about that?

0:57:38 > 0:57:39You decide the right name for

0:57:39 > 0:57:42the right occasion that you've got, and if you've got a formal occasion

0:57:42 > 0:57:45it's the West Midlands combined authority, that's the name given,

0:57:45 > 0:57:46end of subject.

0:57:46 > 0:57:49I'm sure that when you go on a trade mission you do use

0:57:49 > 0:57:50Birmingham as a name.

0:57:50 > 0:57:52OK, good question.

0:57:52 > 0:57:54I'm going to throw it quickly to the audience because

0:57:54 > 0:57:55time is getting short.

0:57:55 > 0:57:57The gentleman on the front row here.

0:57:57 > 0:57:59How do you see Birmingham in this conversation?

0:57:59 > 0:58:00I would seriously like an answer to this.

0:58:00 > 0:58:02It is a two-way street.

0:58:02 > 0:58:04You came here today, we have heard what

0:58:04 > 0:58:08you have to say, you have all had half an hour or so to listen to us.

0:58:08 > 0:58:10Isn't one of you brave enough to acknowledge that you have learned

0:58:11 > 0:58:13something from what we've said

0:58:13 > 0:58:15in the last half hour or so, any of you?

0:58:15 > 0:58:18I'm sure they all have.

0:58:18 > 0:58:20I'm sure it has been an education for us all.

0:58:20 > 0:58:22Because, with a certain amount of regret, this, ladies and

0:58:22 > 0:58:25gentlemen, is where I'm going to have to call time on tonight's

0:58:25 > 0:58:29discussion, which I'm sure has been very informative.

0:58:29 > 0:58:31I would like to thank particularly the panel

0:58:31 > 0:58:33and indeed the audience for all your questions -

0:58:33 > 0:58:34we could have gone on all night.

0:58:34 > 0:58:37And of course you too can continue this debate on social media

0:58:37 > 0:58:40at home, using the hashtag - #wmmayor.

0:58:40 > 0:58:43And finally from me a quick word - on Sunday Politics Midlands this

0:58:43 > 0:58:47weekend we will have plenty of things to talk about, won't we,

0:58:47 > 0:58:53with the county council elections also coming up in two weeks'

0:58:53 > 0:58:56time, and of course that snap general election?

0:58:56 > 0:58:59That is all at the later time of 3:10pm this Sunday afternoon,

0:58:59 > 0:59:01here on BBC One, after the London Marathon.

0:59:01 > 0:59:04But from all of us here, good night.

0:59:04 > 0:59:12APPLAUSE

0:59:19 > 0:59:20Happy New Year!

0:59:21 > 0:59:23TV: She'll be safe and snug.

0:59:23 > 0:59:25LAUGHTER