In this column, I want to explain to members of the Birmingham Irish Association how our region has progressed in the last few years, the challenges we all face now, and how I intend to tackle them if re-elected.

Before COVID struck, the West Midlands had begun to reclaim its place as an economically successful region, after decades of stagnation. As we come out of the pandemic, there is much to do to ensure we don’t throw away those years of progress.

The significant strides made here since I was elected Mayor on 4 May 2017 are borne out by the statistics. From 2017-2020, a record-breaking 48,098 homes were built here, nearly double the 25,000 target set in 2017.

This year, the level of transport investment was seven times higher than in the year before I became Mayor. The building of the metro in Digbeth, at the heart of the Irish community, is a great example of this. We have made fantastic progress in reducing the number of rough sleepers, with Tabor House is based in the Birmingham Irish Association building making a huge contribution.

More than 97,000 new jobs were created in the region overall in the three years before the pandemic, the most of any region outside the capital.

More than £3 billion of new funding was brought in from Government. This has been achieved thanks to my background in business as the MD of John Lewis. To win investment, you have to build a business case and show how you will deliver it.

Now however, sectors like retail, hospitality and manufacturing have seen thousands of workers laid off or furloughed. We must act quickly to get back on track post COVID.

That’s why my first priority will be to create more than 100,000 new good quality local jobs and training opportunities for local people.

That means winning every possible contract for local businesses from major regional projects like HS2 and the Commonwealth Games.

It also means securing an electric battery Gigafactory for our region, bringing 4,000 new jobs and protecting thousands more in the automotive industry and supply chain.

It means making the most of the creative revolution starting in Digbeth, with new TV studios opening and major investment from the BBC on the way.

I want our region to become the national leader in construction, engineering, life sciences, technology, 5G and other growing industries.

I have plans to double transport spending to half a billion pounds per year. On housing, I will build thousands of new homes where they are wanted. That means continuing our successful “brownfield first” approach, with over £400 million of funding to reclaim derelict sites, protecting our Green Belt and boosting construction.

I will launch a programme to retrofit people’s homes with energy efficiency measures to reduce fuel bills and carbon emissions, bringing huge opportunities to the businesses and trades employed to carry it out.

I believe part of the success of the last four years can be put down to the communities of the West Midlands finally working together, from the seven boroughs that make up our region to groups like Birmingham Irish Association who work tirelessly to improve the life of local people. I have tried as Mayor to bring people and communities together.

My message is simple: I have a credible delivery plan to make all of this happen, and a proven track record over the last four years, beating our targets and other city-regions on investment, skills and housing.

My commitment is to secure £10 billion of new investment into the region, from both the Government and private investors, with a clear business-like approach to the Mayor’s role as a regional champion. That means working with Government to make things happen, rather than criticising and grabbing headlines, and then being ignored.

I grew up here. Local values shaped me as a person – that’s why four years ago I decided to step away from a career in business and stand to be Mayor. I urge the people of the West Midlands to choose me to get on with the job, get this region back on track and unleash our potential.

Welcome to another Birmingham Irish Association news update

We publish news and project updates keeping you up to date with details regarding our services and events, as well as other local developments and other news that will be of interest to our clients as well as other visitors.