Last week it was announced that we are in advanced discussions to bring Formula E, the road racing competition for electric cars, to the streets of Birmingham next year. A world-class electric car race around the city would put us on a global stage with New York, Hong Kong, Berlin and Paris. What better way to showcase the automotive industry of the West Midlands, and our commitment to an environmentally friendly future?

The car industry employs more than 50,000 people in the West Midlands and boasts world-class automotive companies: Aston Martin, GKN, BMW, London Taxi Company, Westfield, Rimstock and a host of smaller firms. But Jaguar Land Rover is the jewel in the crown, designing and producing legendary models — Range Rovers, Discoverys, Velars, F-Types,