GAUNT BACKS MAYOR FOR BRUM

26-01-2008

Radio shock jock Jon Gaunt has accused Birmingham of punching below its weight – and says the city needs a London-style elected mayor. His comments emerged in this week’s Stirrer column in the Birmingham Mail.

The Talksport presenter who lived in Selly Oak during his student days reckons it would give us a collective kick up the backside that’s long overdue.

He returned to work in the city six years ago for BBC WM, and recalls, “When I was in Brum in the 1980s, the place was a dump, so when I came back in 2001 it was a real surprise.

“The place has improved enormously, although when I look at all the great developments like Brindley Place and see the city centre apartments going up, I don’t think they are for ordinary Brummies.

“A lot of money seems to have gone into the centre, but there’s a feeling that the suburbs – places like Longbridge, Northfield, Sparkbrook, Alum Rock – have been neglected.

“Don’t get me wrong, the city’s done OK, but it hasn’t kicked on, and it really should be doing a lot better.

“That’s why you need somebody in charge like Carl Chinn, who understands the people and talks to them every day in their own language.”

“I’m not saying that I would personally endorse Chinn as Mayor, what I mean is the city should be led by someone like him who isn’t part of the normal political ‘club’”.

To read the article in full, click here

You can also read more from The Stirrer’s interview with Jon Gaunt here, here and here