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The West Midlands Labour Finance and Industry Group (WM LFIG) exists to facilitate constructive dialogue between the Government and prominent persons from Industry, Finance and the Professions within the West Midlands.
Our events provide an opportunity for government ministers to listen to the wide range of views and opinions across the West Midlands business and professional community.
A selection of such events is listed below and this site will continue to publish forthcoming activities that you may find of interest.
Next WM LFIG Friday Club Event ~
The Future of the West Midlands Development Agency
![[Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP]](PatMcFadden100x150.jpg)
- Date
- Friday 9th July 2010
- Location
- Martineau, 1 Colmore Row, Birmingham City Centre
- Keynote Speaker 1
- Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP,
Shadow Secretary of State for Business
- Keynote Speaker 2
- Rt Hon Liam Byrne MP,
Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
![[Rt Hon Liam Byrne MP]](LiamByrne100x90.jpg)
The first meeting of this new era sees West Midlands LFIG Friday Club host an important discussion about the future of our Regional Development Agency - Advantage West Midlands (AWM) and the role of regional governance in general.
Local businesses could be forgiven for being confused about the new Government's intentions towards RDAs because there have been a number of apparently contradictory statements on this issue. However, in the Budget the Government announced that, "Regional Development Agencies will be abolished." Whilst the Coalition Agreement told us RDAs may survive where they are popular it now seems that the Government has no interest in hearing whether or not local businesses want to keep the RDA.
At LFIG we do not believe that businesses in the region should simply accept this position. AWM has established itself as a very important regional player in recent years bringing partners together and getting projects moving as well as a reactive role when crises have emerged such as the collapse of MG Rover.
The two shadow ministers will wish to hear your views on AWM and how
best the Government should support the economy of our Region.
Recent WM LFIG Events
![[Rt Hon Ed Balls MP]](EdBalls100x97.jpg)
2009 Annual Education Dinner
A packed room of 150 people were entertained, inspired and challenged by the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families at the WM LFIG Annual Education Dinner on Thursday 5th February 2009 at the Botanical Gardens, Birmingham.
The Rt Hon Ed Balls MP set out the government’s vision for schools, set within the present challenging economic climate, and showed his own commitment to raising standards of achievement for our children.
He took questions from the floor and was able to chat to guests extensively both before and after the event.
![[Rt Hon Jack Straw MP]](JackStraw100x119.jpg)
2008 Annual Legal Dinner
12th of June 2008 saw Jack Straw deliver his speech at the 2008 WM LFIG Annual Legal Dinner.
With a packed Burlington Hotel, Jack Straw (Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice) was briefed not only by some of the leading advocates in the region but also the Colleges and educational bodies training tomorrow's legal eagles.
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