Brady Seeks Level Playing Field

Birmingham City FC's Karren Brady has challenged the city council to make a U-turn and declare its interest in a super casino for inner-city Birmingham - whilst still publicly backing the NEC.

The authority's decision not to back a Birmingham-based bid controversially rules out the Birmingham City FC scheme and leaves the NEC clear to battle on the national stage.

But an outraged Ms Brady today pleaded with the council to change their minds and to at least put in a declaration of interest for a Birmingham super casino bid by the March 31, 2006 deadline.

She said: "Everyone knows the NEC has lost the best exhibitions, such as the Motor Show and others, because so little has been invested in its infrastructure. I'm so disappointed and appalled that to make up this ground the council might not enter a declaration of interest for inner city Birmingham. They should be thinking of the future of the inner city, not the past of a failing exhibition centre. The council either just don't get it, or just don't care that the NEC will not even win based on Government criteria anyway. Their advice is categorically wrong. But to find out now that we never stood a chance because of the council's intent at propping up the NEC is shocking."

She added: "Whatever any report said, all they wanted was to support the NEC. Of course, our offer could never have done that but it was never meant to, it was meant for inner city Birmingham. Why kill our dream? Why not at least declare an interest for Birmingham and support the NEC bid as well? The super casino bidding process is all about inner city regeneration - something that the Blues bid has an abundance of, but something that is not the primary reason behind the NEC's scheme. I am making a final plea to what are at the end of the day decent men and women on the council to not let us down and to put in a bid for Birmingham. They can then leave Government experts to decide what is best for regeneration."