Relax the ZEV Mandate. And Fix the EV Transition Properly. New blog: blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/b… @UoB_Business @UKandEU @SMMT @unitetheunion @RichParkerLab @MayorWestMids

The news from JLR will be deeply worrying for thousands of workers and their families, many of them here in the West Midlands. My thoughts are with them first and foremost. JLR is hugely important to our region and employs some of the most skilled people in Britain. The company has faced an incredibly difficult period - from the cyber attack last year to the impact of the war in the Middle East and continuing instability around global tariffs and trade. I have been speaking with the Government and the Secretary of State over the weekend as to what we can do together to support workers and protect jobs in our region. The Combined Authority has quickly put together a £500,000 support package for JLR workers who choose to take voluntary redundancy. We will help people find new jobs, connect them with employers and provide skills and careers support where they need it. That half a million pound package is the starting point, not the limit of our support. If more help is needed, we are ready to do more. I have also made clear to JLR, the Government and trade unions that the Combined Authority stands ready to help in any way we can. These are highly skilled people and I want those skills to stay here in the West Midlands. We have employers across our automotive, advanced manufacturing, research and development and other growing industries who need those skills. Our job now is to bring those opportunities and these workers together. I will remain in close contact with JLR and the Government in the days ahead. My priority is making sure workers and their families have support and that we protect the skills and manufacturing strength that matter so much to the West Midlands.

Jaguar Land Rover to axe 4,000 jobs as sales fall and tariffs bite (NB some of this doesn’t seem to stack up - I thought breakeven had already been cut to 300K?) thetimes.com/article/c6c1f0b…

Our St George's and Union flags are a unifying force celebrating our shared culture and heritage. Disappointing to see @BhamCityCouncil taking this action. They should be enabling communities that want them, to have formal displays in their neighbourhoods.