Mike shows Dave the library and gives him some advice

By Conservative Party Conference on Oct 4, 10 04:34 PM in

Birmingham City Council leader Mike Whitby is like a dog with two tails at the Tory conference rushing around telling anyone who will listen how he has the ear of the Prime Minister, writes Paul Dale.
Whitby, the first Conservative leader of the council since the early 1980s, finally persuaded Cameron to pay a personal visit to the site of the new ÃÂ£187 million civic library in Centenary Square, a few metres from the conference hall.

The Prime Minister, he announced proudly, has agreed to take a personal interest in the delivery of this great municipal project.
It is not known whether this extends to giving a hand digging the footings or choosing the books to go in the new library, but Coun Whitby clearly thinks this is a big deal.
The council has erected a Richard and Judy type stand, with white leather chairs by the main escalator in the ICC, where Whitby has been holding court.
He's also told Cameron and Transport Secretary Philip Hammond to get on with the high speed rail line from London to Brum and not cave in to pressure from Tory MPs in the Home Counties to move the route from the Chiltern Hills.
You can bet Cameron and Co don't get such helpful advice when they hold the conference in Manchester or Brighton.