Shadow Business Secretary Kenneth Clarke returns to his roots when he attends a business event in Birmingham tomorrow.

The Shadow Secretary of State for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, who practiced as a barrister on the Midlands circuit, will be the guest of Bridget Blow, President of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCI) at the Chamber’s quarterly council meeting. The council represents a group of business leaders, elected by the wider membership of the Chamber and Mr Clarke is expected to discuss the Conservative party’s proposals for businesses in the region. The visit come just days after Mr Clarke criticised the government for dithering over the inquiry into the closure of MG Rover.

Ms Blow said: “We will be interested to hear what plans a future Conservative government has to rebuild the status and credibility of UK plc against a backdrop of appalling public finances and massive popular distrust in government and banking structures.”