I went along yesterday to one of the most surreal events ...
It should have featured Ben Reid who has already resigned as the business representative on the city region board – his deputy Peter Wall stood in for him – and Simon Murphy, city region project director, who must now be wondering how much of a future he has.
The city region concept was a David Milliband baby and he has moved onwards and upwards.
Tony Blair isn't interested and it is now clear Gordon Brown has no particular love for it. So the Breakfast Connection event in some ways couldn't have been more irrelevant.
It may be that the city region board can go forward on the current "voluntary partnership" basis, but the rug is gradually being pulled from under it.
Sometimes it seems just about every man and his dog dabbles in the skills debate – to no great effectiveness.
I wish them luck – it's a massive issue and the West Midlands labours well behind others.
Indeed I really hope they succeed, but, despite the best endeavours of many, we never quite seem to get on top of the challenge.
Transport is equally vast.
Cynics like me suggest a mathematical formula here – what we are likely to get in Government investment will be in inverse proportion to the rising cost of the London Olympics.
If I see a tram trundling through the streets of Birmingham in my working lifetime I will be amazed. Even the much-vaunted New Street station is in danger of becoming a mirage.
The Government appear to be in no hurry to approve any cash, council planners are unhappy with the design and the current scheme fails to address line capacity.
Even if it eventually goes ahead it will be a second best project, solving some of the problems for some of the time, but leaving the really hard decisions to another generation.
It is not a solution, it is a sticking plaster.
Yet, it appears, it is the best we can aspire to. Which sadly says it all about Birmingham's ambitions.
I have never been a fan of the city region concept – it is just so artificial. I see no need for another slab of pseudo government.
Which does not mean I am not in favour of co-operation between the Birminghams, Wolverhamptons and Coventrys.
Just that you can't force these things; you won't persuade old foes to pretend to like each other if there is no clear benefit from doing so.
The Murphy empire was, for me, as good as dead when it gave itself the ludicrous title of Birmingham, the Black Country and Coventry City Region.
Past visionary cooperation gave us the NEC and Birmingham Airport and there is no reason why future cooperation cannot bring comparable success stories.
But don't expect a Labour government to look favourably on Birmingham when it is governed by a Conservative-led coalition.
I fear the Olympics are in and Birmingham is out.
