You have to hand it to Gordon Brown for thinking outside the box, and his Party, in appointing Ministers to his government. Or, perhaps it is the dearth of talent in his Party elected to the House of Commons that has forced his hand.

Appointments like Lord Stevens to advise on International Security, and Sir Digby Jones to be Minister of State for Trade in the Department for Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform are a welcome change in politics, and deserve support.

Like me, Digby is a proud son of Birmingham, and an advocate for this city. Birmingham was built on a civic gospel of social responsibility that guided its emergence as the Workshop of the World, and the "best governed town in the world" in the late nineteenth century.

But Digby is also a great talker. He delivers an inspirational speech that challenges Britain to take on the challenge that India and China pose, and the opportunities that they create. I've heard him deliver it on dozens of occasions.

Earlier this year Digby told the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Birmingham Forward that that lack of civic leadership in Birmingham was causing him to consider running for Mayor, if a position was created. I publicly challenged him to take up that civic challange now, to stand for election, and to put up or shut up. My letter to the Birmingham Post is attached below.

Well, he's not quite put up, but not being able to shut up he has now put his reputation on the line, and I wish Digby all the luck in the world. Britain needs a Trade Minister with his conviction and commitment to British enterprise. With Digby Jones leading on global trade Britain will be able to punch above our weight again. And that's got to be good for the economy.