'If Siôn Simon is elected mayor then there will be queues of people leaving the West Midlands': Digby Jones

Lord Jones – a former minister in Gordon Brown's Government – today asked voters to abandon 'political tribalism' and back former John Lewis boss Andy Street for the role in tomorrow's election.

Lord Jones said Mr Street – the Tory candidate – would bring new investment and jobs to the region and joked that there would be 'big queues' of people at Birmingham Airport trying to leave the West Midlands if Mr Simon was elected.

He said: "I look at it, as I hope a lot of people will, as a non-political election. Siôn Simon is a party apparatchik and part of the party machine. That is not what the West Midlands or this role needs.

"The mayor has to be someone who understands business – someone who is going to be an ambassador for the West Midlands and going to have credibility in the boardrooms of Mumbai, Dubai, Shanghai and across the world.

"Andy Street is that man with his experience at John Lewis, which is my type of business – one that works for its customers and its employees.

"If you want your children or grandchildren to have a job, then vote for Andy Street – he is the only candidate who can deliver the investment this region needs.

"If you want the same as you have had for the past 35 years then vote for Siôn Simon who is totally ill-equipped for the role.

"If Siôn Simon is elected then it will be a missed opportunity to truly transform this region and make it better for the poorest.

"If Siôn Simon is elected I imagine there will be big queues at Birmingham Airport with people wanting to leave," he joked.

The former Confederation of British Industry (CBI) boss said voters in the Black Country would ultimately decide who will win the election.

He said: "The people of Wolverhampton Walsall, Dudley, and West Bromwich will decide this election. I would ask people to leave their party political beliefs and tribalism to June 8.

"The mayor election is about who is the best person to represent our region – who is the best person to get investment and persuade the likes of JLR to build their next plant in the Black Country."

Lord Jones also criticised Mr Simon's campaign literature, saying the Labour MEP had 'exaggerated' his experience in business and responsibilities as a junior Government minister.

"Just because someone has worked in a petrol station – it doesn't mean they are the CEO of BP," Lord Jones said.

A Siôn Simon campaign spokesman said: “This election is the chance, finally, to start taking back control of the West Midlands from London.

"Siôn’s the local candidate who will always put the West Midlands first. That’s what this election is all about and that’s what we’re focused on as we approach polling day.”