Prime Minister Boris Johnson has chosen the Black Country as the location to outline his plans to revive the UK economy.
He is due to be in Dudley tomorrow for the key speech which will set out plans to invest billions of pounds in infrastructure, education and technology to mitigate the impacts of the coronavirus lockdown.
Mr Johnson will announce spending plans for the entire country in the speech but his decision to deliver it here comes on the back of reports that both the Midlands and North would receive a large proportion of the investment.
Speaking on Times Radio this morning, Mr Johnson said: "What we're going to be doing in the next few months, is really doubling down on our initial agenda, which was all about investment, if you remember in infrastructure, in education, in technology, to bring the country together. And that's what I'm going to be talking about tomorrow in Dudley.
"This is the time to invest in infrastructure.
“This is the time to make those long-term decisions for the good of the country and, frankly, there are things we need to do now to sort out the way the UK works that should have been done in the last few decades."
Last week, the West Midlands Combined Authority and its partners asked Mr Johnson's government for £3.2 billion to boost the economy and prevent mass unemployment.
