It's nearly time for another Autumn Statement and for once this could be a genuine turning point in government policy. We in Birmingham and the West Midlands will certainly be urging a radical approach from the new chancellor.

In recent years these 'fiscal events' have been the occasion for a reactive national bidding frenzy in which investment probabilities, possibilities and pipe dreams are put forward in the hope that they get a mention in the speech or the report, a bit like a local government letter to Santa.