Andy was walking past St Phillip's Cathedral at lunchtime. He commented:
"It's a shame that they are closing down. There's been loads of manufacturing jobs lost over the last few years - it doesn't look good for the area and the country generally. It's all about sales at the end of the day. If they don't sell the cars they'll end up in administration."
Why didn't he buy a MG Rover car?
"I don't reckon their styling is that good."
 | | Andy, Birmingham city centre |
Clive, from Ladywood, stopped to say: "It is a shame - so many people losing their jobs. My friend was working there - he was made redundant, then they called him back. I don't know what his situation is - he's a team leader."
Clive is a fan of MG Rover cars. He felt he knew why the brand is in trouble:
"Bad management, terrible management - I know, I done a quality course." he said.
 | | Clive, Birmingham city centre |
"They could have promoted the car better, they could have done a bit more with the American side, because our cars use less petrol than the American cars - so I can't see why they can't sell... I don't think Rover will disappear." John was walking past St Phillip's Cathedral: "I am a Rover owner, I think it is a sad day for England. We're going to lose the last British car maker. I bought it because it is a British made car. I think it is extremely sad that funding isn't being found to save Rover." Marilyn, from Tyseley, has been following the MG Rover story:
 | | Newspaper stand |
"The engineering industry in Birmingham has gone right down hill, even before Rover goes. It's not just the people who are affected at Rover, it's the hundreds of companies who are affected because they produce the parts for Rover. "My husband works in the engineering industry, the company he works for - I don't know how many parts they actually do for Rover. "It's terrible news, there's a lot of unemployment about anyway and who I feel sorry for is the thousands of families that it's going to affect.
 | | Bashir, Birmingham city centre |
"It's [MG Rover] been here since way back when, it's one of those companies that have been a mainstay of the motoring industry. My husband used to drive a Rover - he loved the car." Bashir, works for the City council and is a Rover 216 driver. He thought the news was regrettable, but did not feel too attached to the Rover brand: "A car's a car to me, it's no big deal."
He continued: "The government should give tax relief to foreign companies. If the government want to create jobs they've got to put in the investment, they have to give them offers - otherwise it's going to go to Europe. It's wages - it costs too much to build cars in this country."
 | | Theresa, Birmingham city centre |
Theresa Richards-Crosby, from Kingstanding, stopped to say:
"I drive an MG! I think it's very sad, being it's [MG Rover] a British institution, they've been around a long time and I think they should be helped by the government". Why are MG Rover in this position? "I don't really know. I don't think they are the only car manufacturer that is in difficulty, I know that [MG Rover's] sales are a bit down, but I think that that the cars that they sell at the moment are really nice - I like mine! "There's enough unemployment anyway, where's everybody going to get a job from? It's going to have a knock-on effect."
 | | Ian, Birmingham city centre |
Ian from Erdington wouldn't buy an MG Rover because he felt they were "outdated - a name that's been taken over by so many other companies."
He continued: "I think there's been a lack of financial support, where it's needed. At a time of an general election - you'd think it would be important for the government to try and help them." When told that MG Rover would be appointing administrators, John Millets, from Great Barr said: "It could have happened a long time ago, but I think everyone has acted a bit too late. There's so much competition in the motor industry these days. It's all the ancillary suppliers who are going to be affected as well, not just Rover itself. If Rover closes down it will affect a tremendous number of people in various industries, all throughout the West Midlands.
 | | John Millets, Birmingham city centre |
"I don't think anyone's too sure of the amount of debt that Rover's in - they're talking about £40 million, that the Government would have to put in, or even more - but if that's not going to sort them out - I don't know what they can do. "The motor industry has been very highly paid, they're the highest paid manual workers, to my knowledge. The way to get a good job was to go to the motor industry - you got the best pay, then. And of course - that can't go on forever." Chico, from Sparkbrook has got friends that work at Longbridge:
"I don't know what they going to do" he said. "That's how they are making a living, man. My Dad was speaking to them the other day. That's how they feed their kids and pay the bills." Would Chico buy a MG Rover?
 | | Daryl, Birmingham city centre |
"Yeah I would - if I had the money! But it wouldn't be a first option... It's a shame - people are losing their jobs." Daryl works for the Post Office, he said that today was a sad day for Birmingham:
"It's disgusting really, that such a big company, that's been there for a hundred years, is not going to be saved by the government. I think they should step in, to be perfectly honest. "I've had relatives that have worked there in the past, neighbours that have worked there, at Longbridge and at Cowley as well. It'll be a big, big loss if Rover goes from Birmingham, and for the economy as well. It's grave really, isn't it?" | 
