Business Voice West Midlands has won its longstanding campaign to get an extra seat for the region in the European Parliament.

The UK was recently allocated an additional place and the Electoral Commission has recommended it go to the West Midlands.

If implemented, it means the West Midlands will be represented by seven MEPs. 

Based on last year's European elections result the new seat would go to Conservative candidate and Herefordshire businesswoman Anthea McIntyre.

Business Voice WM Board member and National Farmers Union regional director, David Collier, led the push.

Business Voice WM  Executive Director, James Watkins, said: "We are very pleased that, despite reports of lobbying by London and Scotland, this extra seat is coming to the West Midlands.

"We have long argued, in the interests of fairness and transparency, this should be the case.

"The West Midlands has a population of 5.3 million - approximately ten per cent of the UK population - yet it currently only has six MEPs representing it, which does not seem to be equitable when, for instance, Scotland, has the same despite an electorate of just 3.8 million while London has eight for 5.2 million.

"There was no doubt in our judgment that the West Midlands - in terms of the ratio between the number of MEPs and population size - has been under-represented and we are pleased this now looks set to be rectified."

BVWM said the matter had been "an aggravating factor" at a time when difficult economic times persist.

Mr Watkins added: "Europe is a vital influence for many sectors of the West Midlands economy - from manufacturing to farming.

"That is why it is crucial that the region's voice be heard loud and clear in the corridors of power."

BVWM said the procedure now was for the Electoral Commission recommendation to go to Constitutional Reform Minister Mark Harper, and, if approved, written into a Bill due before Parliament later this autumn.

"It is not clear how quickly Ms McIntyre will be able to take her seat but we hope any delay can be kept to a minimum," James Watkins added.