Pictured: Lord Michael Heseltine 

Lord Michael Heseltine and John Lewis Managing Director Andy Street will form a compelling double bill of speakers at the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce annual dinner - only a week before the city decides if it wants an elected mayor.

Lord Heseltine, a Cabinet minister in both the Thatcher and Major governments, will share the platform with Andy Street, who also chairs the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

The Chamber's dinner takes place at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham on Wednesday, April 25, the week before Birmingham voters go to the polls on May 3 to decide if they want an elected mayor. If they vote yes, the election will take place in November. 

Lord Heseltine, a vocal advocate of elected mayors, will lend his support to the Chamber's "Vote Yes for Birmingham" campaign.  He was the author of a report for the Conservative party which stated that Britain's cities needed directly-elected mayors with "very substantial powers".

Lord Heseltine has also said that local mayors should have the power to issue bonds and borrow money.

He added: "We have to have directly-elected chief executives in the cities of our country; people will then know who they are, they can hold them to account and the central government can transfer very substantial powers to them."

Lord Heseltine was in Birmingham last week to support Cities Minister Greg Clark when he announced the referendum date and the potential election day of November 15.

Chamber president Michael Ward, head of law firm Gateley's corporate team and its joint partner, said: "This is a tremendous coup for the Chamber. We are looking forward to having one of the icons of the Conservative Party sharing a platform with one of the most powerful and visible business leaders in the UK.

"It will create a compelling mix on the night as the city reaches the climax of the campaign for the elected mayor referendum. And the Chamber will be playing its part by launching a  'Vote Yes for Birmingham' campaign which will throw the weight of Birmingham businesses behind the pro lobby.

"We are also delighted that Andy Street has agreed to speak at the dinner. His words will be particularly important as chair of the LEP and managing director of John Lewis, who have an announced significant investment in Birmingham with a new store at the refurbished New Street Station."

Lord Heseltine had a distinguished Parliamentary career after being elected MP for Tavistock (later MP for Henley on Thames) at the age of 33.  

As Secretary of State for the Environment, Lord Heseltine was called upon to act as a trouble-shooter for the government to deal with the inner-city violence that erupted in the early 1980s.  

Lord Heseltine also served as Secretary of State for Defence between 1983 and 1986 when he resigned over a dispute in government which led to a defence contract going to a US firm rather than Westland Helicopters of the UK.  

Under Prime Minister John Major, Lord Heseltine re-entered government as Secretary of State for the Environment (with particular responsibility for replacing the Poll Tax). Lord Heseltine later became President of the Board of Trade and then Deputy Prime Minister. After retirement from the Commons he was given a life peerage as Baron Heseltine, of Thenford in the County of Northamptonshire

Andy Street has spent all his working life in the John Lewis Partnership, joining after graduating from Oxford with a degree in politics, philosophy and economics in 1985. After initial postings in the John Lewis department stores, he ran one of the Partnership's production facilities before returning to the department stores as Managing Director, John Lewis Milton Keynes in 1993.  

He was the first Managing Director of John Lewis Bluewater from 1998 to 2000 when he moved to head office as Supply Chain Director, John Lewis. He was appointed to the Partnership Board as Director of Personnel in 2002. In that role he was responsible for all areas of personnel policy within the Partnership as well as senior talent management.

In February 2007 Andy became Managing Director of the John Lewis Division, responsible for all activities within John Lewis.

Andy is also a Trustee of Performances Birmingham, responsible for running the City's Symphony and Town Halls. He is on the London First Board, part of the Prime Minister's Business Advisory Group.

Details of sponsorship opportunities and tickets for the dinner can be obtained from Henrik Court, the Chamber's director of events, at  h.court@birmingham-chamber.com or on 0121 607 1780. Tickets can also be booked directly at www.birmingham-chamber.com/events