I WANT to have may say over Bromsgrove MP Julie Kirkbride's comments (Advertiser, June 22) about the collapse of MG Rover.

While what she says about the Alchemy planned take-over in 2000 is true, the Phoenix Group did keep more than 6,000 employees in work for over five years.

Ms Kirkbride should however look at the many reasons for the collapse. In the 1980s the company had a working arrangement with the Japanese giants Honda. If left alone this would almost certainly have led to a full partnership.

However, it was decided by the Government of the day, led by Margaret Thatcher, to privatise and sell BL as it then was known, to British Aerospace, a company with no car expertise whatsoever.

Rover was later sold to BMW, who only wanted one thing - the rights to the MINI name.

This was shown by BMW's threat to any company using MINI in their trading name with prosecution.

In nearly 50 years of motoring I have, with one exception, always bought cars manufactured at Longbridge.

For many years now Rover cars have been a quality product, robust, reliable and competitively priced.

Despite this, and not helped by totally unfair negative publicity, the British public have failed to buy enough Rover cars for the firm to remain viable.

Ms Kirkbride, as the local MP, should have shown her support for her constituents by buying Rover herself.

I don't know what car Ms Kirkbride has, but I'll bet a pound to a penny it isn't a Rover.

Frank Allen, Brantwood Road, Droitwich Spa