There’s plenty of room beside Rover in the Happier Hunting Ground

Rover has now been removed to the Happier Hunting Ground. In a brief obsequy broadcast from Birmingham, Tony Blair sympathised with the dependants. The economy was strong, he told them, good jobs were being created, and £40 million of public money had been set aside to turn Longbridge, Rover’s old home, into an industrial park. A fitting memorial, he must feel, and better than a car park. This idea is sure to be of interest to St Modwen, the property company, which is now Rover’s landlord. Desperate to keep going, Rover sold the site for £57 million and leased it back but, of course, the money ran out, as it does. St Modwen will miss the rental income — those buoyant Brummies had taken out a 35-year lease — but will dry its eyes. The development value is what matters. If that works out well, St Modwen might look across the Atlantic and see what might be for sale in Detroit.