Brown cranks up Rover lobbying

CHANCELLOR Gordon Brown stepped up a charm offensive in China today to win a lifeline for MG Rover, meeting with the minister in charge of the state body that must approve any investment in the ailing UK carmaker.

Ma Kai, China's development planning chief, is the official responsible for the National Development and Reform Commission, which must wave through any Rover rescue by Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp (SAIC).

SAIC's plan to pour up to £1bn into MG Rover for a reported 70% stake appears to have run into objections from the Beijing-based NDRC.

Brown, on the second day of a three-day visit to China, was also due to tour Shanghai, whose city council owns SAIC, although he will not meet company representatives who are in Beijing to lobby officials over the deal.

The Chancellor raised Rover's fate yesterday with finance minister Jin Renqing, saying afterwards that he hoped the matter 'will be brought to a conclusion to the benefit of the UK motor industry'.

Brown was also due to issue plans for developing Britain's financial services links with booming China, including the push by the LSE to attract more mainland listings.