ARRANGING for Chancellor Gordon Brown to launch the second generation of the Mini at the Cowley plant was undoubtedly beneficial all round.

Not only did parent firm BMW gain from the additional barrage of publicity surrounding the front runner to be the next Prime Minister but Mr Brown was also able to use the happy occasion to indulge in the success story at an opportune time and offer perhaps a glimpse into future policy.

He said: "I owe (BMW) a special debt of gratitude. Your double digit rates of growth enabled me to achieve a modest growth target of two to two-and-a-half per cent."

The achievements of the company in Britain were, he added, a symbol of "a strong and deepening relationship with Germany ... it is my determination to deepen the strength of co-operation across Europe in years to come."

Was this an indication of an aggressive pro-European stance should he become PM next year? Time will tell.

Political watchers would have found few other clues in Mr Brown's polished speech which was generous in its praise for the Cowley workforce and the company's commitment not only to Oxford, but in developing the new "production triangle" linking the factory with the body plant in Swindon and the operation in Hams Hall, near Birmingham, which will produce the new engines.

He said: "I want to thank the managers and the workforce - it is testament to their creativity, industry and skill that the Mini has gone from strength to strength.

"It is an example of how Britain can compete and succeed in the global economy and is an exciting symbol of a growing, dynamic economy across Europe. This is a great day for Mini, a great day for Oxford and for Britain."

A total of £200m has been ploughed into Mini production and 450 new jobs created including 200 in Cowley where £100m has been spent on extending and improving the plant to produce up to 240,000 cars a year.

Mr Brown also highlighted the apprenticeship programme at the plant which he said was "leading the way" and was also keen to stress the importance of manufacturing in the modern economy, highlighting the achievements of Nissan in Sunderland and Honda in Swindon.

Flexible working methods were the key and he promised the pre-Budget report in November would help remove barriers to flexibility and make manufacturing more successful as a result.

Of course he failed to mention the obvious recent failures in the car industry including Peugeot's proposed plant closure at Ryton, near Coventry, or the embarrassing collapse of Rover.

But as far as BMW is concerned, Britain is the place to do business and is the only country in the world where all three of its brands - BMW, Rolls-Royce and Mini - are produced as new chairman and former manufacturing director Dr Norbert Reithofer was keen to point out.

He has put his money where his mouth is and paid tribute to the Chancellor.

"Your handling of the economy has ensured stability to provide the right environment for us to develop our business in the UK.

"The UK is the home of the Mini which has developed to become a global brand and we will continue to develop and strengthen even more." After a brief tour of the plant and a chat with workers and apprentices, Mr Brown was on his way amidst a crowd of photographers and TV film crews.

With the political momentum snowballing still further he will not forget his visit to Cowley and doubtless he will refer to it again in the coming months. As a political stepping stone he could do a lot worse.