THEY may have power and influence, but the green credentials of Birmingham’s movers and shakers today appeared to be lacking.

The members of this year’s Power 50 list drawn up by the Birmingham Mail’s sister paper, the Birmingham Post, fell short when challenged to survive without their car for a day by Friends of the Earth.

The lobby group contacted 47 people on the list and asked them to take part in its In Town Without My Car Day today – but just 13 took up the challenge.

Seven refused to take part, citing “commitments”; six were either on annual leave or not contactable, seven gave a vague response and 14 did not reply.

Getting the thumbs down were restaurateur Glynn Purnell who claimed he was “unable” to do without his car; business leader Lord Digby Jones who said he was “not around on that date” and Birmingham City Council Leader Mike Whitby who cited a list of commitments.