Andrew Mitchell

My views on intentional spending are well known and long established.

International development spending makes people ‘over there’ safer and more prosperous.

That, in turn, means that problems from ‘over there’ don’t come ‘over here’.

It is the other side of the coin from defence. It’s about our national security and it’s spent in our national interest.

PLEASE SHARE: Here’s an important update about a big event this weekend in Sutton Coldfield, which I hope you will help spread the word about…

Due to concerns about the weather, the Hindu Community’s Dussehra Mela has been moved from today (Saturday) to tomorrow, Sunday.

I encourage everyone across our local community, whatever their background or faith, to join Hindu Community this Sunday at 4:00 pm at Sutton Coldfield Rugby Ground for Dussehra Mela, celebrating the Hindu festival of Dussehra with a Dharmic procession, the traditional burning of Ravana’s effigy (Ravan Dahan) and fireworks.

Dussehra carries a powerful universal message: the victory of good over evil. The burning of Ravana reminds us all to overcome the Ravana within ourselves — pride, anger, greed and intolerance — and to uphold kindness, honesty, respect and compassion. 

These values sit firmly alongside British values of mutual respect, individual liberty, tolerance and living peacefully together.

This is a wonderful opportunity for people from all communities to experience Hindu heritage and culture, build friendships and strengthen community cohesion.

I hope residents will come together to celebrate our diversity, recognise our shared values and help build a stronger, more inclusive community.

For further information and last-minute updates, please visit suttonparivaar.org.uk/dussehra-mela

For decades the UK was a world leader in foreign development. Despite all the fiscal challenges we face at home, I remain passionate about not only its importance to our international standing, but also the very real results it delivers in improving lives around the globe. It is the other side of the “ defence coin”.

politics.co.uk/2026/10/andrew…

Yesterday, I joined a cross-party coalition of parliamentarians and human rights leaders, adding my name to an open letter to @andyburnham. The letter calls on him to take a stand in support of #HongKong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong.

Before the UK handed back Hong Kong to China in 1997, both nations signed a Joint Declaration, which was meant to guarantee Hong Kong's freedoms for fifty years.

The UK Government has already found China in breach of the treaty.

For standing up for democracy, Joshua Wong now faces the prospect of life imprisonment. The Prime Minister must raise his case and that of the others imprisoned for simply expecting China to keep its word.

It is hugely concerning that Jaguar Land Rover has announced plans to cut 4,000 jobs over the next two years.

JLR is one of the most important employers in the West Midlands, and automotive one of the key sectors of the West Midlands economy.

The company also sits at the heart of a huge supply chain across our region, which accounts for more than 60,000 jobs here, contributing £8.7 billion to the regional GDP.

A number of factors have led to these cuts – from US tariffs to the cyberattack last year that forced a production shut down. It’s also facing significant competition from China and, like all carmakers, navigating the shift to electric vehicles.

JLR is a crucial part of the West Midland’s economic make-up, impacting on an ecosystem of businesses and the livelihoods of thousands of people.

Many of those employees live in Royal Sutton Coldfield.

If Andy Burham’s Government is serious about protecting domestic manufacturing capability, how it supports JLR – and the thousands of people facing redundancy – will provide its first significant test.