Andrew Mitchell MP met with constituents at the United Reform Church.
Andrew said:
“On the heels of the Prime Minister’s resignation, naturally there were many questions about the future leadership and direction of the country - not least given the increasing cost of living crisis, rising mortgage rates and inflationary pressures. A range of issues were raised including fracking, support for the most vulnerable and taxation.
“I’d like to thank Reverend Chris Dowd for his kind invitation and arranging the event.”
Andrew Mitchell speaks in Parliament to pay tribute to Her Late Majesty The Queen.
Mr Andrew Mitchell (Sutton Coldfield) (Con)
For all the pomp and tradition, Her late Majesty’s true magic was in her humility. She did not need a gilded throne or royal regalia to touch people; it was in her smile, her poise, her natural charm: understated yet reassuring—the best of Britain.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for allowing me to make this brief tribute on behalf of the royal town of Sutton Coldfield—a royal town now for 494 years and one that, at this sad time, is united with the rest of the country in shared sorrow. The Queen’s visit to the ninth world scout jamboree held in Sutton park in 1957 is still remembered by my older constituents, as she came to join in the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of scouting and had lunch in our magnificent town hall.
I have never visited a primary school where one of the first questions has not been, “Have you met the Queen?” I had the privilege and good fortune to meet the Queen when I was her International Development Secretary. Like millions around the world, I will never forget every second of those meetings. She was intensely interested in the less developed members of the Commonwealth. She was the reason that the Commonwealth not only survived but flourished and grew, reaching out to unexpected parts of the world, with Rwanda enthusiastically joining.
At the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting held in June this year in Rwanda, I watched the binding power of the monarchy, as the King, as he now is, spoke on behalf of Her late Majesty of the ideals and values that she inspired and to which so many nations now aspire. In Kigali, the capital of one of the Commonwealth’s youngest countries, the national flag and the flag of the East African Community are today flying at half-mast and will continue to do so until the Queen’s funeral.
I also remember travelling for many hours in Uganda to the hospital in Masaka run by the 80-year-old sister of the Medical Missionaries of Mary who had recently received an OBE from the Queen for her 50 years of service. In the hospital entrance hung a huge picture of the President of Uganda, Mr Museveni, alongside an equally huge one of Her Majesty the Head of the Commonwealth.
Tomorrow in the royal town of Sutton Coldfield, we will hold a service of remembrance in our town church, Holy Trinity, followed by a reading of today’s proclamation, and we will mourn the loss of our great Queen, who meant so much to us all.
Andrew Mitchell lays a wreath at Vesey Gardens and pays tribute to Her Late Majesty The Queen.
“On Behalf of the Royal Town, I wish to express my deep sorrow and respect at the death of her late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
“Throughout Royal Sutton Coldfield there will be great sadness and a profound sense of personal loss at the death of a remarkable leader whose example of duty, service and dedication none of us will ever forget.
“I have today joined our Royal Town Mayor Councillor Janet Cairns, and Councillor Simon Ward in laying wreaths in Vesey Gardens. On behalf of the Town I have signed the Book of Condolences.”
The proclamation will be read in Holy Trinity Church at 2pm on Sunday by the Deputy Maylor Councillor Jane Mosson.
I rounded off my constituency week by delivering my annual lecture on one of the greatest security challenges of our time: the war in Ukraine.
It is almost four months since Putin launched this brutal war, bringing untold suffering to the innocent people of Ukraine. The UK has rightly stood by Ukraine throughout.
Russian aggression cannot be appeased. Evidence grows of heinous war crimes: the butchery of innocent Ukrainian civilians. We must ensure that these crimes are fully investigated and justice is done. Allowing aggression to succeed would only bring further conflict and misery, and the war would not stop in Ukraine, so we must at every turn step up our commitment, maintaining the pressure on Russia’s economy and entrenching our policy of containment and isolation of Russia.
The whole international community needs to work together, steadfast in its determination and solidarity. Putin overestimated his military capabilities and underestimated the strength of western unity and resolve. I strongly support NATO’s unwavering stance defending our principles which I believe will wear down the determination of aggressors.
We need to continue the twin track of providing military support while backing Ukraine in negotiations. We must also find a solution to global food insecurity resulting from Russia’s blockade of Ukrainian ports, which prevents Ukraine from exporting its produce. By driving up food prices and creating shortages, the poorest and most vulnerable people in the world suffering, including in the UK, with the cost of living at least in part a consequence of the Kremlin’s actions.
For would-be aggressors everywhere, Putin must lose. Ukraine must prevail, for the good of its people and the principles we hold dear.
The annual civic service took place last Sunday, in the presence of our Royal Town Mayor, Janet Cairns and the Deputy Lord Lieutenant, John Craggs.
The Mayor and I read the two Lessons and we sang some well-known hymns merrily and asked God’s blessing on our Town. The Rector of Holy Trinity, John Routh, preached a thought-provoking and interesting sermon.
The Civic Service celebrates the close-knit community that exists in our Royal Town and prays for the whole community and the issues that are widely cared about.
Fifty years after the world said ‘Never Again’ to the horrors of the Holocaust, genocide took place on European soil.
In July 1995, at the height of the Bosnian war, thousands of men, women and boys were systematically murdered and buried in mass graves. The victims, who were Muslim, were singled out for death on the basis of their identity.
Every year we remember the atrocity in Parliament. On Wednesday I signed the remembrance book alongside the following message:
“The profoundly shocking experience of visiting and seeing on the ground what happened and speaking to those – some of them – who suffered so much, reminds us all how far there is to go to create a fairer and more just world with international institutions that work effectively and are respected.
Andrew Mitchell, MP for the Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield”
Twenty-seven years on from Srebrenica Europe is once again a witness to darkness. Russia’s war in Ukraine resulting in the brutal deaths of countless innocent men, women and children reminds us that words too often are hollow.
Platitudes are not enough. It is only worth reflecting on the past if we are proactive in changing the future. Humanity has a lot more work to do.
A few weeks ago, I reported that Year 6 pupils in Mere Green Primary almost missed a school trip to France because some passports were not obtained in time. Fortunately, the passports arrived at the 11th hour – but not without an uphill battle.
Today I returned to Mere Green to meet those pupils and hear about their exciting trip. They took me through a wonderful journey in words, pictures and music of their experiences in France. I was presented with a thank you card made by the pupils and then chatted with many of the children and teachers.
I was pleased to do my bit to help, but the real credit must go to Caroline Dempsey, Mere Green school Office Manager who - as soon as she became aware that some passports may not be issued in time - made it her mission to help the children.
Caroline got in touch with me and of course I was only too happy to help, but it was Caroline who went above and beyond the call of duty. Just one day before the trip we managed to get the passport out of the Liverpool passport office which opened specially following an appeal from us both.
I continue to vigorously pursue the passports office in respect of a number of my constituents who are waiting anxiously for their passports.
At the end of last week I met up with two Sutton Coldfield residents, Glenn Billington and Pete Knight (both retired police officers) and serving Police Constable Dan Hitchmough. They told me of an event being arranged by PC Hitchmough which was in memory of a fallen police officer and all funds raised going to a children’s charity.
To mark the twentieth anniversary of Rob’s death the event will be held on Sunday 17th July 2022. The ‘The Rob Ling Memorial trophy’ will be contested by Leicestershire and Notts police at Ilkeston Football ground league. All proceeds are going to Young Live V Cancer and is in memory of eight year old Daniel Rigley (PC Dan Hitchmough’s cousin) who sadly lost his life to leukaemia.
The league and the final is sponsored by Glenn’s company, Jigsaw Infrared. They have donated a prize, a large glass heater which can be designed by the winner and worth over £1,000. The winner will be selected at random when they donate to the Just Giving page in this link https://www.justgiving.com/Combined-Midland-Police-League
If anyone wishes to attend the event, two football matches and family social day then please contact either glenn@solutionsbyjigsaw.co.uk or daniel.hitchmough@westmidlands.police.uk
Please donate to this amazing and well deserved charity, every penny counts
The campaign to save the Royal Town’s cinema continues. Last week I met the Friends of the Cinema in Sutton Coldfield Group, a new initiative set up by members of the community opposed to the decision to close the Empire cinema. The group are committed to retaining a cinema facility at the current site and to find a future solution that would serve community interests while being commercially viable.
There was agreement that it was necessary to preserve the current building through investments befitting of grade-listed properties. In addition to securing the right funding to ensure its proper restoration, it was also agreed that retaining the building’s use as a significant film venue in some form should be an integral part of a future solution.
The Group shared many creative ideas to make the whole site work for everyone and will draw upon the extensive experience of professional members, including lawyers, architects, business-owners, film makers, planners and people with experience in creating community interest groups.
I am pleased to see this community endeavour going from strength to strength – with a membership running in to the hundreds and rising. Its popularity is testament to the support throughout the Royal Town for this valuable cause. Their next step will be to formerly constitute as a community group and start to create a strategy and structure. This will not be a quick or simple process, but they are united in their mission and firm in the belief that commercial considerations, while important, cannot override community considerations.
As well as meeting the cinema owner to discuss the way ahead, I have also held discussions with Birmingham City Council’s Senior Planner who, like me, wants to see a guarantee that the cinema will reopen and that sufficient money for this purpose, including Section 106 (planning gain) money will be duly allocated.
Andrew Mitchell MP cuts the ribbon to launch the new United Carpets outlet, which has rejuvenated the former HSBC bank building in the heart of Mere Green to create a bright and welcoming showroom.
Friends, family, colleagues and well-wishers joined local leaders at the opening of the store, which sells carpets and beds as well as laminate, wood and vinyl flooring.
Not so long ago, Mere Green was facing significant challenges but now it is seeing real investment and attracting the kind of businesses you would expect to see in an affluent, vibrant area.
United Carpets has not only brought another thriving business into the area but has also helped bring a prominent site back into use and it is exactly the kind of community-minded, friendly business that is turning Mere Green into a thriving shopping destination and marks another step in the resurgence of the shopping offer.
United Carpets owner Naeem Arif, a former Bishop Vesey’s student who lives in Wylde Green, also sits on the executive committee of Sutton Chamber of Commerce. He explained that the company had invested significantly to transform the old bank building, including removing the heavy vault door. His vision is for Mere Green to become a destination where businesses work together, and where people come for specific reasons and then support the surrounding shops too.
Andrew Mitchell said:
“Many congratulations to Naeem and his team for embarking on this ambitious project and thanks to Royal Town Councillor Jackie Cummins for joining me at the opening!”
