For 14 years we have been most fortunate to have been represented in Westminster by one of the hardest working MPs in the House.
Respected by everyone, he rose from novice backbencher to Government Whip, Minister in a number of departments, to Party Chairman and became a Privy Councillor under Her Late Majesty.
Despite a tremendous workload in Westminster and in Government, he was never far from Pendle. Most weekends would see him at numerous events from Earby and Barnoldswick to Brierfield and Reedley and all the towns and villages in between: latterly also from Chatburn to Simonstone, to Whalley and to Barrow. No-one fought harder to retain his seat: every single day from the moment the election was called until polls closed.
A 59% turnout of electors on the day, with 8,171 votes going to a paper candidate of a new party, to lose by 902 is a testament to his dedication and that of his small team, newly augmented by dedicated members in Clitheroe. It is certainly not the glorious victory proclaimed by our new Prime Minister.
He is so proud of this area that defeat saw him climb Pendle at daybreak on the 7th Of July. We are so proud of him too.
Losing Andrew means that his team here in Nelson and Barnoldswick: Laura, Rachael, Nasir, and Sheila, together with Alistair who helped hundreds of constituents from the Westminster office find themselves also without work and I wish them every success in the future. Nothing has ever been too much trouble and they have had considerable achievements to celebrate on behalf of constituents of all parties and none.
Ronald Reagan once said "Politics is just like show business. You have a hell of an opening, coast for a while, and then have one hell of a close."
Well, I fervently hope this is only a short interval until Andrew returns to the Cabinet, for that surely would be one hell of a well-deserved close.
Your faithfully,
Adrian Mitchell MBE
Co-Chairman, Pendle & Ribble Valley Conservative Federation
1st August 2024