2005 result

Andrew Mitchell (Con)

Majority: 12,283 votes. — 161st largest out of 643 MPs. Shadow Secretary of State for International Development, International Development

Candidate profiles

Incumbent – Conservative – Andrew Mitchell
Educated at Rugby and Cambridge University Mr Mitchell has worked as a merchant banker. He contested Sunderland South in 1983 and was MP for Gedling 1987-1997, serving as a whip under the Major government. He was elected for Sutton Coldfield in 2001 and supported David Davis in his leadership bid. Mr Mitchell was appointed shadow secretary of state for international development and is likely to be in the cabinet of a Conservative government.

Labour – Rob Pocock
So determined is Rob Pocock to represent Labour that he tried to get on to the council as the party’s member for the New Hall ward. Now he is hoping to take the Parliamentary seat.
His partner Marj Bridle has been a Shard End councillor since 1986 and Mr Pocock has been a paid up party member for more than 25 years.

Green – Joe Rooney
Joe Rooney moved to the city in 1999 to study at the University of Birmingham. Upon graduation, he worked for the National Union of Students for a year, and since then has held a number of jobs as a trade union organiser, which gives him the opportunity to help people directly with problems they face day to day.
He joined the Green Party in 2002.

BNP – Barrister Robert Grierson was educated at Enoch Powell’s old school, King Edward’s, before attending Downing College Cambridge, where he was awarded a first in Law and qualified with a Master of Laws. He has been a practising barrister for 18 years, specialising in tax, trust, wills and estates work.