Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Lakshmi Mittal was among donors to Boris Johnson's campaign to be prime minister

UK-based steel magnate Lakshmi N Mittal contributed £10,000 to back Boris Johnson in his campaign to become the UK's new prime minister last month, according to an official document.

The 69-year-old CEO of ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steelmaker, is among a group of wealthy donors logged in the obligatory Register of Members' Financial Interest maintained by the UK's Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards for all MPs to keep a public record of any monetary or linked benefit the country's lawmakers receive.


Mittal is registered as a "private and individual" donor whose contribution to the Johnson camp was received on July 16, a week before he was declared the winner of the Conservative Party leadership contest after he beat former foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt to replace Theresa May.

The only other Indian-origin name to feature on the updated parliamentary register among Johnson's recent donors is that of Amit Bhatia, Mittal's son-in-law who is married to his daughter Vanisha.

The British Indian businessman, who is chairman of the Queens Park Rangers football club, is also registered as a private and individual donor whose donation, "or nature and value if donation in kind", last month is recorded as being worth £10,000.

Mittal's office said the London-based billionaire would not comment on the donation or the related issue of Brexit, which had formed the basis of Johnson's campaign as part of a "do or die" commitment to exit the European Union (EU) within the October 31 deadline.

The Rajasthan-born steel tycoon was famously caught on camera last year on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, discussing Brexit with former prime minister David Cameron, who had called the referendum on Britain's membership of the 28-member economic bloc in June 2016.

Cameron was seen telling Mittal that Brexit is "a mistake, not a disaster" and that it had turned out "less badly than we first thought".

Mittal's association with Johnson dates back to his time as the Mayor of London, having backed the ArcelorMittal Orbit during the 2012 Olympic Games in the UK capital.

The giant 114.5-metre steel sculpture, designed by Indian-origin artist Anish Kapoor, involved an investment of around £19.6 million from ArcelorMittal.

"It makes me very proud that ArcelorMittal plants from across the world contributed to this showcase of the strength and versatility of steel," Mittal had said at the time.

It marked a political shift as the Mittal family was previously associated with the Labour Party, during Tony Blair's time as prime minister in the early 2000s.

Mittal, who was ranked second in the Eastern Eye Asian Rich List 2019, also unveiled the latest quarterly results for Luxembourg-headquartered ArcelorMittal on Thursday.

The company registered a loss of $0.447 billion for the June quarter and said the company would drop European production levels in light of the weak demand and high import levels in Europe.

"After a strong 2018, market conditions in the first half of 2019 have been very tough, with the profitability of our steel segments suffering due to lower steel prices combined with higher raw material costs," Mittal said in the half-yearly report.

"Global overcapacity remains a clear challenge. We have reduced capacity in Europe in response to the current weak demand environment," he said.

As the world's leading steel manufacturer, he flagged that further action is required to address the increasing level of imports entering the European continent due to "ineffective safeguard measures" and said that ArcelorMittal will continue to engage with the European Commission to create a level playing field for the sector.

"A supportive regulatory and funding environment is also crucial to our ambition to significantly reduce our emissions as announced in our recent Climate Action report," he said.

More For You

Dinosaur Breeding Debuts in Jurassic World Evolution 3

Jurassic World Evolution 3 builds on the popularity of its predecessors by adding new features

YouTube/ Jurassic World Evolution 3

Jurassic World Evolution 3 announced with dinosaur breeding feature and October 2025 release

Frontier Developments has officially revealed Jurassic World Evolution 3 during Summer Game Fest 2025. The third instalment of the dinosaur park management simulator will launch on 21 October 2025 across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, priced at £49.99.

This latest entry introduces a key new feature, dinosaur breeding. For the first time, players can breed and care for baby dinosaurs, forming family units within their parks. The game includes over 80 dinosaur species, with 75 of them available for breeding.

Keep ReadingShow less
Resident Evil 9

Resident Evil Requiem was described as a "bold shift for the franchise

YouTube/ PlayStation

Resident Evil 9 officially announced, coming February 2026

Capcom has officially unveiled Resident Evil 9, titled Resident Evil Requiem, during Summer Game Fest 2025. The latest entry in the long-running survival horror franchise is set for release on 27 February 2026 and will be available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

Announced live on stage by host Geoff Keighley, Resident Evil Requiem was described as a "bold shift for the franchise both in tone and gameplay". The upcoming title will blend the series’ trademark survival horror with high-stakes cinematic action, promising a fresh experience for fans.

Keep ReadingShow less
Vijay-Mallya-Getty

In April, Mallya lost an appeal against a London high court bankruptcy order in a case involving over ₹11,101 crore (approx. £95.7 million) debt to lenders including the State Bank of India. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Vijay Mallya says he may consider returning to India if assured fair trial

FUGITIVE tycoon Vijay Mallya has said he may consider returning to India if he is assured of a fair trial.

He spoke to Raj Shamani on a four-hour-long podcast released on Thursday.

Keep ReadingShow less
Tata Steel may 'miss out on UK-US trade deal benefits

The Tata-owned firm closed its blast furnace at Port Talbot last year. (Photo: Getty Images)

Tata Steel may 'miss out on UK-US trade deal benefits

MINISTERS are racing to prevent the country's largest steelmaker from being shut out of a new trade agreement with the US, according to reports.

Tata Steel, which operates the massive Port Talbot steelworks in Wales, could be excluded from tariff-free access to US markets under prime minister Keir Starmer's deal with president Donald Trump, reported the Guardian.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sony Music India Teams Up with BTS‑Backed THG for THG India Launch

Taylor Jones, Vinit Thakkar Kyran Jones and Sony Music India team up to launch THG India supporting Indian music globally

getty images

Sony Music India and LA-based THG announce joint venture to launch Indian music talent

Sony Music India has announced a new partnership with Los Angeles-based entertainment company The Hello Group (THG) to form a joint venture called THG India. The new company is set to focus on developing Indian music talent and providing them with global touring and management opportunities.

This is the first collaboration of its kind by Sony Music India on an international scale, and it comes at a time when Indian music is drawing growing attention worldwide. THG India will operate from Mumbai and work through The Hello Group’s international network, aiming to provide end-to-end support for artists, from management and touring to publishing and promotion.

Keep ReadingShow less