Erdington by-election: Paulette Hamilton wins seat for Labour

Labour has held on to the Birmingham Erdington seat as Paulette Hamilton is named MP
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Paulette Hamilton has been named Birmingham Erdington MP at tonight’s by-election (4 March).

Ms Hamilton will replace the late Jack Dromey as Erdington’s Labour MP after winning with a comfortable majority of 3,266.

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Labour held the constituency after Ms Hamilton, who will be Birmingham’s first black MP, won 9,413 votes - 55% of the ballots cast -while Cllr Robert Alden won 6,147 for the Conservative Party.

Paulette HamiltonPaulette Hamilton
Paulette Hamilton

The turnout was 17,016 votes, which is 27%.

In her victory speech, Ms Hamilton paid tribute to Mr Dromey, who died aged 73 in January this year.

She said: “He was a wonderful MP for his constituency and in the past few weeks campaigning, I have heard so many stories of the difference Jack made to people’s lives.

“That is the kind of MP I aspire to be, and my love and condolences are with his wife Harriet and their children.”

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She added: “I am truly humbled and honoured to be elected. I will not take your vote for granted, I have met many of you and have heard what you have had to say, and I commit to you now.

“I will work for you, for Erdington, for Castle Vale and for Kingstanding. I have made promises to you I intend to keep, and I cannot wait to get started. I will be your voice in Westminster and challenge this government to get a better deal for Erdington.”

Counting has begun at the by-election in ErdingtonCounting has begun at the by-election in Erdington
Counting has begun at the by-election in Erdington

Ms Hamilton, who worked for the NHS for 25 years and re-joined the healthcare frontline during the pandemic to support the vaccine rollout, has been a local councillor for over 17 years.

She was recently the cabinet member for Health and Social Care on Birmingham City Council.

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A proud born and bred Brummie and mother of five, Paulette said she wants to tackle the key issues affecting the area such as food and fuel poverty, community safety and fly-tipping.

Mr Alden, who is a veteran city council Tory group leader, was vying to become the first Conservative MP in Erdington since 1936.

Labour also held the seat at the last general election with a majority of 3,601 votes over the Conservatives, and anything but a Labour victory would have been seen as a major upset.

The Conservatives have come close in the past when they lost by just 231 votes in 1983, when leader Margaret Thatcher was at the peak of her powers after the Falklands War.

Full results as follows:

  • Paulette Hamilton, Labour: 9,413
  • Robert Alden, Conservative: 6,147
  • Siobhan Harper-Nunes, Green Party: 236
  • Lee Dargue, Liberal Democrats: 173
  • Michael Lutwyche, Independent: 109
  • Dave Nellist, Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC):360
  • Jack Brookes, Reform Party: 293
  • Clifton Holmes, Independent: 14
  • Thomas O’Rourke, Independent: 76
  • David Bishop, Militant Bus-Pass Elvis Party: 8
  • Mel Mbondiah, Christian Peoples Alliance: 79
  • Sir Nos Da The Good Knight, The Official Monster Raving Loony Party: 49
  • Rejected ballot papers: 59
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