What Keir Starmer said about Paulette Hamilton being named Erdington MP

Paulette Hamilton overcame personal tragedy to become the country’s newest MP by winning the Birmingham Erdington by-election for Labour.

The Labour candidate’s father died at the start of the campaign and she thanked party leader Sir Keir Starmer for his “endless support” during the emotional by-election contest.

The victory saw her increase Labour’s vote share and become the first black MP to represent a Birmingham constituency.

The contest was triggered by the death of Jack Dromey, who held the seat for Labour in 2019 with a majority of 3,601.

Following Labour’s victory in north Birmingham, Labour leader Keir Starmer praised Ms Hamilton.

Posting on twitter, Starmer wrote: “Congratulations to Paulette Hamilton, Labour’s new MP for Birmingham Erdington and the city’s first Black MP. You’ve made history.

“As a dedicated community champion I know that you will bring security, prosperity and respect to the people of Erdington.”

In another tweet, he wrote: “Together, we can build a new Britain based on security, prosperity and respect.”

In her victory speech, Ms Hamilton thanked her Labour colleagues for their support “through four storms” during the campaign and her bereavement.

She said: “But I’d also like to say a special thank you to Keir Starmer for his endless support – even when my dad died, they were there, they wrapped me in cotton wool, and they supported me, and my dad isn’t even buried yet but they were there when I was crying.”

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.

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

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