Erdington by-election candidate revealed as former Aston Villa hooligan

A candidate standing in the Erdington by-election previously received public order convictions while he was part of Aston Villa’s notorious Hardcore firm.

Michael Lutwyche co-wrote a book published in 2009 about his experiences with Steven Fowler who was jailed for six months in 2002.

Mr Lutwyche is standing as an independent candidate for the Erdington seat following the death of Labour MP Jack Dromey, who had represented the area since 2010.

Residents living in the constituency are now questioning whether a man with such a violent past should be a worthy candidate ahead of the by-election tomorrow (Thursday, March 3).

When asked about his past Mr Lutwyche said: “ "I have a violent past and I have a peaceful past.

"In the last 20 years, I’ve gone from violent gang culture to a state banquet held by a President.

"I haven’t been convicted of anything since 1990 and only of minor public order offences.

"Since I started educating myself in 2000, I have attempted to atone for the mistakes I made.

"Voters are well aware of my temperament and my activities over the past 20 years, that is why some of them asked me to stand."

What does the book Hardcore say about the infamous Villa Hardcore?

The book written about the football hooligan firm over two decades ago describes  a favourite choice of weapon as an umbrella handle which was used to smash fans over the head with.

It says that the thugs would also carry Jif lemon bottles, which they filled with "industrial strength ammonia, bleach or any noxious substance."

It says: "We started carrying little umbrellas. They had rock hard solid plastic handles.

"It was part of the look, but the handles did come in useful when applied with some force to someone’s head.

"We also carried little Jif lemon bottles. Supposedly you would put ammonia in them but if you couldn’t access industrial strength ammonia, bleach or any noxious substance would be put in.

"Weapons such as knives were rare with us.

"We are football hooligans. Thugs, yobs, hooligans, whatever labels, you, the police or the press have seen fit to attach to us.

"Those labels have not deterred us, they simply made us endeavour to go one better. I don’t care what people call us.

"If any of us had cared about public opinion we would not have done what we have done over the last 15 years.

"It is fighting for fighting’s sake. The approval of our peers has always been preferable to that of those of the press or public at large.

"Since the early 1990s Aston Villa Hardcore has been arguably the most prolific football gangs in the UK (corr).

"Described by police as one of the worst two hooligan gangs on the England international scene."

What would Mr Lutwyche work as an MP for Erdington entail, should he win the election?

As an MP Lutwyche would have to work closely with West Midlands Police and be entrusted with sensitive information about crime in the constituency.

Locals fear the former hooligan’s long running feud with the police could become a sticking point with local bobbies.

In the book he also outlined the "constant battle of wits with the police and particularly the football intelligence officers" and admitted "we were targeted by anti-terrorist police".

What have Aston Villa fans and Erdington locals said about Mr Lutwyche’s past?

One Aston Villa fan, who did not want to be named for fear of reprisals, said: "The Villa Hardcore firm were horrible.

"How this hooligan has the cheek to stand for Parliament is beyond, just read his book and Facebook posts to realise he could cut it on Trumpton Council let alone the mother of all Parliaments."

Another Erdington resident, who wished to remain anonymous, added: "There is something deeply unsettling about a man with such a violent past wanting to become our MP.

"I know people can change, but this guy wants to represent us at the highest level in parliament and has openly bragged about battering football fans.

"That doesn’t sit right with me at all. I’m not sure the police are going to show him much respect given his past and in Erdington crime is one of the biggest issues."

What has Mr Lutwyche said in his manifesto for the Erdington By-election?

Mr Lutwyche, who is a member of the Justice for the 21 Birmingham pub bombings campaign, painted himself as the crime and punishment candidate.

Outlining his manifesto on Facebook, he said: "Crime: Personal safety and antisocial behaviour. Even the police admit parts of Erdington have become ghettos.

"That hasn’t just happened overnight, but gradually through the mismanagement and indifference of those in power. I will call those responsible to account."

What has Mr Lutwyche said about his ‘Hardcore’ book and decision to stand as an MP?

Commenting in the book previously, he said: "We were labelled scum and jailed as real criminals but in our eyes we are ordinary hard working men who only fought others of the same mind."

Discussing his hooligan past in a column recently, he wrote: "I had somewhat of a misspent youth. To put it bluntly, I was a football hooligan as a young man.

"I was never sent to prison but received two minor public order convictions in the 80s.

"I experienced what could be termed an unconventional childhood, there was a lot of physical (which I became hardened to) and mental punishment.

"I learned from an early age that violence ended arguments."

He added: "It’s been no secret, we know it will come out, and as I’ve said it’s not going to be news to most in Birmingham.

"They can’t hurt me and appear to believe I’ll react with shame, sorry to disappoint them but I won’t.

"I was a product of my environment, exposure to violence at a young age and a sub-standard education that I missed chunks of.

"I have no war criminals on speed dial, I don’t force the elderly to choose between heating and eating every winter and I don’t take backhanders from international corporations.

"In fact, when you look at the current state of British politics, some people who currently sit on the benches at Westminster make me look like John the Baptist.

"I’ll let the voters of North Birmingham decide."

What else has Mr Lutwyche said about his past?

In a statement on Tuesday (March 1), Mr Lutwyche added: "I have a violent past and I have a peaceful past.

"In the last 20 years, I’ve gone from violent gang culture to a state banquet held by a President.

"I’ve met and been treated credibly by politicians here and abroad and senior police officers on extremely emotive issues.

"I’ve educated myself to a standard where I can discuss subjects such as Irish history with professors.

"I’ve given hope to abandoned local people who the authorities ignored. I should be viewed as a success story and I think voters are well aware who I am.

"I haven’t been convicted of anything since 1990 and only of minor public order offences.

"Sport changed my life and I haven’t been involved in gang culture since 2002, and I’d already stopped by then due to a work related accident.

"Someone suggested writing the book, I was learning how to write properly and did it because I was physically incapacitated.

"Any proceeds from the book have gone to help the families of the Birmingham Pub Bombings since 2012.

"Since I started educating myself in 2000, I have attempted to atone for the mistakes I made.

"Voters are well aware of my temperament and my activities over the past 20 years, that is why some of them asked me to stand."

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