The Labour candidates hoping to stand in Jack Dromey’s Erdington seat

Two Birmingham politicians will be going head-to-head this week as they bid to represent Labour in the upcoming Erdington by-election.

A by-election is set to take place following the tragic news of Jack Dromey’s death earlier this month.

Mr Dromey, aged 73, died suddenly in his flat in Erdington on Friday ,7 January.

It is understood that the former Labour MP for Erdington died from natural causes.

Tributes poured in from across the political spectrum for Mr Dromey, who had been MP for Erdington since 2010.

Which Labour candidates are hoping to contest the Erdington seat?

Paulette Hamilton and Ashley Bertie have been shortlisted as Labour candidates for the contest.

Cllr Paulette Hamilton (Lab, Holyhead), the city council’s cabinet member for health and social care has put herself forward to become the next Labour MP for Erdington.

Ms Hamilton won a top national award in December last year after helping to lead the city’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.

She won the “resilience and recovery” category in the annual Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) awards, which celebrates the work of councillors across England and Wales.

Announcing her intention to stand for as a candidate for Labour on Twitter, she wrote: “I have put myself forward to become the next Labour MP for my home constituency of Birmingham Erdington.

“Jack Dromey will be a tough act to follow - I’m honoured that my party have shortlisted me and hope the party members endorse me.”

Ms Hamilton will be going up against Ashley Bertie, a former Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner.

Mr Bertie worked on youth and gang violence, and was the youngest deputy PCC appointed in the country in 2016.

Mr Bertie was also previously a researcher in Mr Dromey’s office, and he is a member of the GMB trade union.

He is also the chief executive of the Independent Custody Visiting Association.

Posting on Twitter, he wrote: “I’m honoured to have been shortlisted to become the next UK Labour MP for the constituency I grew up and live in- Birmingham, Erdington.

“Jack Dromey will always have a special place in my heart and those of Erdingtonian’s and I hope that party members will support me.”

Both Paulette and Ashley live in Erdington.

Labour members in the Erdington constituency will choose who will contest the seat at a hustings on Wednesday (January 26).

Whoever is chosen will then contest the Erdington seat against Conservative, Green, and other party candidates in the by-election later this year.

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