Peaky Blinders pub boss standing for candidate for Birmingham by-election

The landlord of the Peaky Blinders pub in Birmingham city centre is running as a candidate in the by-election to replace the late MP Jack Dromey.

Thomas O’Rourke, 38, is throwing his hat into the ring to become the next Member of Parliament for the city’s Erdington constituency next month.

He says he’s trying to "liven up" the election and "if anywhere is going to elect an MP called Tommy with a Peaky Blinder link then it’s going to be Birmingham."

The dad-of-one is co-owner of The Peaky Blinder, which opened in Dale End seven years ago.

And much like his namesake - Tommy Shelby in the gritty BBC gangster series - Thomas, too, now wants to become an MP for the city.

Thomas said: "So as life imitates art which imitates life I’ve decided to give what the rest of the world expects from Birmingham - a Peaky Blinder candidate.

"We welcome people from across the world to The Peaky Blinder and our pub has to be the most photographed building in Brum.

"Peaky Blinders is the biggest export from Birmingham now and from opening the first Peaky Blinder pub in the country the move into politics is the natural move.

"I will give people what they want, slow motion videos of Peaky Blinders turning up to hustings mob handed to a rock ‘n’ roll soundtrack.

"People are sick to death of politicians right about now, we all stuck by the rules they created as they partied and laughed at us.

"The whole system is rotten, why would a vote for me be wasted, this country has a great tradition of protest votes, and if anywhere is going to elect an MP called Tommy with a Peaky Blinder link then it’s going to be Birmingham.

"I will say with a smile on my face when I make my maiden Westminster speech - I am here by order of the Peaky Blinders!"

But does Thomas O’Rourke have any connection to Erdington? And what will he do if he gets voted in?

He added: "I am from Erdington, I went to Perry Common School, and still live round here so when people suggested I stand I thought "why not?" - it is what democracy is all about.

"It took me less than an hour to get the ten people needed to nominate me as a candidate and I will have a good showing even if just my friends and family vote for me."

Peaky Blinders is returning to our screens and can make a claim to be Britain’s favourite TV show with multiple spin offs with pubs, hairdressers and clubs named after the early 20th Century Small Heath gang.

Thomas said: "If people want an idea what I am going to get up to during this by-election then I suggest they watch the every series of Peaky Blinders on iPlayer.

"Which probably is the most transparent thing any candidate says in this whole election."

The Erdington by-election is being held on March 3 following the death last month of Jack Dromey, the Labour MP who has represented the area since 2010.

Anyone wishing to join Tommy’s campaign is urged to email [email protected]

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