LONDON (Parliament Politics Magazine) – The by-election which was held because of the death of frontbencher Jack Dromey was won by Labour in Birmingham Erdington.
Paulette Hamilton, a former nurse and mother of five, won with a majority of 3,266 votes, but the by-election failed to entice people, with only 27% voting.
She received 9,413 votes, putting her ahead of Conservative contender Robert Alden, who received 6,147 votes.
This victory makes her the first black woman to be elected as a member of Parliament from the Birmingham constituency.
Ms Hamilton praised her Labour colleagues for their support “through four storms” and her loss, since her father died soon as her campaign began.
“I’d also like to say a special thank you to Kier 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,” she said.
‘I am delighted.’
She had never imagined herself running for an MP, Ms Hamilton said, but the fact that she was now the MP for Birmingham Erdington, in fact the first black woman – the first woman to ever hold the seat – she was happy and she was still pinching herself.
“At this point, I honestly don’t believe it,” she added.
On social media, Sir Keir Starmer, Labour leader, congratulated Ms Hamilton as Labour’s new MP for Birmingham Erdington and the first Black MP of the city.
He added that she has made history. He believes that as a dedicated community champion she will bring respect, prosperity and security to the people of Erdington.
A Labour spokesman remarked in response to her victory: The people of Birmingham Erdington have chosen Paulette as a fantastic local champion. They’re ecstatic that the first black MP from a Birmingham constituency has been elected as a result of this campaign.
The people have witnessed a swing to Labour, with voters backing Keir Starmer’s contract for the British people based on security, prosperity, and respect for everyone, even in a usually low turnout seat with a well-known Tory candidate.”
A lifelong trade unionist
A stalwart of trade union Mr Dromey won the seat for Labour in 2019 with a 3,601-vote majority.
Harriet Harman, a former Labour cabinet minister and interim party leader, was his wife.
Ms Harman talked of “the profound shock of his abrupt death from heart failure” on 7 January during tributes to Mr Dromey in the Commons by MPs from all parties on 2 February.
Mr Dromey, passed away at the age of 73 in his flat in Birmingham. He a longtime trade unionist who climbed to the position of deputy general secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union, which is now part of the Unite union, in 2003.
He was the Labour Party’s treasurer during the “cash for honours” allegations when Tony Blair was the PM, and then won the seat of Erdington in the general election of 2010.
Image via Sky News
