Birmingham Ladywood
Notional 2005 Results:
Labour: 15216 (50%)
Liberal Democrat: 9002 (29.6%)
Conservative: 2683 (8.8%)
Other: 3541 (11.6%)
Majority: 6215 (20.4%)
Actual 2005 result
Conservative: 3515 (10.6%)
Labour: 17262 (51.9%)
Liberal Democrat: 10461 (31.5%)
UKIP: 2008 (6%)
Majority: 6801 (20.5%)
2001 Result
Conservative: 3551 (11.3%)
Labour: 21694 (68.9%)
Liberal Democrat: 2586 (8.2%)
UKIP: 283 (0.9%)
Other: 3379 (10.7%)
Majority: 18143 (57.6%)
1997 Result
Conservative: 5052 (13.3%)
Labour: 28134 (74.1%)
Liberal Democrat: 3020 (8%)
Referendum: 1086 (2.9%)
Other: 685 (1.8%)
Majority: 23082 (60.8%)
Boundary changes: Extensive changes to local government boundary changes in Birmingham and the large size of council wards in the city mean that most of Birmingham`s consitutencies underwent many small changes to bring them into line with local government ward boundaries. Ladywood gains part of Aston from Perry Barr, part of Ladywood itself from Edgbaston and part of Nechells from Sparkbrook & Small Heath while losing part of Bordesley Green to Hodge Hill, Lozells to Perry Barr and part of Washwood Heath to Hodge Hill.
Profile: Ladywood consists of Aston, Nechells, Ladywood and Soho wards and covers the city centre of Brimingham. Ladywood has traditionally been one of the most deprived seats in the country, with one of the highest levels of unemployment, highest numbers of lone parents and very low levels of home and car ownership. It also has one of the highest proportions of non-white voters, with well over half the population from an ethnic minority. Soho ward to the West has a higher proportion of home ownership and has a high Sikh population, Aston and Nechells are more Muslim and more dominated by council housing. The seat includes HMP Birmingham at Winson Green, Aston University and both Aston Villa and Birmingham City football clubs.
Ladywood ward itself is underdergoing massive regeneration. In the city centre the Bullring shopping centre was demolished and replaced with a new modern shopping centre in 2003. The rest of Ladywood ward is still being redevloped, with entire high rise estates in Lee Bank being demolished and replaced with modern housing. Similar redevelopment in planned in Nechells with the demolition and replacement of large areas of Digbeth and Deritend as part of the Eastside development.
Current MP: Clare Short(Independent) born 1946, Birmingham to Irish Catholic parents. Educated at St Paul`s Grammar and the University of Leeds. Prior to her election she worked as a civil servant. First elected to Birmingham Ladywood as a Labour MP in 1983. Achieved public prominence by campaigning against Page 3 models in the Sun (which has ever since been particularly hostile towards her). Served as a shadow minister under Kinnock, Smith and Blair (though she temporarily resigned from the front bench over the Gulf War). Was appointed as the first Secretary of State for International Development in 1997. Despite her opposition to the Iraq war she remained a member of the government until after the initial conflict, finally resigning from the government in May 2003. Since then she has been highly critical of Tony Blair`s leadership. In September 2006 she said she would not stand again as a Labour MP and hoped for a hung Parliament after the next election. In October 2006 she resigned the Labour whip to sit as an independent (more information at They work for you)
Candidates: Colin Hughes (Conservative)
Shabana Mahmood (Labour) Born Small Heath. Barrister.
Ayoub Khan (Liberal Democrat) Birmingham Councillor since 2003. Contested Birmingham Ladywood in 2005.
Peter Beck (Green) Born West Bromwich. Retired library assistant and teacher. Former member of the Labour party. Contested Birmingham Edgbaston 2005.
Lynette Afshar (UKIP) Contested Birmingham Ladywood 2005, Yorkshire & Humberside 2009 European elections.
2001 Census Demographics
Total 2001 Population: 94538
Male: 49.7%
Female: 50.3%
Under 18: 29%
Over 60: 13.7%
Born outside UK: 30.9%
White: 36%
Black: 18.6%
Asian: 37.9%
Mixed: 5.3%
Other: 2.3%
Christian: 40.1%
Hindu: 3.2%
Muslim: 28.7%
Sikh: 5.4%
Full time students: 12.3%
Graduates 16-74: 13.6%
No Qualifications 16-74: 43.2%
Owner-Occupied: 35.2%
Social Housing: 49.6% (Council: 31.6%, Housing Ass.: 18%)
Privately Rented: 9.8%
Homes without central heating and/or private bathroom: 20.3%
The Liberals didn’t even bother to contest Handsworth (or Sparkbrook) in 1979.
I was just going to comment on the Liberals. I think Duddeston may have moved from ASton to Small Heath as well in 1974. I used to have an old (1970s) ward map of Birmingham but lost it some time back so am not too sure of my facts. I just notice that the LIberals came second in Small Heath in 1974, albeit distantly, and this was their best showing in the city. At that time they had councillors in some of those inner-city wards like Newtown and Duddeston as I think we have discussed elsewhere. Their vote subsequently evaporated there – these were some of their weakest seats in the 1980s – only to re-emerge more recently due to an entirely different demographic.
I seem to recall that Simonk was planning to post the old ward map online somewhere but we still await…
Did Handsworth lose any territory in 1974 to make up for gaining Aston.
It doesn’t seem to have increased in electorate between 1970 and 1974.
Yes I just looked at that and the same thing occurred to me. I guess part of the explanation could be depopulation in some of the inner city parts of Handsworth (Lozells) but most likely some territory was lost as well – maybe to Perry Barr
I always think of Handsworth as the Birmingham equivalent of Manchester Moss Side.
Reading through this thread, I find Councillor Iain Bowen’s comments regarding the biraderi system especially interesting.
Ladbrokes:
Labour 2/7
LD 5/2
With respect, not sure why betting is really necessary here – unless Clare Short has said she’s standing, which doesn’t look like it.
Absolutely. If Labour lose here, they’ll be down to 100 seats.
Lib Dems at 5/2 is a massive overstatement of their chances. I would say 10/1.
Hobby horse alert – I think the Lib Dems definitely have a better chance in Ashfield than here, where Shadsy priced them at 10 or 8 to 1 I think.
Ayoub Khan will have a surprise win in Birmingham Ladywood becuase it will end a long reign of high unemployment since Labour won in 1970.
No Paul, you’re wrong on this prediction. I think Labour will hold / gain this seat very easily. Shabana Mahmood will be hte next MP here. Yes, the Lib Dems will reduce her majority but she’ll still win here.
I’ve always assumed that Aston University was in the Aston ward but I’ve just found out from electionmaps.co.uk that it’s actually in the Nechells ward.
“I think Duddeston may have moved from ASton to Small Heath as well in 1974.”
Duddeston was in Ladywood pre-1974. Before the reorganisation Ladywood consisted of just two wards, namely Duddeston and Ladywood itself. Afterwards it essentially incorporated the former Birmingham All Saints seat with just the Ladywood ward itself providing continuity (rather similar to what is happening in Hall Green next time).
The victorious Liberal from the 1969 Ladywood by-election, Wallace Lawler, was a councillor in Newtown which was then in the Handsworth constituency.
In 1974 reorganisation Handsworth gained one ward (Aston) and lost one (Newtown, to Small Heath) – I would guess these were similarly sized wards.
“I seem to recall that Simonk was planning to post the old ward map online somewhere but we still await…”
I’m terribly sorry about this, the maps are currently in a box somewhere and it will take me a while to locate them, but it will happen!
Did the LD PPC take most of the Asian vote here in 2005? It was a massive leap to triple to 30%. Any chance of Short standing?