Birmingham by-election: everything you need to know about post budget election on May 2

In less than a month’s time, an election of a Birmingham city councillor will be held for the first time since the local authority's unprecedented budget was approved. A by-election in the Bournbrook and Selly Park ward was called following the departure of Brigid Jones, a former cabinet member for finance at Labour-run Birmingham City Council.

It will now be held on Thursday, May 2 and candidates have already been busy bombarding residents with leaflets and attempting to woo voters in the area. The Labour and Co-Operative Party will fight to keep the seat over the next few weeks while facing opposition from the Local Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Green Party, Workers Party of Britain, Socialist Alternative and an independent.

The next city-wide election, which could decide which political party ends up in control of Birmingham City Council, is set to take place in 2026. However, this by-election is an opportunity for thousands of voters, in the ward of Bounbrook and Selly Park at least, to have their say amid the council’s financial difficulties.

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A separate by-election will be held later this year following the resignation of Cllr Rick Payne, though a date has not yet been set. Here’s what each of the candidates for the Bournbrook and Selly Park by-election had to say:

Jamie Scott - Labour and Co-Operative Party

Labour’s candidate Jamie Scott works for a charity which provides support service for victim-survivors of domestic abuse and those who need help with drug and alcohol use. He has also worked for Labour Police and Crime Commissioners on campaigns around car crime and domestic abuse.

He says that working with the police, local groups and the community to tackle crime, anti-social behaviour and speeding are key priorities if elected. He added problematic exempt accommodation with exploitative landlords was driving anti-social behaviour and other crimes locally.

“I’m also concerned about issues relating to poor landlords and housing which are making people feel unsafe where they live," he said. He continued that funding has been stripped from Birmingham over the past 14 years and says he has spoken to residents about “how the impact of the Tories crashing the economy has left people across Birmingham paying the price.”

Dr Andrew Hardie - Local Conservatives

Birmingham Local Conservatives have chosen retired local GP Dr Andrew Hardie as their candidate. He is an experienced former councillor and says he is standing for a fresh start for the council.

“I am passionate about helping residents, working to protect the character of our suburbs and for a cleaner city,” Dr Hardie said. “If elected I will be holding the council to account to ensure the services residents rely upon are protected.”

The Local Conservatives say he has previously campaigned to get graffiti cleaned up, to make local roads safer and for libraries to be saved. They add that the result on May 2 is a chance to elect Dr Hardie and send a message to the council to change its course.

On graffiti, Dr Hardie adds: “It is vital that graffiti is cleared quickly. If it gets left, it soon attracts more, often together with dumped rubbish.”

Joe Norris - Liberal Democrats

Joe Norris, who is about to complete a four year degree in electronic engineering, said he was “ecstatic” to stand as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Bournbrook and Selly Park. “I’ve called this place home for four years now, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be able to give back to the community,” he said.

In a leaflet, he said the area was facing a time of “real hardship” amid the cost-of-living crisis, NHS waiting times and local service cuts, criticising both the Conservative government and Labour council. “We deserve much better than this,” Mr Norris said. “It’s time for real change and a new direction.

“I’m standing to be your local councillor so that Bournbrook and Selly Park has someone fighting our corner on Birmingham City Council. With so many hard decisions over the coming years, we need a councillor who will stand up for us.”

Carla Charles - Green Party

Carla Charles, the Green Party's candidate, is an arts educator and runs a local non-profit arts space. She wants to campaign to save local spaces and services from planned city council cuts.

"As someone who works to make arts accessible to all, and as a mother myself, I know just how valuable our community spaces and local services are to people,” Carla said. "I want to campaign to save as many of our services as possible, and send a message to our Labour-run Council and the Tory Government that these cuts to local services are completely outrageous.

“Voting Green at this by-election is a way of sending that message". She continued: "It's utterly devastating that so many local services like our libraries are under threat.”

Green Party councillors have been at the “forefront” of highlighting the impact of cuts, she added.

Edward Woollard - Workers Party of Britain

The Workers Party of Britain are standing Edward Woollard in the Bournbrook and Selly Park by-election. The political party says: “The Labour council for too long have coasted under the excuse of Tory austerity, having implemented cuts the length and breadth of Birmingham’s once numerous services.”

Highlighting the services being slashed across the city, they added: “No corner of life in Birmingham is untouched by austerity or mismanagement. The farce that is Birmingham City Council has gone on long enough.”

Edward Woollard says if elected, he will fight to end “rampant” HMO schemes; to restore bin collections; to restore easy access to city tips and to end the “city centre green air zone charges". He also wants to see free bus travel for 16-year-olds and younger, fight council tax hikes and “end all council ties to Israel.”

Corinthia Ward - Socialist Alternative

Brummie Corinthia Ward says she has been a trade unionist for nearly a decade and has shown solidarity on pickets in the past, ranging from bin workers, junior doctors, nurses and Amazon strikers in Sutton Coldfield. She said: “This election can be used to build a campaign against the council’s cuts and council tax hike, linking local trade union branches, council workers, community campaign groups and students across Bournbrook & Selly Park and the wider Birmingham community.

“We need a socialist councillor on an anti-cuts and anti-war programme putting forward a budget for what our city needs, who will fight for free education for all". She adds that if elected, she will stand up to commissioners and “careerist councillors” regardless of what colour rosette they wear.

Pete Bloomer - Independent

An independent candidate running in the by-election is Pete Bloomer, a lifelong activist, trade unionist and a “proud member” of the local community for over 20 years, as well as a founding member of Selly Oak Palestine Solidarity. He says he will “fight tirelessly” to ensure that public services are adequately funded and that the community's needs are addressed.

“I am actively involved in numerous campaigns, from defending our NHS against privatisation to fighting for dignity and equality for all,” he continued. He describes the council tax rise and severe service cuts as “blatant disregard” for the well-being of Birmingham's residents.

If elected, his commitments include holding regular meetings with residents, opposing all cuts to vital services and campaigning for more social housing. He also wants to defend students’ rights to fair rents/contracts and support green initiatives.

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