Labour’s Paulette Hamilton has won the Birmingham by-election with a majority of 3,266 votes, and is now set to become the city’s first-ever Black MP.
Hamilton won the Birmingham Erdington by-election with a total of 9,413 votes against Conservative candidate Robert Alden, who won 6,147 votes.
The by-election was triggered by the sudden death of Labour MP Jack Dromey, in January, who had held the seat since 2010.
The Labour Party was the favourite to win, holding constituency since it was created in 1974, but fears were sparked that a low turnout could have unexpected results for the by-election, according to The Guardian.
In her victory speech, Hamilton said: “I’m truly humbled and honoured to be elected as a member of parliament. I will not take your vote for granted, I have met many of you and I have heard what you have to say and I commit to you now, I will work for you … I will be your voice in Westminster.”
She also paid tribute to the late MP Jack Dromey, 73, who had held the seat since 2010: “He was a wonderful MP for his constituency and in the past few weeks campaigning across Erdington, Castle Vale and Kingstanding, I have heard so many stories of the difference Jack made to the people’s lives.”
She is now set to become Birmingham’s first Black MP.
A Labour spokesperson praised Labour’s historical accomplishment: “In Paulette, the people of Birmingham Erdington have elected a great local champion. We’re delighted that this campaign has seen the first Black MP elected from a Birmingham constituency,” according to The BBC.