Poverty, Gaza and the challenges to a safe Labour seat

Ladywood in Birmingham has been one of the safest Labour seats in the country since 1970. But boundary changes and a rising tide of anger over Gaza pose a threat. The BBC spoke to voters and the candidates battling to represent them.

With more than 25,000 residents, inner-city suburb Alum Rock is the most populous area of Birmingham.

It is also one of the most deprived, with more people on average out of a job and the highest share of working age people without any qualifications.

Thanks to boundary changes, it is now part of the Ladywood constituency, adding yet more diversity to a rich patchwork of communities that include Birmingham’s evolving city centre, historic Jewellery Quarter and the Gay Village.

In Alum Rock, one of several suburbs with a large Muslim population, many people feel forgotten by the main political parties. The cost of living has hit extremely hard.

Resident Lorna Neale asked “whether there is a politician that has a magic wand”.

“More food banks are opening, even schools have food banks… maybe we can unite as a nation, as a people. That would be excellent,” she added, optimistically.

“A lot of people have been laid off, especially in factories, and I’ve talked to a lot of single mothers who can’t afford to put food on the table and buy the basics for their children,” another resident told us.

Shahid Alam cited NHS staffing shortages and the conditions of local roads as matter that meant most to him.

The situation in Gaza, however, was “one of the big issues” that would affect who he chose to vote for.

With “Free Palestine” posters adorning shop windows on Alum Rock Road and a demonstration taking place on the streets every Saturday, the support here for the people of Gaza is clear.

It is little surprise, then, that Independent candidate Akhmed Yakoob has chosen to campaign here heavily.

The so-called TikTok lawyer, who regularly posts reels to his large social media following, came in third place in the West Midlands mayoral election in May.

He has called for an end to the war in Gaza, as well as knife crime.

But he has also been forced to apologise for making misogynistic comments on a podcast and came under fire for wrongly accusing a school teacher of making racist comments on the campaign trail.

His close allegiance to independent Shakeel Afzal, standing in the nearby Hall Green constituency and who once led angry protests over teaching about same-sex relationships in Birmingham primary schools, has not gone unnoticed among the city’s LGBT community.

The BBC asked Mr Yakoob to answer some of his critics, as well as explain his own views on homosexuality and women.

“In terms of the LGBTQ community, I don’t see them any different and they should be able to live in peace and harmony amongst everyone else,” he said.

“And if women want to work they should work. What I say is, in terms of my life, my wife doesn’t work because she doesn’t need to work.

“I treat my woman as a queen. I provide for her and I go and do the dirty work. The hard work. So she can stay at home and enjoy herself.”

His dream is to unseat Shabana Mahmood, the Labour MP of Ladywood since 2010.

Sir Keir Starmer’s initial reluctance to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza is still fresh in some people’s minds. Ms Mahmood has previously said it is vital for her party to rebuild trust with Muslim voters.

Labour is now backing an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.

She also insists she has never taken her 28,000 majority for granted and is passionate about Ladywood and the people she has served over four terms.

“I don’t think that’s fair and I don’t think that’s right – I don’t think that’s the right characterisation of my many years of public service here,” she said.

“This is my home turf. This is where I grew up. I live not too far away, even today, and I do my job in Westminster and in Parliament.

“I am elected to be a representative in Parliament, but I always come home.”

The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats finished second and third in Ladywood in 2019.

Lib Dem candidate Lee Dargue said he was concerned about how the LGBT community would feel if Mr Yakoob was their MP.

He said: “We have lots of activities here and had Pride recently. What’s he going to say when a trans person knocks on his door and asks for help?”

Shazna Muzammil, the Tory candidate, said she saw the election as giving the community a voice, whatever their views.

“This is a great opportunity for them to cast their ward and say we believe in Yakoob – or we don’t believe in Yakoob,” she said.

“Or, we don’t believe in Shabana and we believe in Shaz – and let’s give her the chance to step up and make a difference here.”

Whoever is victorious in Ladywood on 4 July will face a challenge convincing voters their party’s national policies can improve the lives of people in Alum Rock.

A full list of candidates standing is available on the BBC constituency page.