Clare Short won an enormous majority in this seat in 1997 - 60.8% - making it one of Labour’s strongest performances. It was not always thus: Ladywood has a colourful political history.
Ladywood elected Brian Walden in February 1974, and after his resignation in 1977 to become a TV presenter, Labour won the by-election. The Liberals, who had held the seat in the past, were beaten into fourth place by the National Front who gained a 5.7% share.
The sitting Labour MP was deselected before the 1983 election and Clare Short chosen in his place. She has held the seat since then.
The seat covers most of Birmingham city centre including Winson Green Prison and Aston University. Much of it - including the Bull Ring and New Street Station, is soon to be redeveloped, marking a long-delayed revival of the commercial heart of the city to match that recently enjoyed by its civic centre.
Juxtaposed with the wealth of the city centre are some residential areas with serious economic and social problems: 41.5% of all families with children are headed by a single parent and unemployment is the highest in the UK.
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