Jess Phillips retains seat in Jody McIntyre battle - heckled on stage at the count

July 5th, 2024

Jess Phillips has been re-elected in Birmingham Yardley. Jess Phillips won with 11,275 votes, just 693 more than the Workers Party candidate Jody McIntyre, who won 10,582 votes.

Jess Phillips and Jody McIntyre had a high-profile battle in Birmingham Yardley after other independents stood aside to allow Mr McIntyre a free run against Ms Phillips.

Ms Phillips was also heckled on the stage before and during her victory speech.

As she was heckled Ms Phillips said: "Thank you. I see we're going to continue with the class that we had during the campaign."

Ms Phillips continued: "I understand that a strong woman standing up to you is met with such reticence.

"This election has been the worst election I have ever stood in. Today, a brilliant community activist, who puts on events for every single part of our community, came out to campaign with me and people filmed her on the streets, and then slashed her tyres. A young woman on her own delivering leaflets was filmed and screamed at by a much older man in the street. Today, I was to be joined by the family of Jo Cox, who wanted to come out and campaign with me. And there is absolutely no way I could have allowed for them to see what was aggressive and violence in our democracy.

"I'd also like to thank West Midlands Police for the constant phone calls they had to take from me today, and for their responses to the aggression that we have suffered. I'd like to thank my husband and my children."

AyesToTheRight