Lab held for 4 consecutive elections.
MP News Approval i
+50
Jess Phillips
Labour PartyJess Phillips is the Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley, and has been an MP continually since 7 May 2015. She currently holds the Government post of Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office).
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Sign up freeCoverage of Birmingham Yardley has been predominantly positive for Jess across 40 recent articles.
Positive coverage
“Eradication of sexual harassment in public places” — ExBulletin
“Tougher Measures Against Public Sex-based Harassment” — Mirage News
Critical coverage
“The independents joining forces to 'boot Labour out of Birmingham'” — Birmingham Mail
“Al Fayed survivors say government has been 'sceptical' over public inquiry” — BBC
A marginal seat — won by just 693 votes (1.9%) in 2024. Centred on Birmingham. Population 134,630, notably young (median age 33 vs 41 nationally), a majority-minority constituency. Recorded crime is 45% above the national average. Median income £24K (below average).
Eradication of sexual harassment in public places
ExBulletin · 1 Apr 2026
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Sign up freeMedian Income▼
£24,400
per year (HMRC 2022-23)
Mean Income▼
£28,300
per year (HMRC 2022-23)
Businesses▼
2,975
VAT/PAYE registered (ONS 2024)
Schools▼
36
26 primary, 2 secondary, 8 other
Total Income Tax▼
£131m
from 41,000 taxpayers
Median Tax▼
£2,170
per taxpayer / year
Mean Tax
£3,170
per taxpayer / year
Source: HMRC Survey of Personal Incomes, tax year 2022-23. Allocated by taxpayer residence. Covers income tax only — excludes NI, VAT, and capital gains. Sample-based estimate (~8% confidence interval).
Attainment 8▼
46.7
average score (DfE)
GCSE Pass Rate▼
66.7%
5+ GCSEs 9-4 (DfE)
1 city, 1 village, rural areas — 116,725 total population
Source: ONS Built-Up Areas (Census 2021) + data.police.uk — crime rates are per 1,000 population (last 3 months)
Source: data.police.uk — street-level crime data aggregated from LSOA to constituency
10 councillors across 7 wards · Last elections: May 2022
| Ward | Party | Councillor | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acocks Green | Liberal Democrats | Penny Wagg | May 2022 |
| Liberal Democrats | Roger Harmer | May 2022 | |
| Sheldon | Liberal Democrats | Colin Green | May 2022 |
| Liberal Democrats | Paul Calvin Tilsley | May 2022 | |
| Small Heath | Labour Party | Saqib Khan | May 2022 |
| Labour Party | Shabina Bano | May 2022 | |
| South Yardley | Liberal Democrats | Zaker Ullah Choudhry | May 2022 |
| Tyseley Hay Mills | Labour Party | Zafar Iqbal | May 2022 |
| Yardley East | Liberal Democrats | Deborah Harries | May 2022 |
| Yardley West Stechford | Liberal Democrats | Baber Baz | May 2022 |
Source: DCLEAPIL v1.0 by Jason Leman, LEAP (Andrew Teale) & Democracy Club. CC BY-SA 4.0. Data last refreshed: 1 Apr 2026.
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
✓ Won 2019 GEWon 2017 GEWon 2015 GE | Lab | 11,275 | 31.2% |
| WPB | 10,582 | 29.3% | |
| Ref | 5,061 | 14.0% | |
| LD | 3,634 | 10.1% | |
| Con | 3,634 | 10.1% | |
| Green | 1,958 | 5.4% |
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
✓ Won 2024 GEWon 2017 GEWon 2015 GE | Lab | 23,379 | 54.8% |
| Con | 12,720 | 29.8% | |
| LD | 3,754 | 8.8% | |
| Ind | 2,246 | 5.3% | |
| Green | 579 | 1.4% |
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
✓ Won 2024 GEWon 2019 GEWon 2015 GE | Lab | 25,398 | 57.1% |
| Con | 8,824 | 19.8% | |
Won 2010 GE | LD | 7,984 | 17.9% |
| Ind | 1,916 | 4.3% | |
| Green | 280 | 0.6% | |
| Ind | 100 | 0.2% |
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
✓ Won 2024 GEWon 2019 GEWon 2017 GE | Lab | 17,129 | 41.6% |
Won 2010 GE | LD | 10,534 | 25.6% |
| Ind | 6,637 | 16.1% | |
| Con | 5,760 | 14.0% | |
| Green | 698 | 1.7% | |
| Ind | 187 | 0.5% | |
| Ind | 135 | 0.3% | |
| Ind | 71 | 0.2% |
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| LD | 16,162 | 39.6% | |
| Lab | 13,160 | 32.2% | |
| Con | 7,836 | 19.2% | |
| Ind | 2,153 | 5.3% | |
| Ind | 1,190 | 2.9% | |
| Ind | 349 | 0.8% |
Jess Phillips has not appeared in national political news coverage tracked by our system. This is common for backbench MPs who focus on constituency-level work rather than national policy debates.
16 articles hidden as not sufficiently relevant to this constituency
The Government has introduced new legislation to criminalize sexual harassment in public places, making it a specific offense with penalties up to two years in prison. Jess Phillips, as Minister for Protection and Violence against Women and Girls, championed this law and emphasized shifting focus from victims changing their behavior to punishing perpetrators.
The government has introduced a new law criminalizing sex-based harassment in public spaces, with offenders facing up to 2 years in prison. Minister Jess Phillips, who oversees safeguarding and violence against women and girls, announced the legislation as part of a broader strategy to tackle violence against women and girls.
The UK government has enacted the Protection from Sex-Based Harassment in Public Act, introducing new criminal offences for public sexual harassment with penalties up to 2 years imprisonment. Minister for Safeguarding Jess Phillips praised the law as a landmark shift in protecting women and girls from street harassment, with support from charities and campaign groups.
New UK legislation criminalising public sexual harassment comes into effect today, with offenders facing up to two years in prison for catcalling, following, and intimidating women and girls. Minister for Violence Against Women and Girls Jess Phillips emphasises the law's importance in shifting shame from victims to perpetrators and enabling police to take action.
A sexual assault survivor criticizes Travelodge's response to her case, where an intruder gained unauthorized access to her hotel room. The article highlights the survivor's frustration with the company's initial compensation offer, CEO meeting, and broader security concerns, while noting that Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips met with the hotel chain regarding women's safety policies.
A man in his 60s has been interviewed under caution in connection with the Mohamed Al Fayed sexual assault and human trafficking investigation. The Metropolitan Police investigation has now widened to include human trafficking allegations, with 154 victims having come forward; survivors met with MP Jess Phillips, the minister for safeguarding, to express concerns that investigations have not gone far enough.
Detectives have questioned a man in his 60s on suspicion of aiding and abetting rape and human trafficking related to former Harrods boss Mohamed Fayed. Over 154 victims have come forward; survivors recently met with Jess Phillips, the minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, to discuss concerns about the investigation's effectiveness.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has written to Travelodge's CEO demanding engagement with MPs over a sexual assault at a Maidenhead hotel in 2022, where a woman was attacked by a man given unauthorized room access. The incident has prompted calls for tougher hotel safety measures, with safeguarding minister Jess Phillips among those who have met with the CEO.
Ninestiles School in Birmingham Yardley won a prestigious national award for sustainable travel initiatives, with local MP Jess Phillips making a surprise appearance to celebrate the learners' achievements. The school's active travel campaigns have led to investment in safer school journeys through Birmingham City Council's programme.
A YouGov survey shows 90% of West Midlands women feel unsafe walking alone after dark, higher than the UK average of 88%. The government is launching new guidance for councils to design safer streets, with funding available for improved lighting, CCTV, and better routes, and Jess Phillips MP welcomes the initiative as part of efforts to tackle violence against women and girls.
Jess Phillips, as Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, has launched the 'Enough' campaign featuring major sports stars to tackle violence against women and girls, aiming to halve such crimes within a decade. The government-backed initiative partners with athletes, businesses, and community organisations to raise awareness of abusive behaviours and drive cultural change across society.
A women's charity (SIGBI) has welcomed the Government's £5 million investment in pilots to support domestic abuse victims, with the initiative directly informed by recommendations from SIGBI's Court Report that was referenced in Parliament by Jess Phillips MP. The funding will expand support roles similar to Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs) to strengthen victim engagement and safety in the justice system.
New research shows 59% of women in Yorkshire and the Humber avoid walking home at night due to safety concerns, with 89% of women nationally reporting feeling unsafe. The government has announced a programme of street safety improvements, including new guidance for councils in 2026 and practical training this spring focused on lighting, routes, and CCTV.
The government is introducing new guidance for English councils on designing safer streets for women and girls, including better lighting, CCTV, and improved crossing infrastructure. Home Office minister Jess Phillips, who represents Birmingham Yardley, is quoted supporting the initiative as part of efforts to shift responsibility from women to the spaces and behaviours that put them at risk.
Al Fayed survivors have met with safeguarding minister Jess Phillips and expressed frustration that the government has been 'sceptical' about a public inquiry and trafficking investigation into the former Harrods boss's decades-long sexual assault network. With 154 victims now on record, survivors are calling for greater accountability and a formal public inquiry, though the government's commitment remains unclear.
A Labour council's 'mythbuster' campaign claims research shows no causal link between asylum seekers and violence against women and girls, despite statistical data showing foreign nationals account for a significant proportion of sex crime convictions. Jess Phillips, MP for Birmingham Yardley and Secretary of State for Safeguarding, stated the government lacks reliable data on the issue but committed to collecting it going forward.
Independent candidates allied with the Workers Party and backed by George Galloway are targeting Birmingham council seats, including multiple seats in the Yardley constituency. The alliance aims to challenge Labour's control of the city council, with candidates criticising Labour for neglecting working-class communities and taking votes for granted.
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