Lib Dem Hemming set to battle Phillips for seat Ex-MP to take on woman who beat him
FORMER Lib Dem MP John Hemming has confirmed he will challenge Labour’s Jess Phillips for the Yardley seat in the General Election, re-igniting one of the bitterest contests in Birmingham’s recent political history.
Mr Hemming served as Yardley MP for ten years until 2015 when he became one of the many Lib Dem MPs to be dumped by the electorate after the Coalition Government years. He was defeated by Ms Phillips, who won with a 6,595 vote majority, in what was a rare success for Labour.
Both have been described as outspoken and maverick MPs, known for speaking their minds and willing to challenge their own party leaders. But there is no love lost between them.
Announcing his decision on facebook, Mr Hemming said: “Follow- ing requests from many local people who have written to me, emailed my, made phone calls, or sent twitter messages I will be re-standing to be MP for Birmingham Yardley.
“I think it’s important that the people of Birmingham Yardley whose main focus to be a full-time MP who deals with their issues, resolving their problems, representing them effectively and achieving change for Yardley, making things better cleaning up the city.”
Since leaving Parliament two years ago Mr Hemming has lost legal action against Birmingham City Council over its failure to keep the streets clean.
He has also continued his family courts campaign – claiming the state has caused untold misery to many families through zealous action in taking young children and babies into care with little oversight or scrutiny.
His statement is a clear swipe at Ms Phillips who has been a regular figure on the national media and outspoken on social media and often the target of online trolls. A former Women’s Aid worker she has been a vocal campaigner for victims of abuse and domestic violence.
She has used crowdfunder website to raise funds towards her re-election campaign – the total is approaching £8,000.
She says politics should not be a game solely for the independen t l y wealthy – also a dig at Mr Hemming, who is a successful businessman.