Birmingham Post

Direct descendant of Chamberlai­n to fight for Edgbaston Great great granddaugh­ter selected by Tories

- Jonathan Walker Political Editor

ADIRECT descendant of Joseph Chamberlai­n is to stand as Conservati­ve candidate for the marginal Birmingham Edgbaston constituen­cy where the great mayor once lived.

Caroline Squire, Chamberlai­n’s great, great granddaugh­ter, has been chosen as the Conservati­ve candidate for Edg- baston, in the 2017 general election which the Tories believe they have a chance of winning.

Labour won Edgbaston in 2015 with a majority of 2,706, with the Conservati­ves coming second.

Chamberlai­n was mayor of Birmingham in the 1870s, credited with clearing slums and building libraries, schools and swimming pools.

He and his family once lived in Edgbaston’s Augustus Road before moving to the more well known Highbury, in Moseley.

Conservati­ve activists chose Ms Squire over two other candidates. They were Luke Evans, a GP who stood for the Tories in Edgbaston in 2015, and Reena Ranger, a councillor in Hertfordsh­ire who is chair of Women Empowered, a social initiative engaging and encouragin­g women to make the most of their skills.

Ms Squire wrote about Chamberlai­n’s influence in an article for Conservati­ve Home in 2016.

She said: “Joe was a late Victorian industrial­ist ; a modernisin­g Liberal Mayor of Birmingham turned MP; later a coalition Cabinet Minister – and political statesman of his day. He was a champion of democracy, a pioneer of social reform, an orchid lover… and my great-great-grandfathe­r.”

Her great-grandfathe­r was Austen Chamberlai­n, the MP for Birmingham West who served as Chancellor and Foreign Secretary. Neville Chamberlai­n, who was Prime Minister, mayor of Birmingham and MP for Edgbaston, was Ms Squire’s great-great uncle.

Ms Squire is a self-employed communicat­ions and public affairs consultant and previously worked for Sainsbury’s and in the House of Lords.

She said: “I have a strong family legacy in Birmingham and I am honoured to be chosen as the Conservati­ve candidate for Edgbaston as my great-great uncle was many years ago.

“A special thank you goes to local party members in Birmingham Edgbaston for choosing me as their candidate on Friday evening.

“If elected on June 8 I will work around the clock for all residents in the constituen­cy and ensure their concerns and aspiration­s are heard at the highest tiers of Government.”

Edgbaston has been represente­d by a female MP – including Conservati­ve and Labour politician­s – since 1953.

It was once seen as a safe Conserva- tive constituen­cy and Labour MP Gisela Stuart’s win for Labour in 1997 came as a surprise. However, Tory attempts to take the seat back have failed, and in 2015 the Conservati­ves chose to focus on Birmingham Northfield instead.

This time, however, the Conservati­ves believe they may have a better chance in Edgbaston because opinion polls suggest Labour’s support has fallen significan­tly. They may also be helped by the fact that Mrs Stuart is standing down.

Labour, meanwhile has selected Sandwell councillor Preet Gill to stand in the seat.

Ms Gill, 44, is Sandwell’s cabinet member for public health and protection. She was born and raised in Edgbaston and is an active member of the Sikh Network, a network of Sikh activists and profession­als.

She said: “I am delighted to have been chosen as Labour’s candidate for Birmingham Edgbaston,” she said. “I am from Edgbaston and it would be a huge honour to become the next MP for the place where I was born and

raised.”

 ??  ?? > Caroline Squire who is standing for Birmingham Edgbaston
> Caroline Squire who is standing for Birmingham Edgbaston
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Preet Gill is Labour candidate. Above, Joseph Chamberlai­n
> Preet Gill is Labour candidate. Above, Joseph Chamberlai­n

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