Birmingham Edgbaston

Boundary changes: minor changes to bring the seat into line with the large number of adjustments to ward boundaries in Birmingham. Loses part of Sparkbrook to Hall Green, part of Ladywood ward to Ladywood and part of Selly Oak ward to Selly Oak. Gains part of Harborne from Ladywood and part of Bartley Green from Northfield.

Profile: Traditionally Edgbaston was a Conservative seat – it is a largely middle-class seat of leafy suburbs in the South-West of Birmingham and was held by the Conservatives for most of the twentieth century until falling to Labour in the 1997 landslide. It covers four council wards, Bartley Green, Edgbaston, Harbone and Quinton – the first three are safely Tory with Quinton more marginal, as it includes council estates like Woodgate Valley and Welsh House Farm. Parts of Edgbaston itself are also becoming more inner city in character, with more houses of multiple occupany and a higher proportion of ethnic minorites. The seat includes Bartley reservoir, Edgbaston Cricket Ground and the main campus of the University of Birmingham (although the bulk of the students don`t live in the ward – they are more likely to be found in Selly Oak).

The seat has been represented by a female MP since 1953: Edith Pitt was followed by Dame Jill Knight and now Gisela Stuart. Since the Conservative candidate is Deirdre Alden the tradition is likely to continue whoever wins the next election,

Current MP: Gisela Stuart(Labour) born 1955, Bavaria. Educated at Staat Realschule and Manchester Polytechnic. Moved to Britain in 1974. Lecturer. First elected as MP for Birmingham Edgbaston in 1997. PPS to Paul Boateng from 1998-1999, Junior heath minister 1999-2001. Along with David Heathcote-Amtony was on the steeting group of the European Convention that drew up the European Constitution, but was strongly critical of the constitution that finally emerged (more information at They work for you)

2010 election candidates:
Deirdre Alden (Conservative) born Buckinghamshire. Educated at Wycombe High School and the Birmingham School of Speech Training and Dramatic Art. Freelance writer. Birmingham councillor since 1999 (as part of a family group – her husband John is a long serving Birmingham councillor and her son Robert was elected in 2006). Contested Birmingham Edgbaston in 2005.
Gisela Stuart(Labour) born 1955, Bavaria. Educated at Staat Realschule and Manchester Polytechnic. Moved to Britain in 1974. Lecturer. First elected as MP for Birmingham Edgbaston in 1997. PPS to Paul Boateng from 1998-1999, Junior heath minister 1999-2001. Along with David Heathcote-Amtony was on the steeting group of the European Convention that drew up the European Constitution, but was strongly critical of the constitution that finally emerged (more information at They work for you)
Roger Harmer (Liberal Democrat) Birmingham councillor since 1995. Contested Birmingham Sparkbrook and Small Heath 1997.
Phil Simpson (Green)
Greville Warwick (UKIP)
Trevor Lloyd (BNP)
Charith Femando (Christian Party)
Harry Takhar (Impact)