Birmingham Ladywood
Notional 2005 Results:
Labour: 15216 (50%)
Liberal Democrat: 9002 (29.6%)
Conservative: 2683 (8.8%)
Other: 3541 (11.6%)
Majority: 6215 (20.4%)
Actual 2005 result
Conservative: 3515 (10.6%)
Labour: 17262 (51.9%)
Liberal Democrat: 10461 (31.5%)
UKIP: 2008 (6%)
Majority: 6801 (20.5%)
2001 Result
Conservative: 3551 (11.3%)
Labour: 21694 (68.9%)
Liberal Democrat: 2586 (8.2%)
UKIP: 283 (0.9%)
Other: 3379 (10.7%)
Majority: 18143 (57.6%)
1997 Result
Conservative: 5052 (13.3%)
Labour: 28134 (74.1%)
Liberal Democrat: 3020 (8%)
Referendum: 1086 (2.9%)
Other: 685 (1.8%)
Majority: 23082 (60.8%)
Boundary changes: Extensive changes to local government boundary changes in Birmingham and the large size of council wards in the city mean that most of Birmingham`s consitutencies underwent many small changes to bring them into line with local government ward boundaries. Ladywood gains part of Aston from Perry Barr, part of Ladywood itself from Edgbaston and part of Nechells from Sparkbrook & Small Heath while losing part of Bordesley Green to Hodge Hill, Lozells to Perry Barr and part of Washwood Heath to Hodge Hill.
Profile: Ladywood consists of Aston, Nechells, Ladywood and Soho wards and covers the city centre of Brimingham. Ladywood has traditionally been one of the most deprived seats in the country, with one of the highest levels of unemployment, highest numbers of lone parents and very low levels of home and car ownership. It also has one of the highest proportions of non-white voters, with well over half the population from an ethnic minority. Soho ward to the West has a higher proportion of home ownership and has a high Sikh population, Aston and Nechells are more Muslim and more dominated by council housing. The seat includes HMP Birmingham at Winson Green, Aston University and both Aston Villa and Birmingham City football clubs.
Ladywood ward itself is underdergoing massive regeneration. In the city centre the Bullring shopping centre was demolished and replaced with a new modern shopping centre in 2003. The rest of Ladywood ward is still being redevloped, with entire high rise estates in Lee Bank being demolished and replaced with modern housing. Similar redevelopment in planned in Nechells with the demolition and replacement of large areas of Digbeth and Deritend as part of the Eastside development.
Outgoing MP: Clare Short(Independent) born 1946, Birmingham to Irish Catholic parents. Educated at St Paul`s Grammar and the University of Leeds. Prior to her election she worked as a civil servant. First elected to Birmingham Ladywood as a Labour MP in 1983. Achieved public prominence by campaigning against Page 3 models in the Sun (which has ever since been particularly hostile towards her). Served as a shadow minister under Kinnock, Smith and Blair (though she temporarily resigned from the front bench over the Gulf War). Was appointed as the first Secretary of State for International Development in 1997. Despite her opposition to the Iraq war she remained a member of the government until after the initial conflict, finally resigning from the government in May 2003. Since then she has been highly critical of Tony Blair`s leadership. In September 2006 she said she would not stand again as a Labour MP and hoped for a hung Parliament after the next election. In October 2006 she resigned the Labour whip to sit as an independent (more information at They work for you)
Candidates: 
Colin Hughes (Conservative) 
Shabana Mahmood (Labour) Born Small Heath. Barrister. 
Ayoub Khan (Liberal Democrat) Birmingham Councillor since 2003. Contested Birmingham Ladywood in 2005. 
Peter Beck (Green) Born West Bromwich. Retired library assistant and teacher. Former member of the Labour party. Contested Birmingham Edgbaston 2005.Lynne Ashfar (UKIP)
2001 Census Demographics
Total 2001 Population: 94538
Male: 49.7%
Female: 50.3%
Under 18: 29%
Over 60: 13.7%
Born outside UK: 30.9%
White: 36%
Black: 18.6%
Asian: 37.9%
Mixed: 5.3%
Other: 2.3%
Christian: 40.1%
Hindu: 3.2%
Muslim: 28.7%
Sikh: 5.4%
Full time students: 12.3%
Graduates 16-74: 13.6%
No Qualifications 16-74: 43.2%
Owner-Occupied: 35.2%
Social Housing: 49.6% (Council: 31.6%, Housing Ass.: 18%)
Privately Rented: 9.8%
Homes without central heating and/or private bathroom: 20.3%
Colin Hughes has stood down as Conservative candidate – his replacement is Nusrat Ghani