Thursday the 30th of May 2024 saw a by-election take place in the Kingstanding ward, with the result being declared shortly after midnight. Birmingham Local Conservatives candidate Clifton Welch was elected with the largest percentage majority achieved by a Conservative since 1968.
- Clifton Frederick Welch - Local Conservatives - 829
- Naz Rasheed - Labour Party - 680
- Lucy Hayward - Liberal Democrats - 82
- Pete Higgins - Workers Party Birmingham - 46
- Patrick Christopher Lee - Green Party - 72
- Kris O'Sullivan - Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition – 20
There were also 10 rejected ballots.
This is only the 8th time that Kingstanding has elected a Conservative councillor, though represents a continued shift in Birmingham politics. By-election results continue to show a swing to Birmingham Local Conservatives - 5.8% in Kingstanding, strengthening the Conservative presence in the ward - after the City Council was declared effectively bankrupt under the Labour administration.
Cllr Clifton Welch (Con, Kingstanding), said:
I'm deeply honoured to have been elected to serve the people of Kingstanding. Over the campaign, they have given me a warm response on the door. I've been focused on tackling local issues, fighting to save Kingstanding and Perry Common Libraries, protecting Burford Road Playing Fields and much, much more. I will be working tirelessly to get Kingstanding a better deal from this bankrupt Labour Council.
Cllr Robert Alden (Con, Erdington), Leader of the Opposition and Birmingham Local Conservatives, said:
In the last month there have been two by-elections in Birmingham and both have shown large swings away from Labour. Away from the same Birmingham Labour who have effectively bankrupted our great city and imposed their double whammy of higher taxes for fewer services on hard-working brummies. While Labour has let the people of Kingstanding down, I've seen first-hand how dedicated new Cllr Clifton Welch is to helping, supporting and working with residents to get a better deal for Kingstanding from Bankrupt Birmingham Labour.
Cllr Welch's campaign focused on local issues, such as rubbish and the fate of local libraries, throwing into stark contrast Labour's decision to ship in parliamentary candidates for Birmingham from London.
