The former district nurse has become Birmingham’s first black MP.
Nurse Paulette Hamilton has been elected as the Labour MP for Birmingham Erdington.
The former district nurse who has also worked for the Royal College of Nursing re-joined the NHS frontline during the pandemic to support the vaccine roll-out and joined the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s temporary register.
The Birmingham Erdington by-election was triggered following the death of MP Jack Dromey in January, who had held the seat since 2010.
Pulling in a massive 55% of the vote, Ms Hamilton has strengthened Labour’s holding of the typically red seat from 50.3% in 2019.
Ms Hamilton has been a local councillor since 2005 and is currently the cabinet member for health and social care on Birmingham City Council.
Nurses in Parliament.
Ms Hamilton has also become Birmingham’s first black MP – an important step for the area. In her victory speech, Ms Hamilton said she was “exhausted but delighted”.
“But I’d also like to say a special thank you to Keir Starmer for his endless support – even when my dad died, they were there, they wrapped me in cotton wool, and they supported me, and my dad isn’t even buried yet but they were there when I was crying.”
Speaking to reporters, Ms Hamilton added; “I never thought I’d be running to be an MP, but the fact that I am now not only the MP for Erdington but the first black woman – the first woman to ever get the position – I am delighted and I am still pinching myself.
“I really don’t believe it at this moment in time.”
Ms Hamilton will now join the likes of Conservative MP Maria Caulfield in being a voice for the nursing profession in Parliament.
