Birmingham Yardley has been a third party stronghold in council elections for many years now, with the Liberal Democrats taking no less than 61% of the vote across the constituency in the May 2000 local elections. They were extremely confident of gaining the parliamentary seat at the last general election, starting just 5% behind, but despite a small increase in their vote, their chances were dashed by Labour's strong national performance.

The constituency (lying to the east of the city centre along the A45) was actually held by the Conservatives from 1979 to 1992 and was regarded as a standard two-party marginal before that. Now however it seems that Conservative hopes here have receded, and their vote seems likely to be squeezed further by the Lib Dems.

Since 1997, Labour MP Estelle Morris has been elevated to ministerial rank, but this will not necessarily end Liberal Democrat hopes. Yardley was one of only three constituencies in the entire country where they led in the 1999 Euro elections, and their perennial candidate here, councillor and businessman John Hemming, will hope it is third time lucky for him.

Parliamentary Statistics pre-Election 2001

Labour majority 5,315 (14.1%)  Liberal Democrat target
MP Estelle Morris
1997 (Turnout 71.2%)
Labour	17,778	47.1%
Liberal Democrat	12,463	33.0%
Conservative	6,736	17.8%
Referendum	646	1.7%
UK Independence	164	0.4%

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For Birmingham Yardley 2001 Election result - click here.