Labour’s outspoken MP Jess Phillips hit out at her rival as she successfully defended the Yardley seat she won two years ago.

It was a blow for former Lib Dem John Hemming who finished third behind the Conservatives in the seat he had previously held for ten years.

Jess Phillips won with a 16,574 majority over Conservative Mohammed Afzal.

There is no love lost between the two following an equally bruising campaign in 2015.

In her victory speech Ms Phillips took a swipe a Mr Hemming’s campaign which she said had been negative.

Birmingham Yardley MP Jess Phillips interviewed by Channel 4 News
Birmingham Yardley MP Jess Phillips interviewed by Channel 4 News

“My constituents joined me in rising above entitlement, childishness and bitter jealousy. We are better than that,” she said.

“Also it turns out that they do want a feminist as their MP.”

Mr Hemming put his defeat down to the national surge for Labour and slump for the Liberal Democrats.