Barrister Shabana Mahmood romped home to beat off a Liberal Democrat challenge, taking Birmingham Ladywood for Labour.
Against most expectations, Ms Mahmood, whose victory has made her Britain’s first female Muslim MP, increased the party’s majority over the Liberal Democrats to 10,000.
Her efforts resulted in a 2.5 per cent swing to Labour from the Lib Dems.
She will replace former MP Clare Short, who decided not to seek re-election after falling out with the government over its support for the war in Iraq.
But the decision to select her did not please some local activists who backed city councillor Yvonne Mosquito instead.
Their attempts to have the selection re-run fell on deaf ears, with party chiefs firmly backing Ms Mahmood.
In the 2005 General Election, Liberal Democrat candidate Ayoub Khan, who is also a city councillor, increased the Lib Dem share of the vote in Ladywood by 23.3 per cent – the best performance in the country. But on this occasion his support fell away, particularly in his stronghold of Aston.
His support five years ago was bolstered by strong anti-Labour feeling among the Muslim community over the war in Iraq.
Since then, Mr Khan, a barrister, has attracted controversy during a long-running row over his efforts to expose postal vote fraud in Aston.
He ended up on the wrong side of an election court hearing last year, with a High Court judge branding his evidence as “scurrilous”.
The election campaign in Ladywood was dominated by argument about the constituency’s soaring unemployment, topping 30 per cent in some wards.
Ms Mahmood said she was “humbled and honoured” to be elected.
She added: “This is a constituency with significant challenges but it is incredibly diverse and vibrant.
“I pledge to be a hard working MP, working every day to fulfil he faith people have in me.
“I will fight for Ladywood as a passionate and committed Labour MP.”
Coun Khan did not appear on the rostrum when the result was announced and was reported to have left the NIA.
