Jess Phillips Describes ‘Horrible’ Election Campaign Amidst Abuse and Heckling in Birmingham Yardley Victory

Labour's Jess Phillips discusses experiencing hostility during a 'truly dreadful' election campaign

Jess Phillips was re-elected in her Birmingham Yardley constituency, but encountered jeers and boos during her victory speech. She described the campaign as "dreadful" in an interview on Sky News' Electoral Dysfunction podcast.

Saturday, July 6, 2024, 3:

Jess Phillips has confessed that she experienced the general election campaign as "absolutely horrible," having faced significant abuse that reached a peak when she was booed during her victory speech.

The Labour Party representative barely secured re-election in Birmingham Yardley on Friday morning, winning by a slim margin of 693 votes, following a challenge from a Workers Party candidate who campaigned on a pro-Gaza platform.

Ms. Phillips, who resigned from her position on the Labour leadership team in November to support a parliamentary motion advocating for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, faced jeers and interruptions from the audience as she spoke at the vote tally event.

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In a discussion with Beth Rigby on Sky News' newest episode of the Electoral Dysfunction podcast, set to air tonight, Ms. Phillips looked back on the last six weeks of campaigning and described it as "an absolutely horrible campaign."

Describing the harassment she's faced lately as "the most aggressive and most intimidatory," Jess added, "Not only for me but also for people in my constituency.

"Individuals faced intimidation, with warnings that divine judgment would befall them based on their voting choices."

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On Thursday in Birmingham, campaign workers found their car tires had been slashed. Additionally, as a young female volunteer distributed flyers, an individual yelled "genocide" at her while recording the incident, Ms. Phillips reported.

"She explained that the purpose of their filming was to create content that would further intimidate," she noted. "In my district, it was men humiliating women."

"They aim to fuel narratives… our political landscape has devolved into a spectacle of degradation. It's all about generating content for profit."

Ms. Phillips labeled the candidates supporting a pro-Gaza stance as "disgraceful."

She continued, "I understand they can't respond right now, but they haven't taken any steps to assist anyone in Gaza."

"They have primarily targeted and harassed women."

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Ms. Phillips mentioned that although her sons were active in campaigning on election day, she did not feel at ease bringing them to the vote tally.

"She expressed reluctance to bring them along, fearing it would be an unpleasant experience for them," she explained. "They were cheerful nonetheless, but I had to have them stay in the office with me."

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In reply, James Giles, who is running for the Workers Party in the adjacent constituency of Birmingham Hodge Hill, commented: "Labour is losing its grip on Birmingham due to their abandonment of the average citizen.

"We will continue to make our case loudly and clear Labour out of this wonderful city."

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