Paulette Hamilton

Paulette Adassa Hamilton (born 1962/1963)[1] is a British politician serving as Member of Parliament (MP) for Birmingham Erdington since 2022. She is a member of the Labour Party and is the first black MP to sit for a Birmingham constituency.[1]

For the model, see Paula Hamilton.

Paulette Hamilton
MP
Member of Parliament
for Birmingham Erdington
Assumed office
3 March 2022
Preceded byJack Dromey
Majority3,266 (19.2%)
Birmingham City Council Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care
Assumed office
May 2015
LeaderAlbert Bore
John Clancy
Ian Ward
Member of Birmingham City Council
for Holyhead
Assumed office
10 June 2004
Personal details
Born
Paulette Adassa Hamilton

1962/1963 (age 59–60)
Birmingham, England
Political partyLabour
Websitewww.birmingham.gov.uk/councillors/49/paulette_hamilton

Career

Hamilton is a member of Birmingham City Council, sitting for the Holyhead ward since 2004.[2] She is Birmingham City Council Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care[3] since 2015.

She worked as an NHS nurse for 25 years, mainly as a district nurse but also as a manager and for the Royal College of Nursing. She returned to work during the COVID-19 pandemic to vaccinate people in Birmingham.[4]

Hamilton said during her victory speech, “I'm truly humbled and honoured to be elected as a member of parliament. I will not take your vote for granted, I have met many of you and I have heard what you have to say and I commit to you now, I will work for you … I will be your voice in Westminster."[1]

Near the end of the 2022 by election campaign, remarks made by Hamilton in 2015 were uncovered by GB News where she suggested she was torn between a democratic vote and an uprising to enable black people to get what "we really deserve in this country".[5] The comments led to calls from some Conservative MPs for her to be suspended by the Labour Party, who responded by saying the remarks were taken out of context.[6]

Personal life

Hamilton was born into a working-class family of Jamaican heritage.[7] Her father, a factory worker, died within a week of her selection as candidate for the 2022 by-election. She has lived in the Erdington constituency since 1987.[8] She is married to Dennis, who makes and sells hats as the Hat Man below Grand Central in Birmingham city centre, and has five children, one step-child and, as of 2022, six grandchildren.[9][10]

Hamilton experienced racism as a nine-year-old when a school teacher "told me I would not amount to anything, and that girls like me were destined only 'to have babies'."[9] A more encouraging teacher, Mr Potter who taught maths at Handsworth Wood Girls' School (now Academy), inspired her to gain seven passes at GCE O level and go on to A levels, a career in nursing, and a degree.[9]

References
  1. Murray, Jessica (4 March 2022). "Birmingham Erdington byelection winner is Labour's Paulette Hamilton". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  2. "Councillor Paulette Hamilton". birmingham.gov.uk. Birmingham City Council. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  3. "Cabinet member for Health and Social Care". www.birmingham.gov.uk. Birmingham City Council. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  4. Howarth, Grace (27 January 2022). "Former district nurse selected as Labour candidate for by-election". Nursing Times. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  5. Merrick, Rob (2 March 2022). "Labour candidate suggested 'an uprising' might help black people more than democracy". The Independent.
  6. "Row over by-election Labour candidate's comments". BBC News. 2 March 2022.
  7. "Cllr Paulette Hamilton – Change Us". Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  8. Rodgers, Sienna (25 February 2022). "Paulette Hamilton's fight for Erdington: "I do plan to be an MP for local people"". LabourList. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  9. Haynes, Jane (18 October 2021). "Teacher's cruel remark to black city health leader when she was nine". BirminghamLive. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  10. Hyatt, Rakeem (22 August 2020). "Inside the hidden store beneath Grand Central". BirminghamLive. Retrieved 4 March 2022.


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