In early November 2021 as a brand new Regional Development Officer still trying to find my feet and figure out who everyone was, the party was suddenly swept up in a huge by-election on my patch. “The little by-election that could” was a phrase one member used to describe this period where a small dedicated team convinced the party that against all odds their seat was winnable. The party gave them a chance and before long their lovely local council candidate became Helen Morgan MP.

North Shropshire had a brilliant candidate, a small but hard working team, and an opportunity. It was a one in a million. I never thought I’d see something like that again.

I was wrong.

I am currently working on the most exciting – and biggest – campaign of my career. Birmingham.

The largest council in Europe – one steadfastly Labour for so long – has all up elections on May 7th and at a time when Labour support is through the floor.

A local year long bin strike, council bankruptcy, and IT incompetence from a party who is already unpopular nationally has led to support for Labour vanishing. In Birmingham they aren’t talking about “if” Labour loses control of the council but “when” and who will be the successors.

On the ground our small team, led by Councillor Roger Harmer, has spent years punching above its weight. Challenging the council on its inaction over the bin strike which has led to rats as big as cats roaming the streets. Uncovering the scandal of underfunded roads left to ruin. Campaigning for better road safety and the protection of community assets. Our group has earned a reputation for standing up for local communities.

What we are seeing on the ground is reflecting this. Every day our team is knocking on hundreds of doors to be told by residents that Birmingham is sick of Labour and that our local candidates have their vote. They see that our candidates are getting their streets cleaned and are the only ones speaking up for their families.

This week 100,000 leaflets have been sent to print. In a week another round of literature will start. At a time in the campaign when we should be narrowing our wards we are instead expanding the number we are targeting.

And this isn’t just our perception. Head Office have allocated more staff to our campaign, Cllr Roger Harmer’s diary is full of requests for media interviews, and we have had so many MPs and Lords visit that you could be forgiven for thinking that we had relocated the Houses of Parliament to Birmingham!

None of these words convey the feeling that we are experiencing here. Something special is happening in Birmingham. We can win this. You need to be here.

* Cllr Laura McCarthy is the Party’s Regional Development Officer for the West Midlands and Councillor for Elmdon ward on Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council.