Birmingham Selly Oak is a constituency in the West Midlands, represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Al Carns of the Labour Party.
Constituency profile The constituency is located within Birmingham to the south of the city centre. It contains the more urban, industrial areas of Selly Oak and Stirchley and the more suburban areas of Warstock and Billesley.
The area has a history of chocolate production; the visitor attraction of Cadbury World is located in the constituency at the site of the former Cadbury factory, and the model village of Bournville next to the site was built to accommodate the factory's workers. Compared to national averages, residents of the constituency are younger, better-educated and have similar levels of wealth. The constituency is less ethnically diverse than the rest of Birmingham but more so than the country as a whole; 69% of residents are White, 16% are Asian and 6% are Black.
In 1966, 7.9% of the constituency was born in the New Commonwealth.
At most recent city council election in 2026, most seats in the constituency (9 of 11) were won by Green Party candidates, whilst one Conservative Party and one Labour Party councillor were elected. A majority of voters in the constituency, an estimated 53%, supported remaining in the European Union in the 2016 referendum, higher than the national percentage of 48%.
Boundaries The seat includes many students and staff from the nearby University of Birmingham. Half of the university's Selly Oak campus is located within the constituency. The Cadbury factory and Cadbury World are also within its boundaries.
1955–1974: The County Borough of Birmingham wards of Balsall Heath, Moseley and King's Heath, and Selly Oak.
1974–1983: The County Borough of Birmingham wards of King's Norton, Moseley, and Selly Oak.
1983–1997: The City of Birmingham wards of Bournville, King's Norton, Moseley, and Selly Oak (as they existed on 1 February 1983).
1997–2010: The City of Birmingham wards of Bournville, King's Norton, Moseley, and Selly Oak (as they existed on 1 June 1994).
2010–2018: The City of Birmingham wards of Billesley, Bournville, Brandwood, and Selly Oak.
Major changes, with King's Norton transferred to Birmingham Northfield and Moseley to Birmingham Hall Green. Billesley and Brandwood were transferred from Birmingham Hall Green.
2018–2024: Following a local government boundary review, which did not effect the parliamentary boundaries, the contents of the constituency were as follows with effect from May 2018:
The City of Birmingham wards of Bournbrook & Selly Park, Druids Heath & Monyhull, Highter's Heath, and Stirchley, most of Billesley and Bournville & Cotteridge, the majority of Brandwood & King's Heath, and a small part of Weoley & Selly Oak.
2024–present: Further to the 2023 periodic review of Westminster constituencies which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the constituency comprises:
The City of Birmingham wards of Billesley; Bournbrook & Selly Park; Bournville & Cotteridge; Druids Heath & Monyhull; Highter's Heath; Stirchley; part of Brandwood & King's Heath; and a small area of Weoley & Selly Oak.
Minor differences reflecting the revised ward structure.
History Since its creation in 1955 the constituency has switched hands three times between Labour and the Conservatives. The seat has progressively swung towards Labour from being a safe Conservative seat; this has been attributed to housing redevelopments that took place in the 1960s and 1970s. More recently, it has acquired a reputation for electing outspoken MPs, first with the victory of Anthony Beaumont-Dark of the Conservatives in 1979, and then with his defeat by Lynne Jones of the Labour Party in 1992.
Members of Parliament ElectionMemberPartyNotes 1955 Harold Gurden October 1974 Tom Litterick 1979 Anthony Beaumont-Dark 1992 Lynne Jones Constituency split, minority joined the new Birmingham Hall Green and Birmingham Northfield, majority merged with majority of the old Birmingham Hall Green 2010 Steve McCabe Member for Birmingham Hall Green (1997–2010)2024Al Carns
Elections
Elections in the 2020s
Elections in the 2010s
2005 notional result Party Vote % Labour 20,672 46.8 Conservative 13,108 29.7 Liberal Democrats 7,651 17.3 Green 1,594 3.6 UKIP 1,106 2.5Turnout44,13160.3Electorate73,132
Elections in the 2000s
Elections in the 1990s
Elections in the 1980s
Elections in the 1970s
Elections in the 1960s
Elections in the 1950s
See also List of parliamentary constituencies in the West Midlands (county) List of parliamentary constituencies in West Midlands (region)
Notes
References
External links Birmingham city council constituency page Birmingham, Selly Oak UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK Birmingham, Selly Oak UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 2010 – May 2024) at MapIt UK Birmingham Selly Oak UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK