Jess Phillips: Nine Years as Birmingham's MP

Jess Phillips has been the Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley since she was first elected on 7 May 2015. She is one of the longest-serving MPs still in Parliament from that year's intake of new members.

Phillips held onto her seat at the July 2024 general election. She returned to Westminster as part of Labour's much larger majority in the Commons. Birmingham Yardley covers parts of east Birmingham — it has been her only constituency throughout her time as an MP.

Her continuous service from May 2015 to now means she has sat through four different Parliaments. During that time she served under three Labour leaders while the party was in opposition. Since Labour's 2024 election victory, she has moved into government and now works as a minister in the Home Office, handling safeguarding issues.

This work draws directly on the cases she dealt with before entering government — domestic violence and women's rights have been central to her MP career.

A different kind of political path

What makes Phillips distinctive in Westminster is how she built her career. She developed a public profile by appearing on select committees (these are cross-party groups of MPs who examine government work) and working in the media, rather than climbing the usual ladder through shadow ministerial roles — positions that help opposition parties prepare for government.

Whether this less conventional route shapes how she operates as a minister will become clearer as her time in the role unfolds.