Jess Phillips

Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley since 2015, Jess has lived her entire life in the city. She did study at Leeds University. But came home every weekend. “I belong here. I belong in Birmingham,” she says, “ I can feel it when I'm on the train on the way back from London every week. My shoulders start to relax when I get through the Chilterns.”

Jess is best known for her campaigning to end violence against women and, as we’ll hear, campaigning is in her DNA. As a child she used to go to Women's Liberation Playgroup and recalls, as an older child, time spent turning the handle on the rudimentary copier in the garage to make Labour Party leaflets. Jess talks about weekly Saturday trips to BMAG - the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery - with her grandfather, her Brummie accent accounting for 'at least a third' of her success and how coming from the city means absolutely everything to her. "The most important thing I am is a Brummie, without question."

Midlands Heroes:

Sara Ward CEO Black Country Women’s Aid and Maureen Connolly CEO Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid.

“Between these two women, their efforts have, every year, saved tens of thousands of lives. And we just don't even know who they are.”

This episode was recorded with an audience at a sold out event in Draper’s Hall, Coventry. It contains mild language and references to sexual harrassment.

Commissioned by Coventry City of Culture 2021 and proudly produced by Loftus Media.

Music by Maia Miller-Lewis.

Image of Jess Phillips courtesy of Jess Phillips.

Who are your Midlands Heroes and what are your Midlands Masterpieces? Tell us at: madeinthemidlands@loftusmedia.co.uk

Dive into the sound of the Midlands via our 'Made in the Midlands' playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7lTguCtjyUEMxzGoQYheLu

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