Dear Respected Members of Ladywood Unite,
I commend you for your essential role in advocacy towards the residents of Ladywood. I deeply appreciate the time you dedicated to our meeting and the valuable insights shared by Ladywood Unite members during consultation. The uncertainty you face is profoundly unjust. The Ladywood residents are most certainly grappling with significant challenges due to the proposed regeneration plans formulated by the current Labour-run council. I am grateful for the opportunity to outline how I plan to support and represent the interests of residents when elected.
I commit to meeting with representatives of Ladywood Unite both before and after the election to establish the foundation for future engagement. I am dedicated to maintaining an ongoing dialogue with Ladywood Unite, scheduling regular consultations as I currently am and have been doing to ensure all community voices are heard and central to shaping our collaborative response. I believe that local community stakeholders should be included in ongoing discussions about the regeneration plans, and I will advocate strongly for this inclusion. I also pledge to continue representing their views over my vast social media following, which is in the surplus of 325,000 followers across various digital platforms.
I will act immediately to encourage the Labour-run council to produce a master plan with residents before any developer agreement is signed. This will help ensure that the community’s needs and perspectives are integral from the start, which is the minimum that they deserve. Additionally, I will support the council in forming a diverse residents’ forum that has the power to influence decisions, ensuring that all demographics are represented. I will also invite community stakeholders to be on my board of decision making once elected, unlike the current Labour representative who has consistently neglected the needs of residents for more than 3 years now.
I will continue advocating to stop the compulsory purchase order and any demolition of freehold houses, including leasehold houses and churches. I understand the deep concerns regarding the potential loss of homes and community spaces. As your MP, I refuse to stand idle whilst a majority of our community is displaced against their willingness. I will oppose any compulsory purchase orders and demolition that lacks clear, demonstrative benefits for all residents or fails to provide adequate and just compensation or other alternatives in the House of Commons. I will advocate for a complete reassessment of these plans, aiming for a community / locally led approach. Additionally, I will push for alternatives that preserve and enhance communal structures like the Ladywood Church, rather than demolishing them like our current Labour representatives. It must not be forgotten that small businesses are also at the brunt of the regeneration scheme. Not only will residents be displaced from their homes, but small businesses will also cease to exist if the regeneration scheme proceeds as planned, this will put peoples livelihoods at risk and unemployment will certainly increase as a result. This has also been highlighted within my manifesto.
I am committed to preventing the displacement of a diverse and vibrant community, aiming to preserve community and family networks across generations. From my observations and concerns of the residents I have met, it is clear that the heart of Ladywood lies in its community, its people, and its diversity but not within its elected representatives. I am dedicated to preserving the values of the electorate, rather than their council by ensuring any development respects and enhances these ties, preventing displacement and safeguarding the unique social dimensions of our area. This includes ensuring any movers are re-housed in a single move within their respective area if they wish and obtaining a similar if not identical offer for any residents who must move so that no one is left worse off in any way.
I will work to redress power imbalances favouring a luxury developer and the council over residents, whilst consistently advocating for residents to make decisions about their future. I pledge to challenge any unfair practices by developers or the council. It is crucial that developers engaging with Ladywood are reputable and have a history of responsible community engagement. I will continue pushing for transparency, accountability, and significant resident involvement in every step of the regeneration process.
I will provide clarity and commitment on plans for social and affordable housing, aiming to update current plans offering no social housing and supporting accelerated repairs for properties that need them now. I will work tirelessly to ensure the redevelopment plans include a substantial proportion of social and affordable housing. It is unacceptable for current plans to disregard the needs of those who require these accommodations most. I will push for immediate action on repairing existing properties that residents depend on and hold the council accountable for not meeting decent homes standards. Moreover, I will insist that meaningful community consultation and engagement, community facilities, social and affordable housing, and environmental concerns are addressed throughout the project.
In the House of Commons, I will raise the matters affecting us. When elected, I will advocate for legislative changes that close planning loopholes and enhance community participation, ensuring Ladywood’s voice is heard loud and clear in Parliament. I will also work to pass legislation that protects other communities from what we are experiencing, addressing issues like diversity, engagement in consultation and sustainability loopholes in planning.
I have also read the list of questions submitted by residents, and I want to reiterate that if elected, I will bring this to the table and renew the process with resident-led plans being drawn up with the council. The involvement of residents in these conversations is paramount, and I support forming a steering group that includes residents and skilled individuals who can contribute positively to the regeneration process. It must also be added that based off the views of residents and small business owners within the regeneration area, I attended a very successful protest in Ladywood, just outside the Methodist Church which gained international media coverage.
Whilst it may seem like electoral timing has spurred interest in Ladywood’s regeneration, the truth is that meaningful involvement can only begin once election to office has been granted. It is concerning that the current MP has not engaged as expected. It is actually quite sickening to hear that the representative who was voted in by the people, has since forgotten about those same people whilst being in office and neglecting their views. This election presents an opportunity for change, and I am openly committing to that change.
Additionally, I will work to ensure that residents’ voices are prioritised in any decision-making process, preventing outside interests from overshadowing the needs of the community. I am dedicated to protecting Ladywood’s heritage, culture, and future by fostering an environment where every resident feels valued and empowered to shape their own destiny. This includes updating the wording in the report to Cabinet that says an indicative masterplan exists, or publicly apologising for using unclear and inaccurate wording in this report. I will also publicly ask Birmingham City Council to apologise to residents for the continued disrespectful treatment and neglect received to date. I urge our Councillors and MP candidates to consider fully withdrawing their support for the regeneration on a moral basis, given the lack of meaningful community involvement and the limited use of several brownfield sites relative to the rest of the city.
Regarding concerns about the current state of Ladywood, I understand the frustration with dirty streets, rubbish, litter, and graffiti. Birmingham should not be one of the worst untidy and dirty cities in Britain. If elected, I will address these issues head-on. I will work to ensure that the streets are clean and free from litter and that graffiti is removed, especially in areas like the canals where it is most prevalent. These are not just minor issues; they affect the quality of life and the perception of safety in our community. I was born and bred in Ladywood, and also conduct business from Ladywood, meaning I am personally affected by these issues as are a wide variety of my friends and family members. I am committed to using my power as your MP to ensure that these problems are addressed promptly and effectively.
Please consider my candidacy as one dedicated to real change, genuine engagement, and the well-being of every Ladywood resident. I am willing to put in writing, before the election, my promise to support the choices wanted by the residents of Ladywood.
Our community deserves a representative who will fight for our interests and uphold the highest ethical standards. I am that candidate. I am dedicated to building a better future for all of us, one that is free from the divisive and harmful policies supported by the incompetent Labour Party, and the Incompetent Shabana Mahmood.
I extend my gratitude for your time and consideration of this literature. Should you have any enquiries, please do not hesitate to contact me or my team on any of the avenues listed below.
Yours sincerely,
MR. AKHMED YAKOOB
Independent Candidate for the Ladywood Constituency, Birmingham.
Ladywood Unite 
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