Birmingham Selly Oak (UK Parliament constituency)

Birmingham Selly Oak is a constituency in the West Midlands, represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Alistair Carns of the Labour Party.

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.

1983–2010: The City of Birmingham wards of Bournville, King's Norton, Moseley, and Selly Oak.

2010–2024: The City of Birmingham wards of Billesley, Bournville, Brandwood, and Selly Oak.

2024–present: The City of Birmingham wards of Billesley; Bournbrook & Selly Park; Bournville & Cotteridge; Brandwood & King’s Heath (part); Druids Heath & Monyhull; Highter’s Heath; Stirchley; Weoley & Selly Oak (part).

Minor differences reflecting the revised ward structure in the City of Birmingham which became effective in May 2018.

History
Since its creation in 1955 the seat 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.