Words by Ed King
The battle for Stockland Green went until the bitter end as the political ward became one of the last to be called in the 2026 Council elections, with Labour demanding a recount.
After tables and chairs had been packed away across the Utilita Arena, with most people already celebrating or commiserating, the two councillor ward could only confirm one outright winner – sitting local councillor Amar Khan, who was deselected by Birmingham Labour and stood for re-election as an independent.
But the second seat came to the wire with Reform UK’s candidate winning by just one vote – prompting Labours Derek Douglas to request a recount.
After tensions and frustrations grew, the votes were totalled up again and confirmed that Reform UK’s Mansoor Butt had indeed take the seat.
Douglas blamed the Labour loss on the negative perceptions of the national party, and lamented plans Birmingham Labour had about unifying the retail community and tackling street crime.
Whilst Mansoor Butt remained resolute that his strong connections with the local area could galvanise a positive change and hold other local stakeholders to account.
Speaking to Erdington Local after the results were finally announce, Mansoor Butt told: “To be honest, I was panicking at the start. But at the end of the day, all the hard work from my party and senior membership has supported me throughout.”
When asked if he had a message for the electorates that got him finally over the line, Butt added: “I must say thanks to the people [of Stockland Green] they trusted us and they gave us a chance.
“But we should be more stressing on the fact we now have to deliver; we cannot step back, we can not just take everything for granted, and with the help of my colleagues and my team I’m ready to go for it.”
