Independent Kamel takes on unseen Colonel in Birmingham Sellyoak

Professor Kamel Hawwash has lived in Birmingham since the 1980s, having first come to this country on his own as a 15-year-old refugee from Palestine. Following the Gaza genocide, he decided to stand as a candidate in the General Election against Labour Friends of Israel vice-chair Steve McCabe. But then McCabe jumped ship and a colonel with no local links - or political background - has been parachuted in to stand by Keir Starmer.