Salma Yaqoob

It is only fitting on today, International Women’s Day, to honour one of Birmingham’s finest. I bumped into Clare Short yesterday while on the campaign trail. She has long been a strong advocate for women’s rights, and broader issues of social justice. She is stepping down as MP at this election. Tony Benn famously said when he stepped down that he was leaving parliament to take a more active part in politics! Clare has done some great work in her career as an MP. I have not always agreed with her judgement, but I feel that in many ways her best is yet to come.