Lib Dems to Lose: The Moseley By-Election They’ve Already Botched?
Radley Russell worked, bled, and believed — but his party parachuted in a stranger.
Now call me naïve. After forty-odd years in and around the political life of our region, maybe “sad” is the better word. But you just don’t expect some parties to do some things. Or at least I didn’t. I accept I’m a fool for thinking otherwise.
I’m talking about the by-election in Moseley, born from the sad and too early passing of Labour Councillor Kerry Jenkins on 31 July 2025, after a short illness. She had served Moseley exceptionally since her election, and her loss is a blow to the community. But, as harsh as it feels, life trudges on — and politics, with its relentless rhythm, carries on too.
So here we are. A by-election in Moseley. On the face of it, it should be a shoo-in for the Lib Dems. In many respects, it’s theirs to lose. The remaining councillor is Izzy Knowles — a Lib Dem, a former police sergeant, and without question one of the best-known figures in the area. She’s surpassed even the legendary Pete the Feet in local recognition.
Frankly, Izzy must be cloned. There has to be several of her to keep up with the sheer work rate she puts in. Most times I drive through Moseley I spot her — fixing something, talking to residents, supporting a community event. She was first elected in May 2022, alongside her running mate Radley Russell, a TV producer with a community commitment that would shame many a seasoned activist. But there could only be two elected, and Radley was up against Labour’s ever popular Kerry Jenkins. Running with Izzy, he lost out.
Now here’s the rub. With a by-election in play, you’d think — wouldn’t you? — that the natural choice would be Radley. A local, known, trusted. But no. The Lib Dem high command decide otherwise. They parachute in someone from outside Moseley — Sutton Coldfield, if the whispers are right. Fifteen, sixteen miles away. It beggars belief…!!
Of course, politics is rarely clean. It’s not even sport. It’s more like bull-baiting, or a dirty dog fight, with who-knows-what going on behind the scenes. I’ve heard names muttered — a former local Lib Dem councillor and Moseley grandee pulling not-so-clean strings in the background. But who knows?
What I do know is this: Radley’s best chance at finally becoming a Moseley councillor seems to have been gazumped. Not by a rival, but by his own party. As I say, Lib Dems to lose..!!
Radley, to his credit, has taken it with dignity. He’s got a proper job as a TV producer. He’s also a podcaster — and a rather good one — with his “It’s Liberalism, Just Liberalism” series on Spotify. He put out a message about the selection, which reads as both heartfelt and restrained. Here’s the flavour:
“It will become public very soon – but unfortunately, the Local Executive Party have not selected me to stand in the upcoming local By-Election. Instead they have opted for someone who will have the challenge of needing to learn quickly about our community as he doesn’t live or work in the Ward, and will need a lot of support…”
He goes on to affirm what we all know — that Moseley is in his blood, that he’s not abandoning ship, and that he’ll continue to work tirelessly for the community, even without a rosette on his lapel.
Perhaps most telling of all is what he didn’t say. The disappointment hangs heavy between the lines. One local resident put it best: “It’s more than a shame, it’s plain daft. Why parachute in a man who knows nothing of the local issues, when there’s you — who has worked tirelessly for the community for ages, and knows everyone and everything that’s going on?”
Spot on.
I thought of asking the Lib Dems for a comment. But my tolerance for mushed-up, sanitised nonsense is low just now, and I wouldn’t want to waste the space. If they’ve got something meaningful, I’ll happily publish it later.
In the meantime, the by-election trundles on. The Lib Dems may still win. But win or lose, it feels like they’ve lost something already.