Respect's Yaqoob is best choice claims Labour MP

Ms Jones, who has been MP for Selly Oak in Birmingham since 1992, turned her back on fellow Labour Party MP for Sparkbrook and Small Heath Roger Godsiff to support Respect's Sparkbrook councillor Salma Yaqoob.

Mr Godsiff, who has also been an MP in the city since 1992, defeated Ms Yaqoob in the 2005 election but the Sparkbrook and Small Heath consituency is now being abolished following a boundary review.

The review will amalgamate Sparkbrook and Small Heath and parts of Selly Oak into Hall Green constituency, where Mr Godsiff and Ms Yaqoob are competing.

Ms Jones said that she was only backing Respect because the Tories had no chance of winning.

"Where there is a straight fight between Labour and the Tories I call for a Labour vote as there's no way I want to see a Tory government," she said.

"In Hall Green constituency, however, there is no risk of the Tories winning. I am not happy with the endorsement of the Labour candidate. Instead I would encourage tactical voting for the person who most shares my values and who will put up the greatest fight for a fair society."

She described Ms Yaqoob as an excellent candidate who had shown that she worked hard for her constituents. "I have a lot of time for her," she added.

Ms Jones could be kicked out of the party altogether for supporting a rival candidate, even though she will no longer be an MP.

But sources within the Labour Party said that it would be wary about acting too drastically before the election for fear of provoking a political or public row.

Ms Yaqoob has admitted she would not stand against Ms Jones if the outgoing MP was Labour's candidate. She defended her decision, saying she "has been very consistent in her principles and her support for a fairer society."

The Labour Party and Mr Godsiff were unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.