There is one politician in Birmingham that you either love or hate. She is well known and has left the Labour Party on more than one occassion because she has the presence of mind to stand up for what she believes is right.

No matter what you might think of Clare Short, it would be wrong to assume that she is just another politician that tows the party line and says what she thinks people want to hear - she doesn't do that kind of politics - how refreshing.

Clare Short is currently an Independent Member of Parliament for Birmingham Ladywood. Short was born in Birmingham to Irish Catholic parents from Northern Ireland. She has always supported peace talks with Sinn Fein even at the height of the IRA violence.

Clare Short has always been controversial. She has campaigned against topless photos in the national newspapers and yet called for the legalisation of cannabis.

From humble beginings as a Private Secretary to a Conservative minister, she came to the conclusion that she could do better. In 1983 she became the Labour MP for Ladywood, an area where she grew up.

Clare Short is one of the few MP's with the conviction to resign over her objection to the 1990 Gulf War. In 2003 she was against Britain going to war with Iraq without a United Nations mandate.

Clare Short has written a book titled 'An Honourable Deception?' detailing New Labour, Iraq, and the misuse of power. It was released in 2004 and provides an account of her relationship with other ministers, Tony Blair, and the build up to the invasion of Iraq.

In 2006, Short stood down as labour respresentative and announced that she would sit as an Independent Labour MP. In recent times she has spoken at a rally in Birmingham to support the people of Gaza against Israeli persecution.