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# "I'm 38 and this is my first time voting" — listen to singer-presenter Jamelia explaining why she's campaigning in the 2019 election
- URL: https://www.birminghameastside.co.uk/im-38-and-this-is-my-first-time-voting-listen-to-singer-presenter-jamelia-explaining-why-shes-campaigning-in-the-2019-election/
- Published: 2019-12-06T16:53:26.000Z
- Updated: 2026-08-14T10:03:47.000Z
- Author: Birmingham Eastside
- Tags: Audio, News, Politics, #Migrated-1786701253228, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-14 09:54

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/63/9b/639bf577-7ed7-44fe-8d64-ac66eaeee42e/content/images/2026/08/jamelia-labour-election-rally-1.jpg)

Jamelia speaking at the Labour rally at the Custard Factory

The singer and presenter **Jamelia** has explained why she'll be voting in this year's election — having never voted in any election before.

The Handsworth-born celebrity was appearing at a Labour rally at the **Custard Factory** alongside BeatFreek Collective, Kioko and UB40’s Jimmy Brown.

Speaking to Birmingham Eastside, she said she was joining her 18-year-old daughter, who will be entitled to vote for the first time, at their local polling station this month.

"For me it's so important," she said. "As a community we have been truly suffering at the hands of a Tory government and a lot of us we feel that we can't do anything about it but your vote means so much."

Listen to the full clip below:

You can also watch video from the event of Jamelia speaking to the crowd — as well as **UB40**'s Jimmy Brown and other coverage in [Dylan Hayward's Twitter thread](https://twitter.com/MyJournoJourney/status/1202665060184809474?ref=birminghameastside.co.uk).