West Bromwich, famous for its football team, is typical of the industrial towns of the West Midlands. Its economy is based on engineering and metal-working, with a string of old industrial communities known for their variety of engineering and metalworking industries: Wednesbury, Tipton, Great Bridge, Oldbury and Tividale, and good road links via the M6.
The largest employer in West Bromwich West is Nightspeed, a parcels service employing 900 people and based on the Vanghan Trading Estate. The constituency has seen a number of companies relocate or set up offices here since 1997, including National Power.
The seat was previously represented by Commons Speaker Betty Boothroyd, but she stepped down in 2000.
Ms Boothroyd had held the seat for Labour from 1973 until becoming Speaker in 1992 and the party won the seat at the by-election following her retirement.