“I have the same anxieties as any mother watching three sons grow up quickly. I want us to lead a normal life. Every night we have social time amongst ourselves so the boys can talk about anything they want.

“I want them to save a carefree childhood and for them to do whatever fuels their passion,” she vowed.

The whole family was thrust into the public eye earlier this year when there was a national outcry over her decision not to applaud a soldier who had been honoured for his courage in Afghanistan.

At a Birmingham City Council meeting, Ms Yaqoob and another Respect party councillor, Mohammed Ishtiaq, sat with their arms folded and refused to participate in a standing ovation at a meeting at which Britain’s most highly decorated serving marine Matthew Croucher was a guest.

The two councillors argued that they were protesting against “false patriotism” by politicians, while defending their own support of individual troops.

She said: “I apologised to him and he told me he understood. I had nothing personal against him. I was one of the first councillors to offer support to the new Lord Mayor Councillor Ward when her son was injured.

"There’s a time for dignified silence and I have made my position clear.”

The Respect leader added: “I am against wars and I condemn all extremism. I have always had a pro-peace approach. I have condemned all terror attacks and I organise protests against them. It’s so frustrating that I am labelled a supporter of terrorism – nothing could be further from the truth,” she added.

“Groups are trying to recruit from all affected young people, both Islam and far right – there is a danger that unemployment and displacement play into the hands of extremists.

"The far right exploit grievances among white working class communities, while there are Muslims who do the same. I have spoken to young Muslims to convince them that they should not be taken in by the rhetoric from places like Finsbury Park mosque.

“How can you justify killing innocent people, whatever your grievance? A lot of my energy goes into convincing people that this is not the right way. It doesn’t take long to understand what I stand for. But it’s easier to smear.

“When I appeared on the BBC’s Question Time at Wootton Bassett I spoke to mothers who had lost their sons in Iraq. At the end of filming I went to talk to some of them who were holding pictures of their sons while the other guests retired for a drink.

"They said they appreciated this. But it was heartbreaking for me as a mother. Those parents had lost their children forever,” she said solemnly.

“My standing for election was to prove that you can succeed without resorting to extremism,” she said.

“I would encourage my sons to join the armed services and fight for their country. My grandfather was in the Merchant Navy, so I have no problems in people doing their duty when it is justified.”

Ms Yaqoob shares a high profile with fellow Respect member and former MP George Galloway, but is careful in describing her media-savvy colleague.

“George Galloway is a great communicator. I think even he would admit it was a mistake to go down on all fours and pretend to be a cat during a Big Brother show in front of millions on TV. He is so talented he would surely have been a cabinet minster if he had towed the party line when he was with Labour.

“Some people may warm to him – but he is like Marmite – you either love him or hate him.”

It’s not the television studios and public appearances which interest Salma Yaqoob. She has the genuine affection of the people who voted her into office.

While we were speaking, a constant stream of well-wishers, both young and old, approached her to pass on their gratitude for her work.

Embarrassed, she said: “Ninety-five per cent of my time is just doing normal things and campaigning from door to door. We campaigned for the Christmas lights in my area and we go to the OAP homes with people from all faiths and go carol singing. It’s about reaching out to people – whatever their faith, political beliefs, race or colour.”

Ms Yaqoob is proud of her Birmingham roots and would never be tempted to move away.

She said: “So many things work well in Birmingham that the rest of the country could learn from. It’s a foundation of what has been successful in the UK. We should be proud of what the city has to offer.

“I am proud of the things that I have done. I am proud to lead a party but it’s the day-to-day things which I really enjoy and that is why it will be such a wrench to step down.

“One of my final tasks will be to hand over a cheque after I pledged to raise money on behalf of the Made In Birmingham Society for a war memorial for the factory workers who died in the city during the Second World War.

“I am a proud Brummie first and foremost and that will never change,” she said.