Yorkshire and The Humber · England · 70,554Boundary · 2023

Leeds Central & Headingley

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Dispatch
Apr 2026

A new constituency created in the 2023 boundary review. Won by Lab in its first election in 2024. Centred on Leeds. Population 110,189, notably young (median age 24 vs 41 nationally). Recorded crime is 118% above the national average. Median income £25K (below average).

Sobel made headlines in July 2025 by breaking with his party to vote against the government's welfare reform bill, backing amendments that would have strengthened Universal Credit and PIP protections -- placing him among the Labour MPs who publicly resisted cuts to disability and sickness benefits. He also exercised independent judgment on the assisted dying bill in June 2025, voting for additional safeguards and new clauses during its committee stage, though those were free votes rather than formal rebellions. Beyond the division lobbies, he called an urgent question in Parliament following a crossbow attack in his constituency, publicly labelled a government fee levy on universities "stupid" at Labour conference, and has been championing a deforestation import ban as co-chair of the relevant all-party parliamentary group.

At 64% participation -- below the Commons average -- Sobel is not among the most active division-lobby MPs, though his 98% party alignment when he does vote makes him broadly loyal. He deviates from the Labour average by being more supportive of welfare expansion (+17 percentage points above party peers) and less aligned on fiscal responsibility (-22pp) and workers' rights votes (-14pp). His speeches cluster around defence, the economy, social care, health, and the environment, and he has been visible on local issues including the Leeds deprivation health gap and Sky's redundancy process.

298
Commons votes
This parliament
£25k
Median income
HMRC · 2024
70.6k
Electorate
2024 GE

One of the youngest constituencies — median age 24.

Current Member of Parliament

Alex Sobel

Alex Sobel

Labour and Co-operative Party

Alex Sobel is the Labour (Co-op) MP for Leeds Central and Headingley, and has been an MP continually since 8 June 2017.

Notable Votes

Vote on Amendment 38 to the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill, which would have provided greater certainty and protections for disabled people with fluctuating conditions while the government's review of PIP assessments (the Timms review) is ongoing. Critics argued the Bill was putting cuts before the review, leaving vulnerable people uncertain about their entitlements.

MP voted YesAgainst party majorityLikely whipped

Vote on a technical amendment (New Clause 8) to ensure that Universal Credit payments for claimants in the Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA) group in Northern Ireland rise in line with inflation, supporting a separate duty on the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland. The amendment was backed by left-wing Labour rebels and crossbench MPs opposed to welfare cuts affecting the most vulnerable.

MP voted YesAgainst party majorityLikely whipped

Vote on New Clause 1 to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, a private member's bill on assisted dying. Based on available debate context, this was one of several amendments considered at Report Stage, with the bill's sponsor Kim Leadbeater presenting changes developed with government legal and health officials to make the legislation workable.

MP voted YesAgainst party majority

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Voting at a Glance

A new constituency created in the 2023 boundary review. Won by Lab in its first election in 2024. Centred on Leeds. Population 110,189, notably young (median age 24 vs 41 nationally). Recorded crime is 118% above the national average. Median income £25K (below average).

2024 General Election

§ 06This week in Westminster.Live · today’s sittingOrder Paper · refreshed daily

Sobel’s scheduled Commons activity this week — whipped divisions, oral questions, debates — drawn from the House of Commons Order Paper.

§ 07The record, at a glance.321 divisions voted

Two readings of the same data. Issue volume shows where Sobel has cast the most ballots — a proxy for engagement, not direction. Notable votes are the moments where the whip was free or where they broke ranks.

Issue volume
Top issues by total divisions voted · cumulative this Parliament
Taxation
73
Economy
57
Employment
37
Crime & Policing
30
Education
29
Welfare and Benefits
22
Notable votes
Free votes and rebellions — moments the MP’s own judgment matters more than the whip
Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill Committee: Amendment 3809 Jul 2025
Aye
Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill Committee: New Clause 809 Jul 2025
Aye
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: New Clause 113 Jun 2025 · free vote
Aye
§ 08The local picture.4 wards

Constituencies are not uniform. Below — the local council make-up, key facts worth knowing, and the neighbouring seats on either side.

WardCouncillorVotesParty
Headingley Hyde ParkTim Goodall2,668Green Pa
KirkstallFiona Elizabeth Venner3,451Labour P
Little London WoodhouseJavaid Akhtar2,194Labour P
WeetwoodEmma Flint3,337Labour P
Population (2021 Census)
110,189
Electorate 70,554 · 2024 register
Median income
£25,400
HMRC SPI 2024
Households renting privately
44.9%
England average 20.0%
Schools
37
19 primary · 3 secondary
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More constituency data is being added, including local issue analysis and historical trends. Learn about our methodology. View data sources & attribution.