East Midlands · England · 70,867Boundary · 2023

Leicester South

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Dispatch
Apr 2026

A marginal seat — won by just 979 votes (2.3%) in 2024. Covers Leicester and Wigston. Population 112,502, notably young (median age 29 vs 41 nationally), a majority-minority constituency. Median income £25K (below average).

One of the most distinctive independents in the Commons, Shockat Adam won Leicester South in 2024 by unseating Labour's Jon Ashworth -- a result widely attributed to local anger over Gaza. He has since carved out an unusual parliamentary position: consistently opposing employer National Insurance increases (100% aligned against them), backing Lords amendments over government policy (86% pro-Lords scrutiny), and voting against his own independent peer group on at least five occasions. His most recent rebel votes in early 2026 sided with the Labour government on pensions legislation and employment regulations, suggesting his independence runs in multiple directions rather than simply against the government.

At 62% voting participation, Adam is below the Commons average, though he has made 274 contributions across 226 debates -- a substantial speech count. His professional background as an optometrist has shaped specific interventions, including a high-profile push for mandatory 10-year road safety eye tests. His voting record strongly resists fiscal tightening (just 29% aligned on fiscal responsibility) and housing development (17%), while backing workers' rights (74%) and welfare expansion (75%). He deviates sharply from other independents by showing no alignment with pro-Brexit sovereignty or anti-private-education positions.

311
Commons votes
This parliament
£25k
Median income
HMRC · 2024
70.9k
Electorate
2024 GE

Ind took this seat from Lab after 5 consecutive elections.

Current Member of Parliament

Shockat Adam

Shockat Adam

Independent

Shockat Adam is the Independent MP for Leicester South, and has been an MP continually since 4 July 2024.

Notable Votes

Vote on New Clause 3, which would have required the government to report on UK Export Finance's impact on GDP and support for small and medium-sized businesses. The government opposed it on the grounds that existing reporting requirements already cover this information.

MP voted YesAgainst party majority

Final vote on a bill that introduces a £2,000 cap on pension contributions made through salary sacrifice arrangements (optional remuneration). The opposition argued it would harm pension saving, particularly for lower and middle income earners and younger workers, while the government backed the bill.

MP voted YesAgainst party majority

A vote on New Clause 26 proposed during the Committee stage of the Finance (No. 2) Bill, a government budget legislation measure. Without debate excerpts, the precise content of the clause is unknown, but it was rejected by the government-backed majority.

MP voted NoAgainst party majority

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Voting at a Glance

A marginal seat — won by just 979 votes (2.3%) in 2024. Covers Leicester and Wigston. Population 112,502, notably young (median age 29 vs 41 nationally), a majority-minority constituency. Median income £25K (below average).

2024 General Election

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

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

§ 07The record, at a glance.312 divisions voted

Two readings of the same data. Issue volume shows where Adam 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
58
Economy
48
Employment
32
Crime & Policing
28
Education
27
Welfare and Benefits
25
Notable votes
Free votes and rebellions — moments the MP’s own judgment matters more than the whip
Industry and Exports (Financial Assistance) Bill Committee: New Clause 323 Feb 2026 · free vote
Aye
National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill: Third Reading 21 Jan 2026 · free vote
Aye
Finance (No. 2) Bill Committee: New Clause 2613 Jan 2026 · free vote
No
§ 08The local picture.8 wards

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

WardCouncillorVotesParty
CastleLiz Sahu1,419Green Pa
CastleMick Gregg1,453Green Pa
CastlePatrick Kitterick1,564Green Pa
EvingtonDeepak Bajaj1,794Conserva
EvingtonJenny Joannou1,657Conserva
EvingtonZuffar Haq1,841Liberal
Eyres MonsellElaine Pantling791Labour P
Eyres MonsellKaren Pickering644Labour P
KnightonGeoff Whittle2,067Labour P
KnightonLynn Moore2,071Labour P
KnightonMelissa March2,203Labour P
SaffronElly Cutkelvin774Labour P
Population (2021 Census)
112,502
Electorate 70,867 · 2024 register
Median income
£25,000
HMRC SPI 2024
Households renting privately
34.5%
England average 20.0%
Schools
51
23 primary · 6 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.