Independent MP for Leicester South.
Shockat Adam won Leicester South in July 2024 by unseating Labour's Jon Ashworth on a pro-Gaza platform, and he has continued to govern as a genuine independent rather than a protest vote that faded. His five rebel votes since March 2026 cut across ideological lines — he backed Lords amendments to the National Insurance Contributions Bill that would have raised the salary-sacrifice threshold and tightened parliamentary oversight, and he broke with most independents to vote against a Liberal Democrat amendment requiring prior parliamentary approval before financial assistance reaches nationalised steel. Neither cluster fits a simple left-right template.
At 58% voting participation, Adam sits below the Commons average, though independent MPs without whipping infrastructure often record lower figures. His stance profile reveals sharp internal tensions: he scores 88% on welfare expansion and 86% on civil liberties, but only 23% on fiscal responsibility. His biggest deviations from other independents are a 42-percentage-point gap on asylum-seeker rights (he votes for them far more often) and a 39-point gap on business rates reform (he almost never does). His 310 contributions across 252 debates suggest a genuinely active parliamentary presence; defence, social care, health and economy-jobs dominate his speech topics.
His optometry background has shaped his parliamentary work — he made evidence-based arguments for mandatory road safety eyesight testing, drawing on clinical expertise rather than party briefs. Coverage in the Pukaar News piece from November 2025 credited him with over 160 contributions on Leicester South-specific issues, including cost of living and renters' rights. Earlier coverage raised questions about the character of his 2024 campaign. He holds no select committee seats. Ninety-day news sentiment data is currently insufficient to assess recent local press trends.
Shockat Adam is the Independent MP for Leicester South, and has been an MP continually since 4 July 2024.
Top eight by total divisions voted, this parliament. Volume measures engagement, not direction — see Notable Votes for free-vote moments and rebellions.
Source · The Public Whip · Hansard
Moments where the whip was free, or where Adam broke ranks. Free votes are the truer signal of personal stance.
| Date | Bill / motion | Vote | Whip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Jun 2026 | Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill Committee: New Clause 4 | No | Freevs party |
| 20 May 2026 | King's Speech Motion for an Address: amendment (o) | No | Freevs party |
| 23 Feb 2026 | Industry and Exports (Financial Assistance) Bill Committee: New Clause 3 | Yes | Freevs party |
Source · Hansard
“Criticises lack of ministerial condemnation of anti-Muslim violence in Edinburgh; argues silence suggests unequal treatment of Muslim victims compared to other communities.”
“Safety on railways is critical; the government must address security gaps and ensure staff can work without fear of assault, with proper assessment of private security contractor p…”
“The Muslim community feels alienated and besieged while facing calls for expulsion, yet the government appears indifferent; stronger protection and action against incitement of hat…”
“Practising optometrist MP; credits pharmacies for saving 38 million GP appointments but warns 10.3% uplift covers only 1.3 percentage points above cost absorption; demands road map…”
Bluesky is the only social platform we ingest at the row level. The strip below is computed by classifying each post for substance (vs reposts, social mentions, scheduling) and then by tone (critical / measured / supportive) per target.
Adam holds no select-committee seat this session. New 2024-intake MPs typically wait one term before being appointed.
| Department | Qs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Social Care | 75 | 34.9% |
| Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | 33 | 15.3% |
| Department for Education | 18 | 8.4% |
| Home Office | 16 | 7.4% |
| Department for Transport | 16 | 7.4% |
| Ministry of Defence | 12 | 5.6% |
| Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government | 10 | 4.7% |
| Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 7 | 3.3% |
What steps his Department is taking to improve national consistency in shared care arrangements for patients prescribed medication for ADHD; and whether he plans to introduce national (a) standards and (b) guidance to reduce regional variation in access to ongoing treatment.
Awaiting answer.
Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to retain responsible landlords in the private rented sector.
Awaiting answer.
Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the Renters' Rights Act, EPC Band C requirements and licensing on the supply of privately rented homes in university cities.
Awaiting answer.
What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the supplantation of individual landlords by corporate investors on tax revenues.
Awaiting answer.
Role, work or services: Director
Role, work or services: Director
Payer: Alpha Eye Clinic LTD (Ophthalmology services), S11 The Atkins Building lower Bond Street Hinckley … |
Role, work or services: Director
Role, work or services: Director
From: 4 July 2022.
Payer: Shu Investments Ltd (Investment Company), S11 The Atkins Building, Lower Bond S… |
Role, work or services: Director
Role, work or services: Director
Payer: Sask Optics Ltd (Chain of Optometry Practices), T03 The Atkins Building, Lower Bond Street, Hinckle… |
Your Party 30 November 2025 |
Doha Forum Name of donor: Doha Forum
Address of donor: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Almirqab Tower, West Bay, Doha Qatar
Estimate of the probable val… |
Source · Members API · Last amended 6 Jan 2026
| Category | £ | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Staffing | 177,180 | 76.7% |
| Office Costs | 24,044 | 10.4% |
| Accommodation | 23,090 | 10.0% |
| MP Travel | 4,565 | 2.0% |
| Dependant Travel | 1,012 | 0.4% |
| Total · 110 claims | 230,874 | 100% |
Source · IPSA · FY 24_25
Nothing tabled for Adam on the published Order Paper this week.
| Year | Constituency | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Leicester South | 14,739 | 35.2% | Won |
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shockat AdamWON | Ind | 14,739 | 35.2 |
Showing the MP’s own row only. Full result table: see Leicester South →