Shockat Adam | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2024 | |
| Member of Parliament forLeicester South | |
| Assumed office 4 July 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Jonathan Ashworth |
| Majority | 979 (2.3%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Shockat Hussain Adam Patel November 1972 (age 52–53) |
| Political party | Independent |
| Other political affiliations | Independent Alliance (co-founder, 2024–) |
| Alma mater | University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology |
| Website | shockatadam |
Shockat Hussain Adam Patel[2][3] (born November 1972)[4] is a Malawi-born British businessman, optometrist, andindependent politician who has served as theMember of Parliament forLeicester South since2024.[5][6]
In September 2024 he was a founder of theIndependent Alliance.
Adam was born inMalawi,[1] into an IndianMemon family[citation needed] and grew up inLeicester, where he attended sixth-form college. He studied optometry at theUniversity of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology.[7] He is a director of Sask Optics which is owned by him, his wife and his brotherIsmail Patel.[8]
Adam was the former Leicester chair ofMuslim Engagement and Development, and spoke out against the2022 Leicester unrest between Hindu and Muslim communities in the city.[9][10]
Prior to his candidacy, Adam had never been a member of a political party nor had public social media.[7][11] In the2019 general election he had supportedLabour Party candidateClaudia Webbe's campaign inLeicester East.[7][11] Adam has previously hostedhustings, and aided people in contacting their MP.[7]
Adam was elected in the2024 general election as anindependent, beatingLabour candidate and Shadow Paymaster GeneralJonathan Ashworth in a result that was described as an upset. Backlash against Labour's position on theGaza war was a factor in Adam's victory, with Adam saying "this is for Gaza" while holding aPalestinian keffiyeh aloft[8] when the results were announced.[12][13] In an interview withThe Observer, Adam said his victory was not sectarian, and highlighted his concerns and campaigning regarding thehousing crisis and the state of theNational Health Service.[14]
On 19 July 2024, theForeign Secretary,David Lammy, announced in parliament that the United Kingdom would resume funding to theUN Relief Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA).[15][16] In a statement, Adam supported the move and described it as a result ofpro-Palestinian protesters from all backgrounds.[16] Adam apologised for not being present in parliament due todeath threats he had received. He thankedLeicestershire andCambridgeshire police for their assistance, and stated that he would not be deterred from his work.[16]
Adam sponsored the Independent—Green "Amendment B" to abolish thetwo child benefit cap, and voted in support of theScottish National Party's "Amendment D" to abolish the cap.[17][18] Shortly after the vote Shockat Adam,Jeremy Corbyn,Adnan Hussain,Ayoub Khan, andIqbal Mohamed produced a joint letter decrying thetwo major parties and stating the need for a caring alternative.[19] Adam and Corbyn had been in discussions with Khan, Hussain, and Mohamed regarding how to impact policy, with Adam stating that the five were "looking at options that would give us more access to the levers of power".[20]
On 2 September 2024, Adam was a founding member of theIndependent Alliance parliamentary group.[21] As of September 2025[update] the group has six members.
In October, Adam introduced aprivate members bill for the UK torecognise the State of Palestine. The bill is sponsored by the four other members of the Independent Alliance, as well asSiân Berry,Stephen Gethins,Brendan O'Hara,Liz Saville Roberts,Kim Johnson, andIan Byrne.[22][23] The United Kingdom later recognised Palestine on 21 September 2025.[24]
He is the brother ofIsmail Patel, the founder of the Friends of Al-Aqsa NGO based in Leicester.[25][8]
Foreign secretary Yvette Cooper will now formally establish diplomatic relations with Palestine, Sir Keir said in a letter to its president Mahmoud Abbas.
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forLeicester South 2024–present | Incumbent |
| International | |
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| People | |
