{{Short description|British politician}} {{Use British English|date=July 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Shockat Adam | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MP}} | image = Official portrait of Shockat Adam MP crop 2.jpg | caption = Official portrait, 2024 | office = Member of Parliament<br />for Leicester South | predecessor = Jonathan Ashworth | term_start = 4 July 2024 | term_end = | majority = 979 (2.3%) | birth_name = Shockat Hussain Adam Patel | birth_date = | birth_place = Malawi<ref name="Jones2024" /> | party = Independent | other_party = Independent Alliance (co-founder, 2024–) <br /> Your Party (2025-) | education = | alma_mater = University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology | website = {{URL|https://shockatadam.org/}} }}
'''Shockat Hussain Adam Patel'''<ref>{{cite web |title=Declaration of Result of Poll |url=https://www.leicester.gov.uk/media/zaag0n4b/leicester-south-declaration-2024.pdf |publisher=Leicester City Council |access-date=27 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title='This is for people of Gaza': Shockat Adam takes Labour's Jonathan Ashworth's Leicester South seat |url=https://news.sky.com/video/this-is-for-people-of-gaza-shockat-adam-takes-labours-jonathan-ashworths-leicester-south-seat-13173433 |publisher=Sky News |access-date=6 July 2024}}</ref> is a British businessman, optometrist, and independent politician who has served as the Member of Parliament for Leicester South since 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Leicester South {{!}} General Election 2024 {{!}} Sky News |url=https://election.news.sky.com/elections/general-election-2024/leicester-south-361 |access-date=4 July 2024 |website=election.news.sky.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jul/07/who-are-the-pro-gaza-independents-who-unseated-labour-mps|title=Who are the pro-Gaza independents who unseated Labour MPs?|website=The Guardian|date=7 July 2024|access-date=9 July 2024|first=Haroon|last=Siddique}}</ref> In September 2024 he joined in founding the Independent Alliance.
==Early life and career== Adam was born in Malawi,<ref name="Jones2024">{{Cite AV media |title=He Defeated Starmer Ally - Then Labour Attacked Him Over Gaza. Now He Speaks Out. w/. Shockat Adam |date=14 July 2024 |type=Video interview |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxxNZe1PeEw&t=165s|time=2m45s|first=Owen|last=Jones|author-link=Owen Jones}}</ref> into a Gujarati family<ref name="Chakelian2025">{{cite news |last=Chakelian |first=Anoosh |title=Shockat Adam interview: "We're not anti-prosperity" |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2025/09/shockat-adam-interview-were-not-anti-prosperity |work=New Statesman |date=3 September 2025}}</ref> and grew up in Leicester, where he attended sixth-form college. He studied optometry at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Rodgers |first=Sienna |date=5 September 2024 |title=The Shockat Adam interview: 'Why would anybody want to be an MP?' |url=https://www.politicshome.com/thehouse/article/shockat-adam-interview |access-date=5 September 2024 |website=Politics Home |language=en}}</ref> He is a director of Sask Optics which is owned by him, his wife and his brother Ismail Patel.<ref name="STimes">{{cite news |last1=Pogrund |first1=Gabriel |title=The election shock, the Gaza leaflets and the police investigation |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/6102ec60-9bd4-4047-af89-f381595d1adf |access-date=14 July 2024 |work=Sunday Times |date=14 July 2024}}</ref>
Adam was the former Leicester chair of Muslim Engagement and Development, and spoke out against the 2022 Leicester unrest between Hindu and Muslim communities in the city.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Specia |first1=Megan |date=2 October 2022 |title=Tensions That Roiled English City Have Roots in India |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/02/world/europe/leicester-violence-uk.html |access-date=6 July 2024 |work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Goldberg |first1=Adrian |date=21 September 2022 |title='The First Time Politics in Our City was Played on Religious Grounds' |url=https://bylinetimes.com/2022/09/21/the-first-time-politics-in-our-city-was-played-on-religious-grounds/ |access-date=6 July 2024 |work=Byline Times}}</ref>
Prior to his candidacy, Adam had never been a member of a political party nor had public social media.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> In the 2019 general election he had supported Labour Party candidate Claudia Webbe's campaign in Leicester East.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Sykes |first=Ed |date=19 June 2024 |title=Ex-Labour voters say party 'kicked them in the teeth', insists independent challenger to Jon Ashworth |url=https://www.thecanary.co/uk/analysis/2024/06/19/shockat-adam-jon-ashworth-leicester/ |website=The Canary}}</ref> Adam has previously hosted hustings, and aided people in contacting their MP.<ref name=":1" />
==Parliamentary career== Adam was elected in the 2024 general election as an independent, beating Labour candidate and Shadow Paymaster General Jonathan Ashworth in a result that was described as an upset. Backlash against Labour's position on the Gaza war was a factor in Adam's victory, with Adam saying "this is for Gaza" while holding a Palestinian keffiyeh aloft<ref name="STimes" /> when the results were announced.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Huge Shock As Labour Attack Dog Jonathan Ashworth Loses His Seat |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/huge-shock-as-labour-attack-dog-jonathan-ashworth-loses-his-seat_uk_66875cede4b0971108c2945f |access-date=4 July 2024 |website=Huffington Post }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Pro-Gaza candidates squeeze Labour vote in some constituencies |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9e9ydj215yo |access-date=4 July 2024 |work=BBC News |date=4 July 2024}}</ref> In an interview with ''The Observer'', Adam said his victory was not sectarian, and highlighted his concerns and campaigning regarding the housing crisis and the state of the National Health Service.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jayanetti |first1=Chaminda |title=Independent Muslim who beat Labour in Leicester says victory was not 'sectarian' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jul/06/shockat-adam-independent-muslim-mp-leicester-south-victory-not-sectarian |access-date=8 July 2024 |work=The Observer |date=6 July 2024}}</ref>
On 19 July 2024, the Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, announced in parliament that the United Kingdom would resume funding to the UN Relief Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA).<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 July 2024 |title=UK to resume funding UN Gaza aid agency, David Lammy says |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjm9r0w71g8o |access-date=3 September 2024 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Noble |first=Samantha |date=20 July 2024 |title=New Leicester MP skips Commons over 'potential death threat' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c72v0glmpl2o |access-date=3 September 2024 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> In a statement, Adam supported the move and described it as a result of pro-Palestinian protesters from all backgrounds.<ref name=":0" /> Adam apologised for not being present in parliament due to death threats he had received. He thanked Leicestershire and Cambridgeshire police for their assistance, and stated that he would not be deterred from his work.<ref name=":0" />
Adam sponsored the Independent—Green "Amendment B" to abolish the two child benefit cap, and voted in support of the Scottish National Party's "Amendment D" to abolish the cap.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Green |first=Daniel |date=18 July 2024 |title=King's Speech: Government to face four amendments on two-child benefit cap |url=https://labourlist.org/2024/07/kings-speech-2024-benefit-cap-amendments/ |access-date=4 September 2024 |website=LabourList |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=staff |first=Politics co uk |date=23 July 2024 |title=How every MP voted on the two-child benefit cap amendment |url=https://www.politics.co.uk/news/2024/07/23/kings-speech-how-every-mp-voted-on-the-snps-two-child-benefit-cap-amendment/ |access-date=4 September 2024 |website=Politics.co.uk |language=en-US}}</ref> Shortly after the vote Shockat Adam, Jeremy Corbyn, Adnan Hussain, Ayoub Khan, and Iqbal Mohamed produced a joint letter decrying the two major parties and stating the need for a caring alternative.<ref name=":52">{{Cite web |last1=Gye |first1=Hugo |last2=Vaughan |first2=Richard |date=24 July 2024 |title=Corbyn trying to form rebel alliance to fight Starmer after Labour benefits revolt |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/corbyn-form-rebel-alliance-fight-starmer-labour-benefits-revolt-3188307 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240824122040/http://inews.co.uk/news/politics/corbyn-form-rebel-alliance-fight-starmer-labour-benefits-revolt-3188307 |archive-date=24 August 2024 |access-date=3 September 2024 |website=inews}}</ref> 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".<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |date=9 August 2024 |title=Jeremy Corbyn in talks to form new group with independent MPs |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd73x77r22do |access-date=3 September 2024 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>
On 2 September 2024, Adam was a founding member of the Independent Alliance parliamentary group.<ref name=":02">{{Cite news |last=Elgot |first=Jessica |date=2 September 2024 |title=Jeremy Corbyn to form alliance with four independent pro-Gaza MPs |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/sep/02/jeremy-corbyn-alliance-independent-pro-gaza-mps |access-date=2 September 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> {{As of|2025|September}} the group has six members.
In October 2024, Adam introduced a private members bill for the UK to recognise the State of Palestine. The bill is sponsored by the four other members of the Independent Alliance, as well as Siân Berry, Stephen Gethins, Brendan O'Hara, Liz Saville Roberts, Kim Johnson, and Ian Byrne.<ref>{{Cite news |date=21 October 2024 |title=Cross-party support for Westminster bill to recognise Palestine statehood |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/24668074.independent-mp-lodges-westminster-bill-recognise-palestine-state/ |access-date=22 October 2024 |website=The National |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=UK: Shockat Adam presents bill recognising Palestinian state to parliament |url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/uk-shockat-adam-presents-bill-recognising-palestinian-state-parliament |access-date=22 October 2024 |website=Middle East Eye |language=en}}</ref> The United Kingdom later recognised Palestine on 21 September 2025.<ref>{{Cite news |date=21 September 2025 |title=UK formally recognises Palestinian state marking major milestone in push for peace in Middle East |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/uk-palestine-state-recognition-israel-gaza-starmer-b2830717.html |access-date=21 September 2025 |work=The Independent |quote=Foreign secretary Yvette Cooper will now formally establish diplomatic relations with Palestine, Sir Keir said in a letter to its president Mahmoud Abbas.}}</ref>
== Personal life == He is the brother of Ismail Patel, the founder of the Friends of Al-Aqsa NGO based in Leicester.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Harpin |first1=Lee |title=New MP who said election win was 'for Gaza' is brother of Islamist group founder |url=https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/new-mp-who-said-election-win-was-for-gaza-is-brother-of-hardline-anti-israel-group-founder/ |access-date=6 July 2024 |work=Jewish News |date=6 July 2024}}</ref><ref name="STimes"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{Official website|https://shockatadam.org/}} {{UK MP links | parliament = 5120 | publicwhip = Shockat_Adam | theywork = 26364 }}
{{s-start}} {{s-par|uk}} {{s-bef|before=Jonathan Ashworth}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament for Leicester South|years=2024–present}} {{s-inc}} {{s-end}} {{Independent MPs in the United Kingdom}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Adam, Shockat}} Category:Alumni of the University of Manchester Category:British activists for Palestinian solidarity Category:British Muslim activists Category:British optometrists Category:English people of Indian descent Category:English people of Gujarati descent Category:Independent members of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom Category:Living people Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:Politicians from Leicester Category:UK MPs 2024–present