MP for Leeds Central and Headingley
“A party-loyal Labour MP with high attendance who has occasionally rebelled on welfare reform and end-of-life care.”
Alex Sobel is the Labour (Co-op) MP for Leeds Central and Headingley, first elected in 2017. He currently serves on the Joint Committee on Human Rights and has previously held shadow ministerial roles for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. His parliamentary activity has included work on committees such as the Highgate Cemetery Bill Committee and the Monken Hadley Common Bill Committee, reflecting broad interests in rights, culture and heritage.
Sobel shows near-total party loyalty (100%) and a higher-than-average attendance (61% vs party average 33%), with five rebel votes. He generally backs Universal Credit and NHS funding, and opposes tighter immigration controls and the Rwanda deportation scheme. His record on VAT and trade unions is mixed, and he has tended to vote against tighter asylum measures and expanded transgender rights, as well as against harsher prison sentencing.
He has declared nine financial interests, including miscellaneous entries, gifts/benefits and hospitality from UK sources, and visits outside the UK.
Generated 21 February 2026
How this MP participates in parliamentary votes. These numbers describe activity, not effectiveness.
How often this MP votes
Labour (Co-op) average: 33%
The percentage of parliamentary votes (divisions) this MP participated in. MPs may miss votes for legitimate reasons including ministerial duties, constituency work, or illness.
How often this MP votes with their party
Labour (Co-op) average: 99%
Estimated from voting record, not self-declared. This is a simplified model — real politics is more complex than a single axis.
13 positions
Human Rights (Joint Committee)
Since Nov 2024
Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Jan 2024 - May 2024
Culture, Media and Sport Sub-committee on Online Harms and Disinformation
Jan 2024 - May 2024
Shark Fins Bill
Nov 2022 - Nov 2022
Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform Bill)
Nov 2022 - Nov 2022
Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Dec 2021 - Sept 2023
Highgate Cemetery Bill Committee
Jun 2021 - May 2024
Figures include only interests with declared monetary values from the Register of Members' Financial Interests. Some categories (e.g. hospitality, overseas visits) may not have monetary values recorded, so the total may not reflect all declared interests.
Victims and Courts Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 6
AYEVictims and Courts Bill
Victims and Courts Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 5
AYEVictims and Courts Bill
Victims and Courts Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 4
AYEVictims and Courts Bill
Victims and Courts Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 3
AYEVictims and Courts Bill
Victims and Courts Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 2
AYEVictims and Courts Bill
Victims and Courts Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 1
AYEVictims and Courts Bill
Opposition Day Motion: Defence
NOOpposition Day Motion: Oil and Gas
NONational Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 1
AYENational Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill
Opposition day motion: student loans
NOOpposition day motion: fuel duty
NODraft Higher Education (Fee Limits and Fee Limit Condition) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
AYEDraft Employment Rights Act 2025 (Investigatory Powers) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2026
AYEFinance (No. 2) Bill: Third Reading
AYEFinance (No. 2) Bill
Finance (No. 2) Bill Report Stage: Amendment 6
NOFinance (No. 2) Bill
The percentage of votes where this MP voted the same way as the majority of their party. High loyalty is typical; most MPs vote with their party on most issues.
Rebel votes
Times this MP voted differently from the majority of their party. This can reflect independent judgement, but context matters — some rebel votes are on procedural matters, others on major policy.
