Alex Sobel Portrait

Alex Sobel

Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley

8,422 (26.7%) majority - 2024 General Election

First elected: 8th June 2017


1 APPG membership (as of 28 Aug 2024)
Net Zero
90 Former APPG memberships
22q11 Syndrome, Aid Match, Albania, American Football, Antisemitism, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, Baseball, Baseball and Softball, Baseballand Softball, Basketball, British Jews, Cayman Islands, Channel 4, Clean Quarrying, Climate and Security, Climate Change, Conservation, Places and People, Côte d’Ivoire, Critical Minerals, Drones, Drones and Modern Conflict, East Coast Main Line, Electoral Reform, Electric Aviation, Electric Vehicles, Esports, Estonia, Events, Fair Business Banking, Food Waste, Fusion Energy, Future of UK-Australia Trade, Global Deforestation, Greenland, Gypsies, Travellers and Roma, Heritage and Regeneration, Holocaust Memorial, Hospitality and Tourism, Human-Relevant Science, Hydrogen, International Conservation, Internet, Communications and Technology, Investment Fraud, Investment Fraud and Fairer Financial Services, Kosovo, Kurdistan in Turkey and Syria, Lithuania, Loan Charge and Taxpayer Fairness, Local Resilience and Civil Contingencies, Modern Conflict, Montenegro, Music, Mutuals, North Macedonia, Northern Culture, Pacific Islands, Park Homes, Parkrun, Plastic Waste, Polo, Race and Community, Rare, Genetic and Undiagnosed Conditions, Religion in the Media, Renewable and Sustainable Energy, Renters and Rental Reform, Running, Rural Business and the Rural Powerhouse, Slovakia, Slovenia, Small Island Developing States, Social Enterprise, Space, Students, Sustainable Finance, Sustainable Resource, Sweden, Tajikistan, Technology Addiction, Ticket Abuse, Ukraine, United Nations, Uzbekistan, Vegetarianism and Veganism, Video Games, Video Games and Esports, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, West Papua, Western Sahara, Yoga in Society, Zoos and Aquariums
Highgate Cemetery Bill Committee
21st Jun 2021 - 30th May 2024
Culture, Media and Sport Committee
15th Jan 2024 - 30th May 2024
Culture, Media and Sport Sub-committee on Online Harms and Disinformation
15th Jan 2024 - 30th May 2024
Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
4th Dec 2021 - 5th Sep 2023
Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform Bill)
2nd Nov 2022 - 29th Nov 2022
Shark Fins Bill
9th Nov 2022 - 16th Nov 2022
Shadow Minister (Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
10th Apr 2020 - 4th Dec 2021
Highgate Cemetery Bill Committee
16th Jun 2021 - 16th Jun 2021
Environmental Audit Committee
2nd Mar 2020 - 22nd Feb 2021
Monken Hadley Common Bill Unopposed Bill Committee
16th Jun 2021 - 17th Nov 2020
Backbench Business Committee
11th Sep 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Environmental Audit Committee
11th Sep 2017 - 6th Nov 2019


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Alex Sobel has voted in 8 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
View All Alex Sobel Division Votes

Debates during the 2024 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Judith Cummins (Labour)
(1 debate interactions)
Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op))
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
(1 debate interactions)
Catherine West (Labour)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
(1 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Legislation Debates
Alex Sobel has not made any spoken contributions to legislative debate
View all Alex Sobel's debates

Latest EDMs signed by Alex Sobel

8th November 2023
Alex Sobel signed this EDM on Thursday 16th May 2024

Scientific hearing on animal experiments

Tabled by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
That this House applauds the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022, enshrining in law the ability of animals to experience joy and feel suffering and pain; notes the science-based campaign For Life On Earth, with its Beagle Ambassador, rescued laboratory dog Betsy; is shocked to see the continuing harrowing exposés that …
77 signatures
(Most recent: 20 May 2024)
Signatures by party:
Scottish National Party: 30
Labour: 18
Liberal Democrat: 11
Independent: 6
Plaid Cymru: 3
Conservative: 3
Democratic Unionist Party: 3
Green Party: 1
Social Democratic & Labour Party: 1
Alba Party: 1
Alliance: 1
24th April 2024
Alex Sobel signed this EDM as a sponsor on Monday 29th April 2024

Animals

Tabled by: Natalie Elphicke (Labour - Dover)
That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, praying that the Official Controls (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2024 (S.I., 2024, No. 541), dated 22 April 2024, a copy of which was laid before this House on 22 April 2024, be annulled.
6 signatures
(Most recent: 29 Apr 2024)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 4
Liberal Democrat: 1
Independent: 1
View All Alex Sobel's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Alex Sobel, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.

MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.


Alex Sobel has not been granted any Urgent Questions

Alex Sobel has not been granted any Adjournment Debates

1 Bill introduced by Alex Sobel


A Bill to require the United Kingdom to achieve climate and nature targets; to give the Secretary of State a duty to implement a strategy to achieve those targets; to establish a Climate and Nature Assembly to advise the Secretary of State in creating that strategy; to give duties to the Committee on Climate Change and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee regarding the strategy and targets; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Thursday 21st March 2024

19 Bills co-sponsored by Alex Sobel

Illegal and Unsustainable Fishing (Due Diligence) Bill 2023-24
Sponsor - Lord Grayling (Con)

Co-operatives (Permanent Shares) Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Gareth Thomas (LAB)

Firearms and Hate Crime Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Luke Pollard (LAB)

Wellbeing of Future Generations (No. 2) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Caroline Lucas (Green)

Fur Trade (Prohibition) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Taiwo Owatemi (Lab)

Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies (Environmentally Sustainable Investment) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Anna McMorrin (Lab)

Planning (Affordable Housing and Land Compensation) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Helen Hayes (Lab)

Dockless Bicycles (Regulation) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Daniel Zeichner (Lab)

Plastic Pollution (No. 2) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Alistair Carmichael (LD)

Plastic Pollution Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Alistair Carmichael (LD)

Packaging (Extended Producer Responsibility) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Anna McMorrin (Lab)

Marriage and Civil Partnership (Consent) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Fabian Hamilton (Lab)

Energy Consumption (Innovative Technologies) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Rebecca Pow (Con)

Banking (Cash Machine Charges and Financial Inclusion) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Ged Killen (LAB)

Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018
Sponsor - Karen Buck (Lab)

Local Electricity Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Jeremy Lefroy (Con)

Youth (Services and Provisions) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Lloyd Russell-Moyle (LAB)

Assaults on Retail Workers (Offences) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Alex Norris (LAB)

DiGeorge Syndrome (Review and National Health Service Duty) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - David Duguid (Con)


Latest 11 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
9th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of reducing the energy price cap for winter 2024-25.

The energy price cap is set by Ofgem and not the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. More information on how Ofgem calculate the price cap can be found on its website - https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/energy-price-cap.

Miatta Fahnbulleh
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
2nd Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the contribution of the plastic production industry to the level of greenhouse gas emissions produced by the UK in (a) 2024 and (b) in the next ten years.

The department does not produce specific emissions estimates for the plastic production industry, however our greenhouse gas (GHG) territorial (i.e. occurring within the UK’s borders) emissions statistics by Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) includes a category for plastics products. The latest year for which data is available is 2022, when GHG emissions from manufacture of plastic products was 2,266 kilotonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (kt CO2e).

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/final-uk-greenhouse-gas-emissions-national-statistics-1990-to-2022

The department publishes Energy & Emissions Projections however these do not include an emissions split for plastic products.

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/energy-and-emissions-projections

Michael Shanks
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
18th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an estimate of the number 16-18 year-olds who will not be able to secure a place in (a) further education and (b) training because not enough suitable places are available in Leeds in September (i) 2024 and (ii) 2025.

The department is working closely with Leeds City Council, Luminate Education Group and other providers in Leeds to ensure all 16-19 learners can access places, both in 2024 and in 2025.

Janet Daby
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
2nd Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to send a representative from his Department to the fourth intergovernmental negotiation meeting for the Global Plastics Treaty in November 2024.

Yes, officials will attend the fifth session, due to be held in November in Busan, South Korea.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
2nd Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the Bridge to Busan declaration.

The Bridge to Busan is a political declaration to raise ambition on addressing primary plastic polymers. It aims to achieve the goal of ending plastic pollution in the context of the plastic pollution treaty, currently being negotiated by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee. As a founding member of the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution, the United Kingdom is calling for binding provisions in the treaty to restrain and reduce the production and consumption of primary plastic polymers to sustainable levels.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to introduce air quality targets within train stations.

The Government is committed to ensuring that the railway maintains the highest air quality standards to safeguard the health and well-being of passengers and rail staff. The Department for Transport already requires Network Rail and train operators to develop air quality improvement plans to address issues in stations. The Department is also working with the Rail Safety and Standards Board to explore the option of specific air quality targets for the rail network, including within stations, to ensure rail remains one of the cleanest forms of mass public transport. The Department will confirm its position in due course.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help GP surgeries (a) improve energy efficiency and (b) reduce their carbon footprint.

Primary care will play an important role in helping the National Health Service achieve the net zero targets outlined in the report, Delivering a Net Zero NHS, published in July 2022, by decarbonising its estate, travel, and supply chain. Targeted efforts are needed to reduce emissions from medicines, which make up nearly two-thirds of primary care’s carbon footprint. There is range of support available to general practice (GP) surgeries to achieve this transition.

Supported by NHS England, the Royal College of General Practitioners is actively working to reduce the carbon footprint of GP surgeries through several initiatives like the Net Zero Hub, which provides guidance, eLearning, and tools for sustainability, and the Green Impact for Health Toolkit, which offers practical advice and awards for sustainable practices, among others. GP surgeries are also encouraged to use grants through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, for low-carbon heating solutions.

On efficiency and heat, all new buildings and major refurbishment projects, including primary care upgrades, will need to comply with NHS England’s Net Zero Building Standard, published in 2023.

Stephen Kinnock
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
4th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the safety of the opposition leaders in Uganda.

The British High Commission in Uganda regularly advocates for the protection of democratic freedoms and respect for human rights enshrined in Uganda's constitution and has raised the issue of opposition parties being able to campaign safely with the Government of Uganda. Allowing political parties to operate freely is vital to a healthy democracy.

Anneliese Dodds
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
4th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the current political situation in Uganda.

The UK works with the Government of Uganda on a range of shared interests including trade, development, humanitarian support and regional security. We engage as a critical friend, and regularly raise concerns about governance and human rights issues with the Ugandan authorities.

Anneliese Dodds
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
24th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Indonesian counterpart on the human rights situation in West Papua.

The Foreign Secretary and have raised concerns publicly about reports of human rights abuses during the protests in Bangladesh. We have urged an end to the violence and stressed the need for the right to assemble peacefully and express different political views to be protected.

We continue to engage with the Bangladesh government including the Foreign Secretary on the importance of respect for human rights.

Catherine West
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
17th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what information his Department holds on the extent to which medical equipment that was used at Headley Court Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre has been repurposed since that centre's closure.

The table below provides a breakdown of the medical equipment from Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) Headley Court that was either transferred to another Defence location, or relocated to DMRC Stanford Hall, as it was still serviceable.

Equipment transferred from DMRC Headley Court

Number

Ice machine

1

Wet bulb globe test (WGBT)

3

Continuous passive motion system

1

Sling suspension

1

Standing frame

2

Neuro stimulator

1

Doppler

2

Dynamic compression system

1

Functional electrical stimulation device (FES)

11

FES bike

1

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES)

4

Handheld NMES

11

Infusion pump

2

Pressure testing system

1

Socket tester

1

Soft tissue mobiliser

1

Tilt table

1

Water bath

2

Parallel bars

5

Sitting scales

1

Targeted negative pressure device

1

Image intensifier

1

Al Carns
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)