The Mace Questionnaire: Alex Sobel MP

Mace | 15th April 2026 | Westminster Index
Alexander Sobel ©House of Commons
Alexander Sobel ©House of Commons

The Labour MP on the cost of living crisis, the challenges in Ukraine and West Papua, and the best places in Leeds for a night out

Alex Sobel, 50, is the MP for Leeds Central and Headingley, a position he’s held since 2017.  From 2021 to 2023 he served as shadow minister for Nature Recovery and the Domestic Environment. He is chair of the APPG on Ukraine, net zero, students, West Papua,  and fair elections, and co-chair of the  APPG on music.  In July 2025, Sobel called on party leaders to recognise the state of Palestine, and to press for the resumption of humanitarian aid. He has led five parliamentary delegations to Ukraine, three of which involved Sobel driving aid to Ukraine, including to the frontline city Kharkiv,  which is twinned with Leeds. What is your proudest political achievement? Since Labour has been elected to government, it has been much easier to amend legislation positively working closely with ministers. This year we gained two significant amendments to the renters’ rights bill which means that, once it receives royal assent, rent in advance will be limited to one...

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