New MP skips Commons over 'potential death threat'

Shockat Adam thanked police for their assistance

A new independent MP who claimed "this is for Gaza" during his winning speech missed an aid funding announcement in Parliament because of "a potential death threat".

Shockat Adam, MP for Leicester South, said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, he welcomed the government's decision to resume funding for the UN's agency for Palestinian refugees.

The move was announced in Parliament on Friday by Foreign Secretary David Lammy.

Mr Adam said he was unable to be present for the announcement "as I was dealing with a potential death threat".

'Aggressive behaviour'

He wrote: "I welcome the government finally restoring funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) after this was abruptly withdrawn by the Conservatives, denying Palestinians life-saving aid."

He went on to say: "Regrettably, I could not be in the chamber today as I was dealing with a potential death threat.

"I want to thank the Leicestershire and Cambridgeshire police for their professional, prompt and courteous assistance in dealing with this incident.

"Aggressive behaviour towards me and my family has become commonplace, but I can assure my constituents it will not deter me from my duties."

Leicestershire Police were contacted for comment. Cambridgeshire Police could not be reached.

UK funding for the UNRWA was paused due to allegations aid staff were involved in the October 7 Hamas attack

Mr Adam won Leicester South by fewer than 1,000 votes, beating Labour's Jonathan Ashworth, the former shadow secretary of state for work and pensions.

Mr Ashworth had held the seat since 2011 and had been defending a majority of 22,675 from 2019.

The Foreign Office paused funding for UNRWA in January due to allegations staff from the organisation had been involved in the 7 October Hamas attack on Israel.

Mr Lammy told the Commons the government was reassured that UNRWA was ensuring it met neutrality standards and was strengthening its procedures, including on vetting, following an independent review.

Restoring funding to UNRWA was one of a series of demands related to Gaza that Mr Adam and four other independent MPs, including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, outlined in a letter to the foreign secretary on Monday.

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