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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Chaminda Jayanetti

Independent Muslim who beat Labour in Leicester says victory was not ‘sectarian’

Muslim independent candidate Shockat Adam won a surprise victory over Labour’s Jonathan Ashworth in Leicester South
Muslim independent candidate Shockat Adam won a surprise victory over Labour’s Jonathan Ashworth in Leicester South. Photograph: Fabio De Paola/The Guardian

The man who pulled off a shock victory at the general election by ousting shadow cabinet member Jonathan Ashworth has criticised claims that the wave of strong showings by independent Muslim candidates represents the rise of “sectarian” voting.

Shockat Adam, an optometrist, caused a huge upset by beating Ashworth, the shadow paymaster general and a familiar face in Labour’s election campaign, to become the new MP for Leicester South.

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