Adam Habib Jogee was born in December 1991 in Haringey, London. With Jamaican and Zimbabwean roots, Adam Jogee brings a rich cultural perspective to British politics. His grandfather arrived from Jamaica in 1941 to help fight fascism, building a new life in Staffordshire—a county Adam is now proud to represent. His father immigrated from Zimbabwe in 1979, marrying Adam’s mother, a Staffordshire native. These stories of courage and multicultural legacy continue to inspire Adam’s sense of public service and commitment to diversity.
Jogee’s experiences as a Muslim facing racism and Islamophobia have shaped his approach to public life, fueling a resolve to confront discrimination and champion tolerance. In his maiden speech in Parliament, Jogee acknowledged the significance of his election as “the first black man to represent anywhere in the West Midlands,” a testament to the changing face of British democracy.
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Early Life & Family Background
Name: Adam Habib Jogee.
Birth: Born December 1991.
Heritage: He has a mixed background; his family includes Jamaican and Zimbabwean heritage. His maternal grandfather came from Jamaica in the 1940s (to serve in World War II) and settled in Staffordshire; his mother was born and raised in Staffordshire.
Upbringing: He grew up in Haringey, London. His cultural background, family values of service and perseverance are often cited by him as shaping his worldview and political priorities.
Education & Early Political Engagement
Scholarship to Highgate School: In 2008, Adam Jogee received a scholarship which allowed him to take his A-levels at Highgate School.
Youth politics: At age 16, he was involved with the Haringey Youth Parliament. This early involvement introduced him to public service and local government.
Early career roles: He has worked in environmental policy roles (e.g. for Labour’s shadow environment team), especially tackling waste crime.
Local Political Career in Haringey
Elected Councillor for Hornsey ward in Haringey London Borough Council.
Held roles including Mayor of Haringey (2020) and lead roles in the council cabinet. Specifically, he was Cabinet member overseeing roles such as economic development, community safety, and was Chair of the Environment Scrutiny Committee.
Led on community safety, environmental matters, policing interface, hate crime prevention and outreach with diverse communities in Haringey.
Selection as Labour Candidate & the 2024 General Election
In April 2023, Adam Jogee was selected as Labour’s prospective parliamentary candidate for Newcastle-under-Lyme.
His selection was controversial in some local Labour branches: some members protested that prominent local figures were overlooked and raised concerns about “parachuting” of candidates not local to the constituency.
The general election took place 4 July 2024. Jogee won the seat with 15,992 votes with a majority of 5,069 over the Conservative candidate. This marked Labour taking Newcastle-under-Lyme from the Conservatives, with previous MP Aaron Bell. Turnout was ~58.4-58.7%.
Identity & Significance: Representation in UK Politics
Jogee is notable for being the first Black man to represent any constituency in the West Midlands under the current boundaries (or in recent history).
His election is seen as part of broader efforts for diversity of representation within the Labour Party and Parliament. His heritage, personal experiences with racism and Islamophobia have shaped his approach to policy, particularly in relation to equality, fairness and representation.
Key Priorities & Campaigns as MP
Since taking office, Adam Jogee has identified and is working on several priorities, both local and national:
| Area | Key Focus / Policy Initiatives |
|---|---|
| Environment & Health | Walleys Quarry landfill has been a major issue: odour, emissions, health concerns; he has campaigned for ministerial visits and stronger regulation. |
| Housing & Housing Conditions | Social housing issues, landlord accountability and poor housing conditions are raised as concerns locally. |
| SEND (Special Educational Needs & Disabilities) | He sees inadequate support for SEND provisions, delays and difficulties in assessments and access to school placements as a local issue. |
| Transport & Public Services | Better public transport, accessibility, connectivity, addressing gaps in local services. |
| Health / NHS | Fighting for shorter NHS waiting times; better healthcare funding; prescription charge reforms (particularly for those with chronic conditions, such as Parkinson’s). |
| Welfare Reform | Engaging constituents in surveying proposed changes to benefits (e.g. PIP), arguing for fairness and mitigating adverse effects on vulnerable groups. |
| Community Safety & Anti-Social Behaviour | Responses to constituent concerns about crime, anti-social behaviour; working with police, local councils on preventative measures. |
First 100 Days in Parliament: What He’s Done
In his first few months as MP, Adam Jogee has been active, moving swiftly to establish his presence. Here are highlights (from his “100 Days” report):
Parliamentary contributions: ~58 spoken interventions + ~133 written questions.
Casework & constituent contact: Over 500 letters written on behalf of residents; visits to schools, nurseries, colleges; meeting with businesses and local bodies to understand issues.
Local engagements: Visiting community events, talking to residents about the impact of issues like Walleys Quarry, SEND provision, public service access.
Parliamentary roles: Elected co-chair of Commonwealth All-Party Parliamentary Group, lead for Coalfield Communities Group in the Labour Parliamentary Party for the West Midlands.
Committee Roles, Parliamentary Activity & Voting
Member of the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee since October 2024.
Also involved in various All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) and has signed Early Day Motions on issues relevant to his constituency (e.g. local services, health, environment).
On votes: as a newly elected MP, his voting record is still building, but he has taken public positions (through speeches, questions) aligning with Labour’s platform (e.g. environmental regulation, health equity, welfare protections).
Local Constituency Work: Major Issues & Impact
Newcastle-under-Lyme has several issues Adam Jogee is engaging with:
Walleys Quarry Landfill: A major environmental and public health concern. Residents have reported odour (hydrogen sulphide emissions), anxieties about long-term health, and local government and the MP have pushed for tighter regulation, possibly a public inquiry, and site closure or remediation. Jogee has actively called for ministerial attention.
SEND Provision / Education: Many families with special educational needs are concerned about delays, inadequate resources, inequity in placements. Jogee has highlighted this as a daily focus.
Health Services & Prescription Exemptions: Advocating for inclusion of conditions like Parkinson’s on medical exemption lists for prescriptions; dealing with NHS waiting times.
Housing / Local Infrastructure: Ensuring that social housing is up to acceptable standards; that local transport, public services, community safety are improved.
Economic & Business Support: Supporting local businesses (e.g. smaller retailers, enterprises), speaking up at events like the Staffordshire Black Business Network; promoting local economy.
Challenges, Controversies & Criticisms
Selection Controversy: As noted, some local branches of the Labour Party were unhappy with how Adam Jogee was selected as Labour candidate in Newcastle-under-Lyme — concerns about parachuting, perceived lack of local roots compared to others. This is a typical tension when national parties make selections.
Environmental / regulatory inertia: Despite campaigning, constituents report ongoing odour issues from the quarry; securing action from government departments and regulators is slow. Jogee’s efforts are subject to bureaucratic delays and resistance. Stakeholders (residents, parish councils) are pressing for more accountability.
High expectations & workload: As a new MP, constituents expect rapid improvements on longstanding issues (health, housing, environment). Balancing demands, resources, and parliamentary constraints is a challenge.
Electoral margin & political opposition: While Jogee did win with a solid majority (5,069 votes, ~12.8%) over the Conservative party in 2024, there remains a sizeable presence of opposition (including Reform UK) in the vote share. Maintaining and expanding support will require effective delivery.
Looking Ahead: What to Expect
Push for concrete action on Walleys Quarry: possible moves toward a public inquiry, stricter enforcement, health impact assessment.
Further work on welfare reforms, especially feedback on PIP / benefits changes, monitoring impact on disability and low income households.
Education & SEND policy improvements, ensuring local schools and local authority provision keep pace with demand. Possibly advocating for more funding or better legislative oversight.
Continued engagement with local businesses, community groups, vulnerable populations to raise local issues in Parliament — housing, transport, health care access.
More parliamentary committee work and possibly taking on more prominent roles, shaping legislation or oversight relevant to his interests (environment, health equity, social justice).
FAQs
Q1: When did Adam Jogee become MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme?
A: He was elected at the general election on 4 July 2024, winning the seat for Labour.
Q2: What was his majority in the 2024 election?
A: He won by a majority of 5,069 votes, with just over 40.4% of the vote.
Q3: What is his background before being MP?
A: He was a councillor in Haringey (Hornsey ward) from 2014 to 2024; served as Mayor of Haringey in 2020; held cabinet responsibilities locally for community safety, environment and economic development; worked in environmental policy at the national level (Labour shadow environment team) before becoming MP.
Q4: What are his main campaign issues?
A: Key issues for him include tackling environmental health concerns (especially Walleys Quarry), improving SEND provision, reforming welfare (including PIP), supporting local housing and public services, reducing waiting times in the NHS, boosting business and local economy, public transport improvements.
Q5: What has he achieved so far?
A: In his first 100 days, he has made dozens of parliamentary contributions, many written questions, engaged heavily with constituents via visits and casework, raised local environmental issues, met ministers about concerns, served on committees and worked with community groups.
Q6: What committees or parliamentary roles does he hold?
A: Member of the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee since October 2024; co-chair of the Commonwealth All-Party Parliamentary Group; West Midlands Lead for the Parliamentary Labour Party Coalfield Communities Group.
Q7: What criticisms has he faced?
A: The main criticism stems from how he was selected as Labour’s candidate (some local members felt the process was unfair), and ongoing concern about whether his promises (especially environmental and regulatory) can be delivered quickly. Also, managing the high expectations of constituents for visible change.
Q8: Why is Walleys Quarry important in his work?
A: Walleys Quarry is a landfill site in his constituency which has been causing odour, gas emissions (hydrogen sulphide), and health concerns. Residents have complained for years; Jogee has taken this up at national level, pushing for greater regulation, ministerial oversight, and possibly a public inquiry. It is a focal issue that exemplifies his focus on environmental justice and public health.
Conclusion
Adam Jogee is a relatively new MP but has moved quickly to make an impact. His background combines local grassroots experience, environmental policy work, and a strong sense of representation. For Newcastle-under-Lyme, his election represents a change of direction, particularly on environmental health and public services.
How successful he will be depends on translating priorities into action, working through regulatory and governmental bodies, and delivering visible improvements locally. Constituents will be watching carefully on issues like Walleys Quarry, SEND provision, NHS waiting times, and housing conditions.
