Sir Peter Soulsby won the seat at the 2005 election, and was re-elected in 2010. Sir Peter resigned to seek election for the new position of Mayor of Leicester in 2011, triggering a by-election on 5 May 2011, that coincided with the referendum on the voting system. Jon Ashworth was elected as his successor, holding the seat for the Labour Party; he was re-elected in 2015 and 2017.