This is a mixed constituency containing some of the best residential areas in Leicester, especially in the Knighton area. Leicester City Council is Labour-dominated but there is also a swathe of Liberal Democrat seats (Saffron, East Knighton and West Knighton) in the South-East of the constituency, and one Conservative ward at Aylestone which is a predominantly owner-occupied area.
The constituency has a significant, 26%, Asian minority (according to the 1991 census), boosted by Ugandan Asians fleeing Idi Amin in 1972. The 1991 census describes Spinney Hill ward as 82% non-white, Crown Hills as 76% and Wycliffe just over 50% non-white. There is also a prominent Afro-Caribbean community, especially in the Highfields area.
Jim Marshall won the seat in 1974 but lost in 1983 by just 7 votes to the Conservative Derek Spencer. He regained the seat in 1987 and has since steadily rebuilt his majority - it now stands at over 16,000.