UK elects 12 Sikh MPs, half of them women; now second only to Canada with 18 MPs

Among the newly-elected Labour Party MPs were Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi and Preet Kaur Gill. Both have been elected for the third time in a row.

(From L-R) Preet Kaur Gill, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, Harpreet Kaur Uppal, and Warinder Juss.

India in general and Punjab in particular found a reason to celebrate the landslide victory of the Labour Party in the UK parliamentary elections, which saw a record 12 members from the Sikh community, including six women, being elected to the House of Commons, as per the results announced Friday. They are among the 28 Indian-origin members of Parliament who have elected.

All the Sikh MPs belong to the Labour Party. They include nine first timers, two who have been elected for the third consecutive time, and one who made it to the House of Commons for the second time.

British Sikh MPs Preet Kaur Gill — who defeated Tory first-timer Ashvir Sangha — and Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi won back their seats for Labour in Birmingham Edgbaston and Slough, respectively for the third consecutive time.

Nadia Whittome, who identifies herself as a queer and a Catholic Sikh, won from Nottingham East for the second time in a row. At the age of 23, Whittome was the youngest MP in the House of Commons when she was first elected in 2019.

After his win, Dhesi, in a post on X, said, “Huge honour to be re-elected by the good people of #Slough as their MP. They voted for change, unity and progress…which is what I will work hard to deliver for them.”

“An honour and a privilege to be re-elected again as MP for Birmingham Edgbaston…I will continue to serve the people and place I love,” Preet Kaur Gill posted on X.

Dhesi and Preet Kaur have remained vocal on issues pertaining to Sikhs.

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Kirith Entwistle, also known as Kirith Ahluwalia, became the first woman to be elected MP from Bolton North East. Sonia Kumar too became the first woman MP from the Dudley parliamentary seat. Similarly, Harpreet Kaur Uppal won the Huddersfield parliamentary seat to enter the Parliament for the first time.

While Labour Party’s Satvir Kaur won the Southampton Test seat by 15,945 votes, Warinder Juss won from the Wolverhampton West with 8,000 votes to reach Parliament for the first time. Dr Jeevun Sandher and Jas Athwal won from Loughborough and Ilford South parliament seats, respectively. Gurinder Singh Josan won Smethwick to become a first-time MP. Baggy Shanker, alias Bhagat Singh Shankar, won from Derby South.

With 12 Sikh MPs, UK is now second only to Canada, which is home to a sizeable Punjabi diaspora, and has 18 Sikh MPs. However, unlike UK where all Sikh MPs are from Labour Party, in Canada, they represent all three mainstream parties — 13 from Liberal Party, four from Conservative Party and one from the New Democratic party.

Harinder Singh, Senior Fellow, Research & Policy, Sikh Research Institute told the Indian Express that UK has elected the “most diverse” Sikh-descent parliamentarians. “Given that all are from Labour Party, the party must elevate those who who have been elected for the second time and third time as ministers. All Sikh MPs must address the Sikh and the Panjab issues at policy levels beyond issuing public statements, as they govern for all UK constituents and navigate strategic partnerships with India. They must not ignore the plight of Sikhs in Pakistan either,” said Harinder Singh.

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Preet Kaur Gill was born in Edgbaston, Birmingham, to Indian parents, Daljit Singh Shergill and Kuldeep Kaur Shergill, on 21st November 1972. Her father worked as a foreman, then as a bus driver, and her mother worked as a seamstress.

Dhesi had become first turbaned Sikh MP of UK in 2017. Dhesi’s village, Raipur, is about 15 km from Jalandhar in Punjab. He has remained a vocal MP during his first two terms.

Kamaldeep Singh Brar

Kamaldeep Singh Brar is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, primarily covering Amritsar and the Majha region of Punjab. He is one of the publication's key reporters for stories involving the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and the sensitive socio-political issues of the border districts. Core Beats & Specializations Religious & Panthic Affairs: He has deep expertise in the internal workings of the Akal Takht and SGPC, frequently reporting on religious sentences (Tankhah), Panthic politics, and the influence of Sikh institutions. National Security & Crime: His reporting covers cross-border drug smuggling, drone activities from Pakistan, and the activities of radical groups. Regional Politics: He is the primary correspondent for the Majha belt, covering elections and political shifts in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His work in late 2025 has been centered on judicial developments, local body elections, and religious controversies: 1. Religious Politics & Akal Takht "Akal Takht pronounces religious sentences against former Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh" (Dec 8, 2025): Covering the historic decision to hold the former Jathedar guilty for granting a pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015. "YouTube suspends SGPC’s channel for a week over video on 1984 Army action" (Nov 20, 2025): Reporting on the digital friction between global tech platforms and Sikh religious bodies. "As AAP govt grants Amritsar holy tag, a look at its fraught demand" (Nov 28, 2025): An analytical piece on the long-standing demand for declaring Amritsar a "holy city" and its political implications. 2. Crime & National Security "Mostly Khalistanis on Amritpal’s hit list: Punjab govt to High Court" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on the state government's claims regarding jailed MP Amritpal Singh orchestrating activity from prison. "Punjab man with links to Pakistan’s ISI handlers killed in encounter" (Nov 20, 2025): Detailing a police operation in Amritsar involving "newly refurbished" firearms likely sent from across the border. "15 schools in Amritsar get bomb threat emails; police launch probe" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering the panic and police response to mass threats against educational institutions. 3. Political Analysis & Elections "AAP wins 12 of 15 zones in SAD stronghold Majitha" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant shift in the 2025 rural elections where the Akali Dal lost its grip on a traditional fortress. "Tarn Taran bypoll: woman faces threats after complaining to CM Mann about drug menace" (Nov 9, 2025): A ground report on the personal risks faced by citizens speaking out against the illegal drug trade in border villages. "AAP wins Tarn Taran bypoll, but SAD finds silver lining" (Nov 14, 2025): Analyzing the 2025 assembly by-election results and the surprising performance of Independents backed by radical factions. 4. Human Interest "Two couples and a baby: Punjab drug addiction tragedy has new victims" (Nov 20, 2025): A tragic investigative piece about parents selling an infant to fund their addiction. "Kashmiri women artisans debut at Amritsar’s PITEX" (Dec 8, 2025): A feature on financial independence initiatives for rural women at the Punjab International Trade Expo. Signature Beat Kamaldeep is known for his nuanced understanding of border dynamics. His reporting often highlights the "drug crisis in the underprivileged localities" (like Muradpur in Tarn Taran, Nov 9, 2025), providing a voice to marginalized communities affected by addiction and administrative neglect. X (Twitter): @kamalsbrar ... Read More

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