Minimum Agenda for British Sikh MPs
British Sikhs celebrated the election of over 10 Sikh background Members of Parliament in the 2024 General Election. Of these four are turban wearing identity Sikhs. That is a good start in politics for next generation Sikhs in the UK.
Hopefully, a breakthrough will also be achieved in the mainstream media and national level journalism in due course. Otherwise, British Sikhs are doing well in most fields. They are a role- hardworking community making a net contribution to the UK economy and provide an interesting example of successful integration whilst maintaining a very visible and distinctive religious identity. (ref: The Sikh Manifesto 2015)
All Parliamentarians should give highest priority to national issues. We have made Britain our home because, overall, British society is a fair and just society which attempts to provide a level playing field for all communities.
Anglo-Sikh relations go back to the early 18th century. Later, Sikhs made massive sacrifices in the two World Wars and have been reliable allies of Western nations in defending the free world. Thus, Sikh MPs have a strong Anglo-Sikh relations foundation to be proud of and build upon.
As MPs, they should cater for the needs of all their constituents. In addition, as Sikhs, they are also expected to have a good understanding of Sikh issues. Some of these are listed in the Sikh Manifesto 2024. Their very presence and visibility in the Parliament is a significant step towards acceptance of Sikh identity as part of British plural society and way of life. They will be expected to represent Sikh issues effectively in the Parliament as well as in public. That requires understanding of those issues. They should research and also develop the necessary presentational skills.
Some ongoing topics and priorities include: systematic collection and use of data on Sikhs by the government and public bodies to ensure a level playing field promoting a better understanding of Sikh identity and Sikh way of life to counter hate crimes targeting Sikhs partly due to mistaken identity improved education about Sikh history and safeguarding Sikh historical artefacts in the UK.
Other Sikh issues can be looked at under Sikh legal rights in UK. Sikhs are a distinct global people linked to their origin in the Indian subcontinent. Most Sikhs live in the Indian part of Panjab and have family ties with British Sikhs. Issues such as treatment of Sikhs in India (and other countries) are of legitimate British Sikh concern through the Parliament. Sikh MPs are expected to take up these issues as and when they arise. Some obvious current examples are the lingering case of Jagtar Singh Johal, a British citizen, and release of Sikh prisoners held in Indian jails for years without trial international recognition of the 1984 Sikh Genocide and UN-led inquiry independent public inquiry into the actions of the UK Government and its motivations for anti-Sikh measures in the 1980s and, application of self-determination to the Sikhs as a historical and legal right of a people, regardless of whether or not they support the case for Sikh homeland within India or as an independent nation. (The Sikh Manifesto 2024 for further reading.).
Public focus will be on the performance Sikh MPs. British Sikhs will expect Sikh (together with other) MPs to take up such legitimate Sikh issues in the Parliament above international trade considerations. They need to win the trust of Sikhs at grassroots level as well as their non-Sikh constituents. We wish them well.
Gurmukh Singh OBE
Principal Civil Servant retd.