The British Sikh community is deeply disappointed and seeks answers, as we believe the Labour leadership has discriminated against the record-breaking 12 Labour MPs of a Sikh background. 

Ethnic minorities currently number around 20% of the population, which was 18% in the Census 2021. 

Whilst ethnic minority representation in Parliament has improved since the General Election on 4 July, they remain underrepresented in the House of Commons, with 90 out of 650 MPs, or 13.8%. 

With a higher proportion of ethnic minority MPs, 66 out of 412 or 16%, in Labour, the missed opportunity for the Cabinet and junior ministerial positions to reflect this ethnic diversity is striking. 

When the first photograph of the new Cabinet was unveiled on 6 July, it was a moment of disappointment for many. The lack of representation of ethnic minorities, particularly the British Sikh community, was a glaring issue that started to raise questions.   

Many rightfully pointed out the stark contrast between the new Labour Cabinet and the significant visible representation of ethnic minorities in the previous Conservative governments. This contrast is particularly striking given the much lower proportion of ethnic minorities in the Conservative ranks. 

With the appointment of junior Ministers in the new Labour government, the position for ethnic minority representation at senior levels in a Labour government is dire. Within a week, the situation for ethnic minorities has gone from bad to worse.  

This will become a stark and constant issue for the Conservatives to exploit, especially if the new Conservative leader is someone like Kemi Badenoch.  

Most, if not all, government appointments have now been made, and the new Labour government has failed at the outset to have sufficient representation of ethnic minorities, noticeable ethnic minorities.   

It is simply not good enough that there are only around 10% of ethnic minorities in leading political roles compared to 20% of the total population.  

Additionally, five MPs have been appointed as junior ministers despite having no parliamentary experience; only one is an ethnic minority.   

At least four MPs who lost in the December 2019 General Election have been re-elected and immediately taken Ministerial roles, but they do not include any ethnic minorities.   

In addition, Keir Starmer has decided to introduce four new Ministers from outside government via new life peerages; again, none are ethnic minorities. Surely, talented and experienced ethnic minorities could have come via this route.  

The British Sikh community is deeply disappointed and questioning the Labour leadership’s actions. The fact that the record-breaking 12 Labour Sikh MPs have been discriminated against is a bitter pill to swallow. With around 1 in 4 Labour MPs taking Ministerial roles, the British Sikh community had every right to expect at least two or three Sikh Ministers.  

Most were expecting to see Preet Kaur Gill (the first Sikh woman MP) and Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (the first turban-wearing Sikh MP) take junior Ministerial roles as they have been MPs for over seven years and had been successfully serving as Shadow Ministers. 

Two of the newly elected Sikh MPs were, until recently, Council leaders in Redbridge and Southampton and could also have been given government roles. No Sikh, despite their experience, reputation, and loyalty, was appointed to a ministerial role, which suggests discrimination at the highest levels that is totally unacceptable. 

Bhai Amrik Singh, the Chair of the Sikh Federation (UK), said: “The Labour leadership needed to learn from its past mistakes of unnecessarily alienating different communities that resulted in some Labour MPs losing their seats last week and many others facing challenges and abuse. 

“Keir Starmer should explain why all Sikh MPs, especially those with relevant experience, have been overlooked or risk losing much of the one million Sikh vote in future elections.  

“We have reached out to dozens of newly elected Labour MPs, including Ministers in his Cabinet, and they have been unable to defend the decision to exclude all Sikh MPs from government. They have universally condemned the discriminatory approach taken.  

“Keir Starmer has probably gambled on who to drop and bring in, realising Sikh MPs like Preet and Tanmanjeet were an easy pushover.  He has taken advantage of their loyalty and knows they will not make a public fuss.  But the Sikh community will now demonstrate they refuse to be taken for granted.   

“The only positive to emerge from this experience is the decision will force all the Sikh MPs onto the backbenches, and they will be able to work with others.”