Labour under pressure over delaying Sikh leader’s elevation to House of Lords

LONDON: Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s office is under intense pressure from the influential British Sikh community after a key Sikh leader and human rights activist’s announcement to the UK House of Lords was delayed minutes before the official announcement.

A row has broken out over Dabinderjit Singh Sidhu, principal adviser to Sikh Federation UK, as he was to be one of the new political peers announced last Tuesday but his name was missing when the list was released by Downing Street, although leading journalists were given his name in the morning.

There are reports that the announcement of Dabinderjit Singh Sidhu, a strong supporter and advocate of Sikh causes, was dropped but the Sikh Federation UK said in a statement that the nomination of Mr Sidhu to the House of Lords has been delayed and the announcement is expected in January.Sikh groups have said Dabinderjit Singh’s name was to be one of the new political peers but his name was missing when the list was released by Downing Street, causing dismay in the nearly half a million Sikh community.

The Sikh Federation said: “Our understanding is (Labour leader) Keir Starmer recommended Dabinderjit to fill one of the nominations given to the Labour Party by the prime minister. The House of Lords appointments commission carried out all the necessary checks and concluded weeks ago Dabinderjit was of good standing in the community and had no concerns on his past conduct that would call into question his appointment to the House of Lords as a Labour peer.

“Dabinderjit’s name then went to the prime minister and Buckingham Palace for formal sign-off. Formal sign-off had been obtained and the only matter outstanding was a public announcement,” it added. The Sikh Federation statement noted that minutes before the list was released Monday, Labour decided to delay Dabinderjit Singh Sidhu’s announcement as a peer.

“Much has been made in the Indian media of Dabinderjit’s support for the re-establishment of an independent Sikh state. This should not be a matter of concern for Labour as there are many MPs and Lords who have strong personal views in relation to Kashmir, Palestine and the establishment of other independent states,” the statement added.

Indian media has published several fake stories to discredit Dabinderjit Singh linking him with the banned Khalistan groups but Dabinderjit Singh Sidhu has never been a member of the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) which is banned in India but not in Europe. Voicing support for Dabinderjit, Sikhs on social media, leading Sikh businessman Prof Peter Virdee wrote: “Representation in the House of Lords bridge grassroots communities closer to Parliament. Dabinderjit has been working for decades on Sikh issues. Disappointed at how peer nominations for credible community candidates can be discarded last minute based on a few small voices”.

In a strong statement addressed to Labour leader Sir Starmer, The Sikh Network said it expected Labour to honour the original, positive and correct decision to appoint Dabinderjit, an executive at the National Audit Office (NAO), as a UK Labour peer.

It said: “The scandal to withdraw can be forgotten and forgiven once he’s reconfirmed”. The Sikh Network condemned the “shameful attack to discredit Dabinderjit, one of UK’s most active and prominent volunteers who has worked tirelessly to protect and defend Sikh identity, human rights and raised the political voice & influence of the UK Sikhs. Shame on @sikhs4labour who are exploiting for their self- interests”.

Ravinder Singh, chief executive of Khalsa Aid, said: “Witch hunt continues against Sikhs are who politically active and are British citizens! This time it’s Dabinderjit, who is being targeted! I hope Keir Starmer doesn’t allow pettiness to cloud his judgement on Dabinderjit Singh”.

Dabinderjit Singh has voluntarily supported the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for British Sikhs for the last 15 years on behalf of Sikh Federation UK. The organisation worked hard for the election of Sikh Labour MP Preet Gill and Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi. An Indian publication wrote that Dabinderjit Singh’s appointment was dropped due to pressure from the Indian community and that “a major diplomatic situation has been averted ahead of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s visit to India in January as chief guest for the Republic Day celebrations”.

While Dabinderjit Singh’s appointment was delayed, British- Pakistani Wajid Khan, former Labour Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for North West England and founder of Labour friends of Kashmir, was raised to the House of Lords as a Labour peer. Sikh groups have pointed out that if Wajid Khan, who is a staunch supporter of Kashmir’s liberation from India, can be appointed by the Labour Party then why not an advocate of the Sikh rights.

It is understood Gillian Merron the chief executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews also faced opposition by some Labour MPs but their announcements were not delayed.

Dabinderjit Singh has not made any statement but on Twitter he said: “Many thanks for the hundreds of messages of support from across the globe. I have been overwhelmed with thousands of messages and phone calls of support from gurdwaras, Sikh organisations and individuals across the political spectrum and across the globe who recognise my public service and contribution to the Sikh community over the last two decades. I hope I will one day be able to repay the massive support and well wishes”.