The Labour party may be well on their way to making history after selecting a Sikh woman to fight a key marginal seat in the general election.
Local Councillor, Preet Kaur Gill, will replace outgoing MP and Brexit supporter Gisela Stuart and stand in Birmingham Edgbaston in the upcoming general elections.
Gill, currently a cabinet member on Sandwell Council, was selected by the Labour National Executive Committee’s (NEC) interview panel and is set to defend a Labour majority of 2,706.
Gill said: “I am delighted I have been given the opportunity to become the next MP for Edgbaston where I was born and raised.
“I want to engage with the people of Edgbaston and with hard work, passion and determination I think we can achieve great things together.”
Preet has served as a Board Member of the Sikh Network, which has provided her with a unique platform and opportunity to raise her political profile over the last two years.
The Sikh Federation, which has been lobbying for more Sikhs to be given seats since the general election was called, also welcomed the news.
Bhai Amrik Singh, chair of the Sikh Federation (UK) said: “I have known Preet and the family for over 30 years and she will be an amazing representative for those living in Edgbaston.”
“We have full confidence that she will become the first ever Sikh woman in the House of Commons and we will do all we can to support her succeed. In the last general election we made a real difference in certain seats and the political parties know we can motivate large numbers on the ground to have an impact.”
The group has set up a steering committee to lobby for greater Sikh representation in winnable parliamentary seats in the June 8 elections.
Gill credits her passion for politics to her late father and his close friend Lord King, who became the first Sikh peer in the UK.
Preet isn’t the only hopeful looking to cement a parliamentary position, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, a British Sikh local politician, has been selected by the Opposition Labour Party as a candidate for the general election and is hoping to become the first turban-wearing Sikh MP in the House of Commons.
“I am humbled to be selected as Labour’s Parliamentary candidate for Slough and hope to have the honour of serving the town where I was born and raised,” said Dhesi, currently local councillor for Gravesham.
