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Britain's first turbaned Sikh MP to lead Defense Committee

The election took place on Sep.11, following a ballot in which Dhesi received 320 of the 563 valid votes.

Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi. / Facebook/UK 

Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, the first turbaned Sikh to serve as a Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom, has been elected as the Chairman of the Defense Committee in the newly formed Parliament. 

The election took place on Sep.11, following a ballot in which Dhesi received 320 of the 563 valid votes. His opponent, fellow Labour MP Derek Twigg, garnered 243 votes.

In his statement after the victory, the Labour MP from Slough expressed his gratitude to his colleagues, “I am delighted to have been elected Chair of the Defence Committee. I would like to thank my colleagues across the House for placing their confidence in me.”

Dhesi emphasized the increasing challenges Britain faces, both domestically and internationally, underlining his commitment to addressing these complexities as the new Chair. “The threats we face at home and abroad are growing in both scale and complexity. As Defence Committee Chair, I will focus on ensuring our nation can rise to these challenges,” he stated.

A strong advocate for Armed Forces personnel and veterans, Dhesi pledged to be their voice in Parliament. “I will be a voice in Parliament for Armed Forces personnel and veterans – brave individuals who make an invaluable contribution to our safety and security.”

He also underscored his intention to hold the government accountable in his new role, ensuring they meet their commitments to national security. “Government’s primary duty is to protect its citizens; in this role I will be a critical friend to Government, holding them to account and ensuring they deliver on their promises.”

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