Tan Dhesi is not a name that you see regularly in the headlines, but as the chair of the Parliamentary Defence Select Committee he is likely to be much more in the public eye in the coming months. Not only as a result of the war in Ukraine and the government’s decision to increase spending on defence, but also because his committee will be responsible for scrutinising the report of the Strategic Defence Review when it’s issued in a few months’ time – a crucial document that is likely to shape the UK’s defence policy for years to come.
Tanmanjeet Dhesi was first elected to Parliament as the Labour MP for Slough in 2017, with a whopping majority of 17,000. He was the first turban-wearing Sikh in Parliament – indeed in any European Parliament – and happily exploits the opportunity to “bring a bit of colour to the House of Commons” by sporting a range of brightly coloured turbans. “I also hope to catch the eye of the Speaker of the House of Commons when I want to ask a question.”
Researching his political career in preparation for my podcast interview with him I was struck by the respect and liking that both his colleagues in the Labour Party and political opponents seem to have for him – whatever their differences on policy matters. Meeting him in person, it’s easy to understand his popularity – he’s immensely friendly and chatty, and his genuine commitment to his role as a representative for all his constituents, whatever their faith or situation, is very evident.
“Truth is the highest virtue”
I wondered how far his Sikh religion has helped him to navigate an increasingly fractured world – one in which the Sikh precept that “truth is the highest virtue” appears to be in direct contradiction to the Trumpian universe in which mis- and disinformation thrives.
“Faith, family and community are deeply important to me” he explains, “and one of the reasons why I became a serving Labour member is that the values of Sikhism are very aligned with the values of socialism – sharing with others, (one of the key tenets of the faith) working hard, a belief in equality, and that’s exactly how I look to serve my constituents. My job, as a good Sikh and a good Labour MP, is to serve with that ethos always in mind.”
Inevitably, given the turbulent international scene, much of our discussion focuses on the work of the Defence Select Committee and Dhesi’s role as chair. He explains that the committee chair is elected by the whole House, and he sees this as an important cross-party endorsement of the individual who occupies that position.
Seemingly mirroring Dhesi’s own strong work ethic, the Defence Committee has published more reports than any other parliamentary committee since the election of the new government, “we’ve been working at a rate of knots” and he stresses that in the current climate it is critical that they play their part in holding the government, the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State to account.
A key area that they are currently exploring is the tripartite partnership between Australia, the UK and the US – AUKUS.
Asked how the recent lapses in security in the Pentagon might impact on the view of the US as a reliable ally, Dhesi’s answer is a tactful one. “We want to see what influence recent geo-political shifts have had on that partnership” and he adds that both the US and Australia are very close and trusted allies – which sounds very much like the standard government line when referring to the Trump administration.
It would, of course, be naïve to expect otherwise, given his role. He does go on to admit that there’s a lot of concern about the direction that the US government might take in relation to Ukraine and European security, another area that the committee is currently working on.
Asked about the possibility of the “coalition of the willing” being able to replace US support for Ukraine if it were to be withdrawn, Dhesi is realistic. He points to the damaging impact on the Ukrainian military campaign caused by Musk’s briefly blocking access to his Starlink communications and intelligence satellite and returns to the importance of the UK’s relationship with the US.
NATO and Europe
“We do not want any rupture between our NATO allies, and we have to be very close both with our European friends and the US because our security is intertwined with theirs”. He goes on to point out that the need is reciprocal. “The US stands tall and free if they’ve got good friends and that’s something that I would want our Prime Minister to be emphasising. We all saw the horror show that was the meeting between President Zelensky and President Trump in the Oval Office and the only person that that benefits is Vladimir Putin”.
Dhesi supported Remain in the 2016 Brexit referendum campaign but asked about Starmer and Reeves’ adamant opposition to rejoining the Customs Union and the Single Market, he points to the Labour Party’s resolution not to fight old battles. He reiterates Starmer’s statements about needing a closer relationship with the EU and takes it a little bit further. “We have a mandate to negotiate a closer relationship with the EU – let’s see where that takes us.
But it’s not just about the UK government wanting it, the EU have also got to want it”. He stresses that on a whole array of fronts – trade, defence, security – there needs to be an urgent resetting of the relationship. “It’s in both our interests to tackle the major challenges facing our continent that we have that closer, more collaborative relationship.”
What gives him hope for the future in these turbulent times?
Perhaps returning to the foundations of his faith, he expressed a belief in the potential of humanity to overcome the challenges we currently face, of climate change, the rise of right-wing populism, of global poverty – “if we work in an open and kind-hearted way we can overcome those obstacles. I believe in a collaborative approach where we share with others and look after the most vulnerable, where we have a more equal and more just society. But it’s a battle of ideas – there are very dark forces and individuals working to undermine those values and we need to be ready to fight and to take the battle to them. Let’s see who wins”.
A sobering note on which to end a fascinating and wide-ranging discussion.
To hear the full interview and learn more about Dhesi’s early life and education, the pressures of being the sole representative of a particular community in Parliament, his views on Nigel Farage and Reform, and on the potential for social media to have a deeply undermining effect on our democracy, go to Bylines Network Podcast. It is also available on major platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music.
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