My Political Race

As Labour MP for Gloucester, when things were good for Parmjit Dhanda they were very good. He was rolled out for Labour conferences and media appearances as a poster boy for the party - a shining example of a new Britain, where white constituencies chose ethnic minorities as their candidates and then elected them as their MPs. It was the ultimate political fairy tale. However, the other side of Parmjit's story remained hidden for years. Its exposure threatened to undermine the received political narrative and neither Dhanda nor his colleagues were comfortable addressing the issues it would inevitably bring to light. Then something life-changing happened. As Parmjit and his family strove to remake their lives in the wake of Labour's 2010 general election defeat, there came a knock on the door of their Gloucester home one Sunday morning. A frightened-looking lady stood there shaking and distressed, her dog pulling her by its lead towards one of the cars parked outside. In the middle of the drive was a pig's head. To experience this kind of racism so close to home and so close to his young family left him feeling demoralised and isolated. After Parmjit's nine years of service to the local area, the perpetrators hadn't even realised the difference between a Sikh and a Muslim. Comprising unique insights, witty anecdotes and thought-provoking critique, this is the extraordinary tale of how a 'foreigner' in the Westminster village upset the odds - despite Britain's failure to address issues of race within its own Parliament. Speaking out for the first time about the uncomfortable truths he faced during his time in politics, Parmjit Dhanda hopes he can help present a smoother path for others in the future, as well as encouraging those currently in the game to speak out for themselves.

Auteur

PARMJIT DHANDA held three ministerial posts in his time as Member of Parliament for Gloucester before his defeat at the 2010 general election. He was born in Hillingdon hospital, where his mother worked as a cleaner. His father was a machine tool setter and then a truck driver. After attending Mellow Lane Comprehensive School in west London, Parmjit attended Nottingham University, where he completed a degree in electronic engineering and a master's in information technology. On leaving university, he went on to work for the Labour Party as a campaigns organiser in the 1997 general election, and then as assistant national organiser of the Connect trade union from 1998 to 2001. On 7 June 2001, aged twenty-nine, Parmjit was elected MP for Gloucester with a majority of 3,880 - the first BME MP in the west of England. He built a strong reputation as a local MP, helping to gain a proud record of investment for his constituency (including the docks regeneration scheme), and was returned in 2005 with an increased majority of4,240. He was subsequently asked to join the government. Parmjit is married to Rupi and they have two sons. He was the first British-born minister of Asian parentage and is, to this day, the only Sikh to have served in government.