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Slough MP Tan Dhesi named shadow railways minister

Slough MP Tan Dhesi has pledged to continue the fight for the delivery of the Western Rail Link to Heathrow in his new role as shadow railways minister.

New Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer appointed Mr Dhesi to his frontbench team last week as part of a raft of changes following the departure of former party leader Jeremy Corbyn.

The town’s MP will now serve on Labour’s transport team with the 41-year-old setting his sights on persuading the Government to push ahead with the proposed four-mile rail link between the Great Western Main Line and Heathrow Airport. (article continues)

Dhesi has a bachelor's degree in mathematics with management studies from University College London, studied applied statistics at Keble College, Oxford, and has a Master of Philosophy in the history and politics of South Asia from Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge.

Dhesi was the former mayor of Gravesham and the chair of Gravesham Constituency Labour Party in Kent where he stood unsuccessfully during the 2015 general election, losing out to Conservative MP Adam Holloway.

He became Britain's first turbaned Sikh MP in the 2017 general election after gaining the nomination following Fiona Mactaggart standing down. He gave his maiden speech in the House of Commons on 18 July 2017 which was praised greatly by fellow MPs Gareth Snell and Mike Gapes.

Interesting that Starmer is keeping some Corbynistas on board.

THat's probably called pragmatism.