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{{short description|British Labour and Co-operative politician}}
{{Use dmy dates}}
{{Use British English}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image = [[File:Official portrait of Preet Kaur Gill MP crop 2.jpg|frameless|]]
| caption = Official portrait, 2020
| name = Preet Gill
| honorific-suffix = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MP]]
| office = [[Department for Health and Social Care|Shadow Minister for Primary Care and Public Health]]
| leader = [[Keir Starmer]]
| predecessor = [[Feryal Clark]] (Primary Care)<br>[[Andrew Gwynne]] (Public Health)
| successor =
| term_start = 6 September 2023
| term_end =
| office1 = [[Shadow Cabinet Minister for International Development]]{{efn|Shadow Secretary of State (2020–21)}}
| leader1 = [[Keir Starmer]]
| predecessor1 = [[Dan Carden]]
| successor1 = [[Lisa Nandy]]
| term_start1 = 6 April 2020
| term_end1 = 4 September 2023
| office2 = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]]<br>for [[Birmingham Edgbaston]]
| term_start2 = 8 June 2017
| predecessor2 = [[Gisela Stuart]]
| majority2 = 5,614 (13.3%)
{{collapsed infobox section begin
| Shadow portfolios
| titlestyle = border:1px dashed lightgrey}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| embed = yes
| suboffice3 = [[Department for International Development|Shadow Minister for International Development]]
| subterm3 = 2018–2020
}}
{{collapsed infobox section end}}
| office4 = Member of [[Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council]]<br />for [[Smethwick|St Paul's]]
| predecessor4 = Paramjit Randhawa
| successor4 = Samiya Akhter
| term_start4 = 3 May 2012
| term_end4 = 4 May 2018
| birth_name = Preet Kaur Shergill
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1972|11|21|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Edgbaston]], [[Birmingham]], England
| party = [[Labour and Co-operative|Labour Co-op]]
| alma_mater = [[University of East London]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BSc]])
| website = {{URL|https://www.preetkaurgill.com/}}
| father = [[Daljeet Singh Shergill]]
}}
'''Preet Kaur Gill''' (born 21 November 1972) is a British politician serving as [[Department for Health and Social Care|Shadow Minister for Primary Care and Public Health]] since 2023. A member of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]], she has been [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Birmingham Edgbaston (UK Parliament constituency)|Birmingham Edgbaston]] since 2017.

==Early life==
Preet Kaur Gill was born on 21 November 1972 in [[Edgbaston]], [[Birmingham]].<ref name="Who" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Preet Kaur Gill |url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/ckzloZBB32laPIDKMRuIJnVgjE8/appointments |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201061752/https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/ckzloZBB32laPIDKMRuIJnVgjE8/appointments |archive-date=1 December 2017 |access-date=26 November 2017 |publisher=Companies House}}</ref> She was born to [[Indian people|Indian]] parents [[Daljit Singh Shergill]] and Kuldeep Kaur Shergill.<ref name="Who" /><ref name="Mail" /> Her father was a foreman, and later a bus driver, and her mother worked as a [[seamstress]].<ref name=Post>{{cite news|url=http://www.birminghampost.co.uk/news/regional-affairs/daughter-indian-bus-driver-becomes-13160044|title=Daughter of Indian bus driver becomes UK's first female Sikh MP|work=Birmingham Post|date=9 June 2017|last=Stacey|first=Alison|access-date=3 November 2017|archive-date=7 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107005636/http://www.birminghampost.co.uk/news/regional-affairs/daughter-indian-bus-driver-becomes-13160044|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Dream>{{cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/news/central/2017-07-06/dream-big-think-big-the-story-of-britains-first-female-sikh-mp/|title='Dream big, think big': The story of Britain's first female Sikh MP|publisher=ITV News|date=6 July 2017|last=Sidhu|first=Balvinder|access-date=3 November 2017|archive-date=7 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107002922/http://www.itv.com/news/central/2017-07-06/dream-big-think-big-the-story-of-britains-first-female-sikh-mp/|url-status=live}}</ref> Daljit Singh was the longest serving president of the [[Guru Nanak Gurdwara Smethwick]]. Gill credits her father and [[Tarsem King, Baron King of West Bromwich|Baron Tarsem King of West Bromwich]] as her main inspirations for her ambition to enter politics.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.easterneye.eu/preet-gills-reveals-father-inspired-become-first-female-sikh-mp/|title=Preet Gill's reveals her father inspired her to become first female Sikh MP|work=Eastern Eye|date=12 June 2017|last=Badshah|first=Nadeem|access-date=3 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107012926/https://www.easterneye.eu/preet-gills-reveals-father-inspired-become-first-female-sikh-mp/|archive-date=7 November 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://elle.in/elle-mentors/preet-kaur-gill-britain-mp/|title=Preet Kaur Gill is now Britain's first female Sikh MP|work=Elle India|date=9 June 2017|last=Mubarak|first=Salva|access-date=4 November 2017|archive-date=7 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107014430/http://elle.in/elle-mentors/preet-kaur-gill-britain-mp/|url-status=live}}</ref>

She has six younger siblings. Her early education was at [[Lordswood Girls' School]] and [[Bournville College]]. At the latter, Gill was elected as student president.<ref name=Dream/> Gill graduated from the [[University of East London]] with a [[British undergraduate degree classification#First Class Honours|first-class]] [[Bachelor of Science|BSc]] in sociology with social work.<ref name=UEL>{{cite web|url=https://www.uel.ac.uk/news/2017/06/alumna-preet-gill-becomes-first-female-sikh-mp|title=UEL graduate Preet Kaur Gill becomes first female Sikh MP|publisher=University of East London|access-date=3 November 2017|date=9 June 2017|archive-date=7 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107013211/https://www.uel.ac.uk/news/2017/06/alumna-preet-gill-becomes-first-female-sikh-mp|url-status=live}}</ref> After graduating, she worked as a [[social work]]er in a [[kibbutz]] in [[Israel]] and with street children in [[India]].<ref name=Dream/> She was a social worker in [[Waltham Forest London Borough Council|Waltham Forest]] and Birmingham specialising in child protection and serving as children's services manager in Birmingham from 2010 to 2017.<ref name="Who" />

She was elected as a [[councillor]] for [[Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council]] in [[2012 Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council election|2012]] and re-elected in the [[2016 Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council election|2016 local election]]; her term ended May 2018. On the council, she served as the Cabinet Member for [[Public health|Public Health]] and Protection.<ref name=Dream/><ref name=UEL/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/news/politics/2017/06/13/new-mp-preet-gill-set-to-stay-on-as-councillor/|work=Express & Star|title=New MP Preet Gill set to stay on as councillor|date=13 June 2017|last=Madeley|first=Pete|access-date=3 November 2017|archive-date=7 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107005940/https://www.expressandstar.com/news/politics/2017/06/13/new-mp-preet-gill-set-to-stay-on-as-councillor/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Gill supported remaining within the [[European Union]] (EU) in the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|2016 EU membership referendum]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/british-indian-councillors-want-to-stay-in-eu/story-ciizeFThxlEjm1Suo1WpYK.html|title=British Indian councillors want to stay in EU|work=Hindustan Times|date=22 June 2016|last=Sonwalkar|first=Prasun|access-date=4 November 2017|archive-date=7 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107013601/http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/british-indian-councillors-want-to-stay-in-eu/story-ciizeFThxlEjm1Suo1WpYK.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Parliamentary career==
Gill was selected by the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] to contest [[Birmingham Edgbaston (UK Parliament constituency)|Birmingham Edgbaston]] on 28 April 2017.<ref name=Mail>{{cite news|url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/labour-selects-preet-gill-birmingham-12957938|title=Labour selects Preet Gill as Birmingham Edgbaston candidate|work=Birmingham Mail|date=28 April 2017|last=Walker|first=Jonathan|access-date=3 November 2017|archive-date=7 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107055438/http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/labour-selects-preet-gill-birmingham-12957938|url-status=live}}</ref> Her selection followed [[Gisela Stuart]]'s decision not to seek re-election.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39644473|title=Election 2017: Which MPs are standing down, and who might be standing?|work=BBC News|date=2 May 2017|access-date=22 June 2018|archive-date=5 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405192033/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39644473|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017 general election]], Gill held the seat for Labour with 24,124 (55.3%) votes and a majority of 6,917 (15.8%).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000560|work=BBC News|title=Birmingham Edgbaston|access-date=3 November 2017|archive-date=20 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920025250/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000560|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Parl>{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/preet-kaur-gill/4603|title=Preet Kaur Gill MP|publisher=parliament.uk|access-date=3 November 2017|archive-date=4 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171104234345/http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/preet-kaur-gill/4603|url-status=live}}</ref> She is the first female British Sikh MP.<ref>{{cite web|title=Preet Gill elected as first female Sikh MP|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2017-40212954|work=BBC News|access-date=9 June 2017|date=9 June 2017|archive-date=9 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609075004/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2017-40212954|url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 2017, she was elected as a member of the [[Home Affairs Select Committee]].<ref name=Parl/>

On 12 January 2018, she was appointed to the shadow cabinet as International Development Minister (role shared with [[Dan Carden]]).<ref>{{cite news|title=Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn reshuffles his front bench and promotes two North East MPs|url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/labour-leader-jeremy-corbyn-reshuffles-14150254|work=Evening Chronicle|date=12 January 2018|last=Eden|first=Tom|access-date=12 January 2018|archive-date=12 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180112225822/http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/labour-leader-jeremy-corbyn-reshuffles-14150254|url-status=live}}</ref>

In March 2019, Gill signed a letter supporting the [[People's Vote]] campaign for a [[second referendum on EU membership]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/birmingham-mp-preet-kaur-gill-15943548|title=Birmingham MP Preet Kaur Gill backs bid to stop Brexit|last=Walker|first=Jonathan|date=2019-03-08|website=birminghammail|access-date=2020-03-12|archive-date=18 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918220856/https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/birmingham-mp-preet-kaur-gill-15943548|url-status=live}}</ref>

Gill is the chair of the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Mentoring and for British Sikhs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/171108/register-171108.pdf|title=Register of All-Party Parliamentary Groups|date=8 November 2017|publisher=parliament.uk|pages=622, 770|access-date=11 November 2017|archive-date=12 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112021330/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/171108/register-171108.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

Gill supported [[Keir Starmer]] in the [[2020 Labour Party leadership election (UK)|2020 Labour Party leadership election]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://labourlist.org/2020/02/preet-gill-why-im-backing-keir-starmer-for-labour-leader/|title=Preet Gill: Why I'm backing Keir Starmer for Labour leader|date=2020-02-23|website=LabourList|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-03-12|archive-date=24 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224153554/https://labourlist.org/2020/02/preet-gill-why-im-backing-keir-starmer-for-labour-leader/|url-status=live}}</ref> She was promoted to [[Shadow Secretary of State for International Development]] following Starmer's election as leader.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Rajiv Syal |title=Ed Miliband returns to Labour frontbench in Keir Starmer reshuffle |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/apr/06/ed-miliband-returns-to-labour-frontbench-in-keir-starmer-reshuffle |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=6 April 2020 |date=6 April 2020 |archive-date=6 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406151529/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/apr/06/ed-miliband-returns-to-labour-frontbench-in-keir-starmer-reshuffle |url-status=live }}</ref>

As Shadow Secretary of State, Gill initially shadowed Secretary [[Anne-Marie Trevelyan]] until the department was abolished in September 2020; since then she shadowed ministers of the newly created [[Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office]]. She remained in the shadow cabinet following the November 2021 reshuffle, but her position was renamed Shadow Cabinet Minister for International Development and she joined the new shadow Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs team.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rodgers|first=Sienna|title=Big reshuffle sees Cooper, Streeting, Lammy, Reynolds, Phillipson promoted|url=https://labourlist.org/2021/11/big-reshuffle-sees-cooper-streeting-lammy-reynolds-phillipson-promoted/|access-date=2021-11-30|website=LabourList|language=en-GB}}</ref>

In November 2020, Gill was elected Chair of the [[Co-operative Party]] Parliamentary Group of MPs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://party.coop/2020/11/11/preet-kaur-gill-mp-becomes-chair-of-co-operative-party-westminster-parliamentary-group/|title=Preet Kaur Gill MP becomes Chair of Co-operative Party Westminster Parliamentary Group|first1=Preet Gill MP Chair of the Co-operative Party Parliamentary|last1=Group|first2=Shadow Secretary of State for International|last2=Development|website=Co-operative Party}}</ref>

In the [[2023 British shadow cabinet reshuffle]] she was replaced by [[Lisa Nandy]], and Gill became [[Department for Health and Social Care|Shadow Minister for Primary Care and Public Health]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 September 2023 |title=Lisa Nandy, Preet Kaur Gill and other Indian-origin MPs demoted in UK Opposition Labour Party reshuffle |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/world/lisa-nandy-preet-kaur-gill-and-other-indian-origin-mps-demoted-in-united-kingdom-opposition-labour-party-reshuffle/cid/1963897 |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=[[The Telegraph (India)]] |language=en}}</ref>

== Controversy==

On 19 December 2021 Preet Kaur Gill, came under fire on social media over a tweet she later deleted that referred to a "Hindu terrorist" behind the act of violence at [[Golden Temple, Amritsar|Golden Temple]] in [[Amritsar]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/uk/tweet-by-uk-mp-on-golden-temple-attack-angers-british-hindus-receives-rebuke-from-indian-mission/articleshow/88399134.cms|title = Tweet by UK MP on Golden Temple attack angers British Hindus, receives rebuke from Indian mission - Times of India|website = [[The Times of India]]| date=21 December 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theprint.in/india/uk-mp-condemns-punjab-sacrilege-lynchings-after-blaming-hindu-terrorist-in-deleted-tweet/784638/|title = UK MP condemns Punjab 'sacrilege' & lynchings, after blaming 'Hindu terrorist' in 'deleted tweet'|date = 20 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wionews.com/videos/indian-high-commission-slams-british-mp-preet-kaur-gill-over-tweet-on-attempted-sacrilege-incident-438684|title = Indian High Commission slams British MP Preet Kaur Gill over tweet on attempted sacrilege incident}}</ref>

On 23 February 2023, ''[[The Guardian]]'' reported on comments Gill made in a [[WhatsApp]] group which appeared to undermine Sikh victims of sexual violence. Earlier that month, Sikh Women's Aid had published a report which found that two thirds of women surveyed had experienced domestic abuse, with many of the women criticising the inadequate response support given by community leaders. Gill was alleged to have accused the women surveyed of using "very dangerous language" and urged them to submit apologies to [[Gurdwara|gurdwaras]]. A Labour spokesperson stated "though we cannot comment on leaked WhatsApp messages, Preet would never downplay abuse or violence".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stacey |first=Kiran |last2= |first2= |date=23 February 2023 |title=Labour’s Preet Gill accused of undermining Sikh victims of sexual violence |language=en-GB |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/feb/23/labours-preet-gill-accused-of-undermining-sikh-victims-of-sexual-violence |access-date=23 February 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Gill has been married to Sureash Singh Chopra, who is a social worker, since 2009. They have two daughters.<ref name=Who>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukwhoswho.com/search?q=Gill,%20Preet%20Kaur,%20(born%2021%20Nov.%201972),%20MP%20(Lab%20Co-op)%20Birmingham%20Edgbaston,%20since%202017|title=Who's Who (online edition)|date=1 December 2017|access-date=11 February 2018|publisher=Oxford University Press|archive-date=11 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211190106/http://www.ukwhoswho.com/search?q=Gill,%20Preet%20Kaur,%20(born%2021%20Nov.%201972),%20MP%20(Lab%20Co-op)%20Birmingham%20Edgbaston,%20since%202017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Dream/> Gill is Vice-President of the [[Local Government Association]] and a non executive director for the Spring Housing Association.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/171023/171023.pdf|title=Register of Members' Financial Interests as at 23 October 2017|publisher=parliament.uk|access-date=3 November 2017|page=176|archive-date=27 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027181210/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/171023/171023.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Awards and nominations ==
In September 2018, Gill was named as one of the [[Birmingham City University]]'s ''Brummies Who Inspire'', alongside fellow Birmingham MP, [[Shabana Mahmood]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bcu.ac.uk/news-events/bcu175|title=BCU 175: Brummies Who Inspire|website=Birmingham City University|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-04-19|archive-date=16 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216222549/https://www.bcu.ac.uk/news-events/bcu175|url-status=live}}</ref>

In October 2018, she was presented with the ''Sikh Women of Substance'' award by the Sikh's Women Alliance UK.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ilfordrecorder.co.uk/news/ilford-faith-leader-presents-award-to-uk-s-first-female-sikh-mp-1-5753275|title=Ilford faith leader presents award to UK's first female Sikh MP|last=Walawalkar|first=Aaron|website=Ilford Recorder|date=26 October 2018|language=en|access-date=2020-04-19|archive-date=16 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116000633/http://www.ilfordrecorder.co.uk/news/ilford-faith-leader-presents-award-to-uk-s-first-female-sikh-mp-1-5753275|url-status=live}}</ref>

In December 2018, she was one of the recipients of the ''Giving Voice'' award, presented by the [[Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://preetkaurgill.com/content/preet-wins-national-speech-and-language-therapy-award|title=Preet WINS NATIONAL SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPY AWARD|date=2018-12-11|website=Preet Kaur Gill|language=en|access-date=2020-04-19|archive-date=31 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131054037/https://www.preetkaurgill.com/content/preet-wins-national-speech-and-language-therapy-award/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In December 2020, Gill won the overall prize at the MP of the Year Awards organised by the Patchwork Foundation,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://patchworkfoundation.org.uk/our-work/mp-of-the-year-awards/|title=MP of the Year Awards|first=Creative|last=Digital|date=23 October 2012|website=Patchwork Foundation}}</ref> for "her consistent championing of young people, representation of the Sikh Community and initiative to tackle Fuel Poverty via a strategic campaign aimed at the UK's biggest fuel companies."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.easterneye.biz/preet-kaur-gill-mp-wins-mp-of-the-year-award-for-consistent-championing-of-young-people/|title=Preet Kaur Gill MP wins MP of the Year award for 'consistent championing of young people'|date=3 December 2020}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{UK MP links |parliament=preet-kaur-gill/4603 |publicwhip=Preet_Kaur_Gill |theywork=preet_kaur_gill}}

{{S-start}}
{{S-par|uk}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Gisela Stuart]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] for [[Birmingham Edgbaston (UK Parliament constituency)|Birmingham Edgbaston]]|years=[[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017]]–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{S-end}}

{{authority control}}
{{UK Shadow Cabinet}}
{{West Midlands Labour Party MPs}}{{DEFAULTSORT:Gill, Preet}}
[[Category:1972 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:21st-century British women politicians]]
[[Category:Female members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for English constituencies]]
[[Category:Labour Co-operative MPs for English constituencies]]
[[Category:UK MPs 2017–2019]]
[[Category:UK MPs 2019–present]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of East London]]
[[Category:British Sikhs]]
[[Category:21st-century English women]]
[[Category:21st-century English people]]
[[Category:21st-century British politicians]]
[[Category:British people of Indian descent]]
[[Category:British politicians of Punjabi descent]]

Preet Gill - Revision history

ShelaBerryman77: RDR