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{{short description|British politician}}
{{short description|British politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| native_name      = {{nobold|प्यारा सिंह खाबड़ा}} <br /> {{nobold|ਪਿਆਰਾ ਸਿੰਘ ਖਾਬੜਾ}}
| honorific-prefix =  
| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|JP}}
| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|JP}}
| image = Piara Khabra MP.jpg
| image           = Piara Khabra MP.jpg
| office = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]]<br />for [[Ealing Southall (UK Parliament constituency)|Ealing Southall]]
| office           = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]]<br />for [[Ealing Southall (UK Parliament constituency)|Ealing Southall]]
| majority =  
| majority         =  
| predecessor = [[Syd Bidwell]]
| predecessor     = [[Syd Bidwell]]
| successor = [[Virendra Sharma]]
| successor       = [[Virendra Sharma]]
| term_start = 9 April 1992
| term_start       = 9 April 1992
| term_end = 19 June 2007
| term_end         = 19 June 2007
| birth_name = Piara Singh Khabra
| birth_name       = Piara Singh Khabra
| birth_date = {{birth date|1921|11|20|df=yes}}
| birth_date       = {{birth date|1921|11|20|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Punjab, British India]]
| birth_place     = [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]], [[British Raj|British India]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|2007|06|19|1921|11|20|df=yes}}
| death_date       = {{death date and age|2007|06|19|1921|11|20|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[White City, London]], England
| death_place     = [[White City, London]], England
| nationality = British
| education        = Khalsa High School
| party = [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] ({{csv|1972–1981|1988–{{wj}}2007}})
| alma_mater      = [[Panjab University]]
| otherparty = {{Plainlist|
| party           = [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
* [[Communist Party of India]]
| otherparty       = {{cslist|[[Communist Party of India|CPI]]|[[Communist Party of Great Britain|CPGB]]|[[Social Democratic Party (UK)|SDP]]}}
* [[Communist Party of Great Britain|Communist Party of GB]]
| spouse           = {{Plainlist}}
* [[Social Democratic Party (UK)|SDP]] (1981–1983)}}
* {{marriage|''First wife'' (name unknown)|1985|end=d}}
| spouse = {{Plainlist}}
* {{marriage|Beulah Marian|1990}}
* {{marriage|''First wife''<br />||1985|end=d}}
* {{marriage|Beulah Marian<br />|1990}}
{{endplainlist}}
{{endplainlist}}
| children = 1
| children         = 1
| alma_mater = [[Panjab University]]
| profession       = {{hlist|[[Social worker]]|[[Teacher]]}}
| profession = {{hlist|[[Social work]]|[[teacher]]}}
<!--Military service-->
<!--Military service-->
| branch = {{army|British India}}
| branch           = [[British Indian Army]]
| serviceyears = 1942–1946
| serviceyears     = 1942–1946
| battles = [[Second World War]]
| battles         = [[World War II]]
}}
}}
'''Piara Singh Khabra''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|JP}} (20 November 1921<ref name="guardianobit">[http://politics.guardian.co.uk/politicsobituaries/story/0,,2107859,00.html Obituary], ''[[The Guardian]]'', 21 June 2007</ref> – 19 June 2007) was a British [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] politician who served as [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Ealing Southall (UK Parliament constituency)|Ealing Southall]] from 1992 until his death. He was the fifth [[British Asian|Asian]], and the first [[Sikhism in the United Kingdom|Sikh]], to become a British MP. From the retirement of [[Sir Edward Heath]] in 2001 until his death, Khabra was the oldest MP sitting in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]], and was the last sitting MP to have served in the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]]'s forces during the [[Second World War]].<ref>[https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070621/debtext/70621-0004.htm#07062146000965 Statement] by [[Jack Straw]] in ''[[Hansard]]'', 21 June 2007.</ref>
 
'''Piara Singh Khabra''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|JP}} ([[Hindi]]: प्यारा सिंह खाबड़ा, [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]: {{larger|ਪਿਆਰਾ ਸਿੰਘ ਖਾਬੜਾ}}; 20 November 1921 – 19 June 2007)<ref name="guardianobit">{{Cite news|date=2007-06-21|title=Obituary: Piara Khabra|url=http://www.theguardian.com/news/2007/jun/21/guardianobituaries.obituaries|access-date=2021-10-11|work=[[The Guardian]]|language=en}}</ref> was a [[British Indians|British-Indian]] [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] politician who served as [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Ealing Southall (UK Parliament constituency)|Ealing Southall]] from 1992 until his death. He was the fifth [[British Asians|Asian]], and the first [[Sikhism in the United Kingdom|Sikh]], to become a British MP.
 
From the retirement of [[Sir Edward Heath]] in 2001 until his death, Khabra was the oldest MP sitting in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]], and was the last sitting MP to have served in the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]]'s forces during the [[Second World War]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=House of Commons Hansard Debates for 21 Jun 2007 (pt 0004)|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070621/debtext/70621-0004.htm#07062146000965|access-date=2021-10-11|publisher=Parliament of the United Kingdom}}</ref>


==Background==
==Background==
{{more citations needed|section|date = December 2020}}
Piara Singh Khabra was born into a [[Punjabis|Punjabi]] [[Sikh]] farming family of the [[Khabra]] clan in the [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab Province]] of [[British India]].<ref name="times">{{cite news |title=Piara Khabra |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/piara-khabra-rqm2ncftv9z |access-date=16 April 2022 |work=[[The Times]] |date=21 June 2007}} {{subscription required|s}}</ref> Khabra gave his year of birth as 1924, but his [[marriage certificate]] dated it as 1921.<ref name="guardianobit" />
Khabra was born into a well-off [[Sikh]] farming family <!--in the village of {Telegraph says [[Kaharpur]]; Independent says [[Khalsa]]}--> in the [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], then part of [[British India]].<ref name="times">[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article1963740.ece Obituary], ''[[The Times]]'', 21 June 2007</ref> Khabra gave his year of birth as 1924, but his [[marriage certificate]] dated it as 1921.<ref name="guardianobit" /> He attended Khalsa High School and [[Punjab University, Chandigarh|Punjab University]], but his education was interrupted by the [[Second World War]], and he served in the [[British Indian Army|Indian Army]] between 1942 and 1946. He returned to [[university]] after the war, earning a degree in [[social services]].
He joined the [[Communist Party of India]], and became a [[teacher]] in an [[elementary school]].<ref name="independent">[http://news.independent.co.uk/people/obituaries/article2686794.ece Obituary] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001000842/http://news.independent.co.uk/people/obituaries/article2686794.ece |date=1 October 2007 }}, ''[[The Independent]]'', 21 June 2007</ref> Refused a [[Visa (document)|visa]] to emigrate to the [[United States]], he moved to the [[United Kingdom]] in 1959 leaving his wife and son behind in Punjab. In 1964 Khabra sponsored his son for immigration to the UK where he completed an engineering degree. Khabra did not have a close relationship with his son who later emigrated to Canada to further his studies. Khabra's first wife and mother of his son emigrated to Canada in 1974 where she lived with her son until her death in 1985.
   
   
Lacking qualifications to teach in the UK, Khabra worked in factories. He requalified in 1964, becoming an elementary teacher and then a [[social worker]].<ref name="independent"/> He became a leading member of the [[British Asian|Asian]] community in [[Southall]], west [[London]]. He also became the President of the [[Indian Workers' Association]], which assisted Indian [[immigrant]]s to establish themselves and find jobs, and was active in opposition to the [[far right]].<ref>Hélène Mulholland and agencies, [http://politics.guardian.co.uk/commons/story/0,,2107160,00.html Labour MP Piara Khabra dies], ''[[Guardian Unlimited]]'', 20 June 2007</ref>
He joined the [[Communist Party of India]], and became a [[teacher]] in an [[elementary school]].<ref name="independent">{{cite news |title=Piara Khabra |url=http://news.independent.co.uk/people/obituaries/article2686794.ece |access-date=16 April 2022 |work=[[The Independent]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001000842/http://news.independent.co.uk/people/obituaries/article2686794.ece |archive-date=1 October 2007}}</ref> He requalified in 1964, becoming an elementary teacher and then a [[social worker]].<ref name="independent" /> He also became the President of the [[Indian Workers' Association]], which assisted Indian [[immigrant]]s to establish themselves and find jobs, and was active in opposition to the [[far right]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=2007-06-20|title=Labour MP Piara Khabra dies|url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2007/jun/20/labour.uk|access-date=2021-10-11|work=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref>


He left the [[Communist Party of Great Britain]] in the 1960s, and joined the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] in 1972.<ref name="telegraph">[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=I0QGUIC3JXZIXQFIQMGSFF4AVCBQWIV0?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/news/2007/06/21/db2101.xml Obituary]{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', 21 June 2007</ref> He became a [[Justice of the Peace]] in 1977, and was elected as a member of [[London Borough of Ealing|Ealing Council]] in 1978. He briefly joined the [[Social Democratic Party (UK)|Social Democratic Party]] (SDP) in 1981, leaving two years later and returning to Labour in 1988.<ref name="guardianobit" />
He left the [[Communist Party of Great Britain]] in the 1960s, and joined the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] in 1972.<ref name="telegraph">{{cite news |title=Piara Khabra |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1555162/Piara-Khabra.html |access-date=16 April 2022 |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=21 June 2007}} {{subscription required|s}}</ref> He became a [[justice of the peace]] in 1977, and was elected as a member of [[London Borough of Ealing|Ealing Council]] in 1978. He briefly joined the [[Social Democratic Party (UK)|Social Democratic Party]] (SDP) in 1981, leaving two years later and returning to Labour in 1988.<ref name="guardianobit" />


==Parliamentary career==
==Parliamentary career==
He entered [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]] aged 70 at the [[1992 United Kingdom general election|1992 election]], the fifth [[Asian people|Asian]] MP<ref name="guardianobit" /> and inherited a large majority in the safe Labour seat of [[Ealing Southall]], following Labour's de-selection of the long-serving sitting MP [[Sydney Bidwell]].<ref name="times" /> He claimed to have the largest caseload of [[immigration]] and asylum cases of any MP.<ref name="times" /> He maintained good attendance and voting records, but very rarely spoke in Parliament. He said he was proud to speak on the report into the murder of [[Stephen Lawrence]], and on the Race Relations Amendment Act 2000.<ref name="telegraph" />
He entered [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]] aged 70 at the [[1992 United Kingdom general election|1992 election]], the fifth [[British Asians|Asian]] MP<ref name="guardianobit" /> and inherited a large majority in the safe Labour seat of [[Ealing Southall]], following Labour's de-selection of the long-serving sitting MP [[Sydney Bidwell]].<ref name="times" /> He claimed to have the largest caseload of [[immigration]] and asylum cases of any MP.<ref name="times" /> He maintained good attendance and voting records, but very rarely spoke in Parliament. He said he was proud to speak on the report into the murder of [[Stephen Lawrence]], and on the Race Relations Amendment Act 2000.<ref name="telegraph" />


Khabra was a strong supporter of people with [[autism spectrum]] disorders.<ref name="Times 2007">{{cite news |title=Lives Remembered: Piara Khabra |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/lives-remembered-fqxljnstpbd |accessdate=18 May 2019 |work=[[The Times]] |date=22 June 2007}} {{subscription required|s}}</ref> He sponsored one of the most successful [[early day motion]]s on autism in the 2002 Autism Awareness Year; it was supported by 153 [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|parliamentarians]] of all parties. Khabra backed the work of the [[Autism Awareness Campaign UK]].<ref>"[http://www.businessportal24.com/en/Autism_Campaign_Piara_Khabra_MP_205097.html Autism Campaign's tribute to Piara Khabra MP] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070702151237/http://www.businessportal24.com/en/Autism_Campaign_Piara_Khabra_MP_205097.html |date=2 July 2007}}", [[BUSINESSPORTAL24.COM]], 21 June 2007</ref>
Khabra was a strong supporter of people with [[autism spectrum]] disorders.<ref name="Times 2007">{{cite news |title=Lives Remembered: Piara Khabra |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/lives-remembered-fqxljnstpbd |access-date=18 May 2019 |work=[[The Times]] |date=22 June 2007}} {{subscription required|s}}</ref> He sponsored one of the most successful [[early day motion]]s on autism in the 2002 Autism Awareness Year; it was supported by 153 [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|parliamentarians]] of all parties. Khabra backed the work of the [[Autism Awareness Campaign UK]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Autism Campaign's tribute to Piara Khabra MP |url=http://www.businessportal24.com/en/Autism_Campaign_Piara_Khabra_MP_205097.html |publisher=Autism Awareness Campaign UK |access-date=16 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070702151237/http://www.businessportal24.com/en/Autism_Campaign_Piara_Khabra_MP_205097.html |archive-date=2 July 2007 |date=21 June 2007}}</ref>


How Khabra voted on key issues from 2001 to 2007:<ref name="theyworkforyou">{{cite web|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/piara_s_khabra/ealing%2C_southall#votingrecord |title=Piara Khabra |publisher=TheyWorkForYou.com |date= |accessdate=2017-03-22}}</ref>
How Khabra voted on key issues from 2001 to 2007:<ref name="theyworkforyou">{{cite web|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/piara_s_khabra/ealing%2C_southall |title=Piara Khabra |publisher=TheyWorkForYou.com |access-date=2017-03-22}}</ref>
*Voted very strongly for the [[Iraq War]]
*Voted very strongly for the [[Iraq War]]
*Voted very strongly for [[university tuition fees]]
*Voted very strongly for [[university tuition fees]]
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==Controversy==
==Controversy==
Khabra was known to have made several controversial statements. In the run-up to the [[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001 general election]], he suggested that [[Avtar Lit]], chairman of [[Sunrise Radio]] and an [[independent (politician)|independent]] challenger for his seat, should be "sent back to [[India]]".<ref name="telegraph"/>
Khabra was known to have made several controversial statements. In the run-up to the [[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001 general election]], he suggested that [[Avtar Lit]], chairman of [[Sunrise Radio]] and an [[independent (politician)|independent]] challenger for his seat, should be "sent back to India".<ref name="telegraph"/>


In 2002, Khabra also claimed that the local [[Somali people|Somali]] population was behind a recent crime wave in Southall. Somali activists responded to these criticisms by suggesting that their community was being targeted by some Asians who were attempting to drive them out of the area. Ealing Police also indicated that they did not believe Somali youths were responsible for the string of street robberies in question.<ref>"[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2233124.stm MP in race row over crime]", [[BBC News]], 3 September 2002</ref>
In 2002, Khabra also claimed that the local [[Somali people|Somali]] population was behind a recent crime wave in Southall. Somali activists responded to these criticisms by suggesting that their community was being targeted by some Asians who were attempting to drive them out of the area. Ealing Police also indicated that they did not believe Somali youths were responsible for the string of street robberies in question.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2002-09-03|title=MP in race row over crime|language=en-GB|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2233124.stm|work=[[BBC News Online]]|access-date=2021-10-11}}</ref>


==Retirement and death==
==Retirement and death==
In late 2006, Khabra announced that he would stand down at the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|next general election]].<ref>"[http://icealing.icnetwork.co.uk/ealinggazette/headlines/tm_headline=slaughter-will-stand-in-new-constituency&method=full&objectid=18244442&siteid=67372-name_page.html Slaughter will stand in new constituency]", ''[[Ealing Gazette]]'', 11 December 2006</ref>
In late 2006, Khabra announced that he would stand down at the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|next general election]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Slaughter will stand in new constituency |url=http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/ealing-news/tm_headline%3Dslaughter-will-stand-in-new-constituency&method%3Dfull&objectid%3D18244442&siteid%3D67372-name_page.html |access-date=16 April 2022 |work=Ealing Gazette |date=11 December 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810041148/http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/ealing-news/tm_headline=slaughter-will-stand-in-new-constituency&method=full&objectid=18244442&siteid=67372-name_page.html |archive-date=10 August 2011}}</ref>
 
Khabra died as a result of [[liver]] problems on the night of 19 June 2007 at [[Hammersmith Hospital]] in [[White City, London|White City]] within [[Shepherd's Bush]], [[West London]]; where he had been being treated for [[abscess]]es on the liver since April.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Piara Khabra dies|url=https://www.ealingtimes.co.uk/news/1484093.piara-khabra-dies/|access-date=2021-10-11|website=Ealing Times|language=en}}</ref>
 
He customarily gave his year of birth as 1924; [[birth registration]] was not compulsory in the Indian state of [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] until 1970 and so no [[birth certificate]] exists, but on his [[marriage certificate]] his year of birth was recorded as 1921.<ref name="guardianobit" />


Khabra died as a result of [[liver]] problems on the night of 19 June 2007 at [[Hammersmith Hospital]], where he had been being treated for [[abscess]]es on the liver since April.<ref>David Doyle, "[http://www.ealingtimes.co.uk/display.var.1484093.0.piara_khabra_dies.php Piara Khabra dies]", ''[[Ealing Times]]'', 20 June 2007</ref> He customarily gave his year of birth as 1924; [[birth registration]] was not compulsory in the [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]] until 1970 and so no [[birth certificate]] exists, but on his [[marriage certificate]] his year of birth was 1921.<ref name="guardianobit" /> He was [[married]] twice. His first [[wife]] died in 1985 in Canada where she was living with his son, and he remarried in 1990. He was survived by his second [[wife]], Beulah Marian, and a son from his first marriage.<ref name="telegraph"/>
He was married twice. His first wife died in 1985 in Canada where she was living with his son, and he remarried in 1990. He was survived by his second wife, Beulah Marian, and his son from his first marriage.<ref name="telegraph"/>


==References==
==References==
Line 83: Line 85:


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://politics.guardian.co.uk/person/0,9290,-2893,00.html Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Piara Khabra MP]
*[http://politics.guardian.co.uk/person/0,9290,-2893,00.html Guardian Unlimited Politics – Ask Aristotle: Piara Khabra MP]
*[https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/piara_s_khabra/ealing,_southall TheyWorkForYou.com - Piara S Khabra MP]
*[https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/piara_s_khabra/ealing,_southall TheyWorkForYou.com – Piara S Khabra MP]
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/mpdb/html/217.stm BBC News - Piara Khabra] profile, 8 March 2005
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/mpdb/html/217.stm BBC News – Piara Khabra]{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} profile, 8 March 2005
* {{Hansard-contribs | mr-piara-khabra | Piara Khabra }}
* {{Hansard-contribs | mr-piara-khabra | Piara Khabra }}


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{{s-par|uk}}
{{s-par|uk}}
{{succession box
{{succession box
   | title  = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] for [[Ealing Southall (UK Parliament constituency)|Ealing Southall]]
   | title  = Member of Parliament for [[Ealing Southall (UK Parliament constituency)|Ealing Southall]]
   | years  = [[1992 United Kingdom general election|1992]]–[[2007 Ealing Southall by-election|2007]]
   | years  = [[1992 United Kingdom general election|1992]]–[[2007 Ealing Southall by-election|2007]]
   | before = [[Syd Bidwell]]
   | before = [[Syd Bidwell]]
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{{succession box
{{succession box
   | title  =[[Records of members of parliament of the United Kingdom#List of oldest sitting MPs since 1945|Oldest sitting Member of Parliament]]
   | title  =[[Records of members of parliament of the United Kingdom#List of oldest sitting MPs since 1945|Oldest sitting Member of Parliament]]
   | years = 2001–2007  
   | years = 2001–2007
   | before = [[Edward Heath|Sir Edward Heath]]
   | before = [[Edward Heath|Sir Edward Heath]]
   | after = [[Ian Paisley]]
   | after = [[Ian Paisley]]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Khabra, Piara}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Khabra, Piara}}
[[Category:1921 births]]
[[Category:1920s births]]
[[Category:2007 deaths]]
[[Category:2007 deaths]]
[[Category:Autism activists]]
[[Category:Indian people]]
[[Category:Punjabi people]]
[[Category:Indian Sikhs]]
[[Category:British Indian Army soldiers]]
[[Category:British Indian Army soldiers]]
[[Category:British Sikhs]]
[[Category:Indian Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Indian emigrants to England]]
[[Category:British people of Indian descent]]
[[Category:British politicians of Indian descent]]
[[Category:British politicians of Indian descent]]
[[Category:English people of Indian descent]]
[[Category:British people of Punjabi descent]]
[[Category:British politicians of Punjabi descent]]
[[Category:British politicians of Punjabi descent]]
[[Category:English people of Punjabi descent]]
[[Category:British Sikhs]]
[[Category:English Sikhs]]
[[Category:People from Southall]]
[[Category:Autism activists]]
[[Category:Communist Party of Great Britain members]]
[[Category:Communist Party of Great Britain members]]
[[Category:Deaths from liver disease]]
[[Category:Deaths from liver disease]]
[[Category:Deaths in Greater London]]
[[Category:Disease-related deaths in England]]
[[Category:Indian Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Indian emigrants to England]]
[[Category:Labour Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies]]
[[Category:Labour Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies]]
[[Category:People from Southall]]
[[Category:Social Democratic Party (UK) politicians]]
[[Category:Social Democratic Party (UK) politicians]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1992–1997]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1992–1997]]

Latest revision as of 15:33, 2 November 2022

Piara Khabra
JP
प्यारा सिंह खाबड़ा
ਪਿਆਰਾ ਸਿੰਘ ਖਾਬੜਾ
Member of Parliament
for Ealing Southall
In office
9 April 1992 – 19 June 2007
Preceded bySyd Bidwell
Succeeded byVirendra Sharma
Personal details
Born
Piara Singh Khabra

(1921-11-20)20 November 1921
Punjab, British India
Died19 June 2007(2007-06-19) (aged 85)
White City, London, England
Political partyLabour
Other political
affiliations
Spouse(s)
First wife (name unknown)
​
(
m. 1985, died)
Beulah Marian
(
m. 1990)
Children1
EducationKhalsa High School
Alma materPanjab University
Profession
Military service
Branch/serviceBritish Indian Army
Years of service1942–1946
Battles/warsWorld War II

Piara Singh Khabra JP (Hindi: प्यारा सिंह खाबड़ा, Punjabi: ਪਿਆਰਾ ਸਿੰਘ ਖਾਬੜਾ; 20 November 1921 – 19 June 2007)[1] was a British-Indian Labour politician who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Ealing Southall from 1992 until his death. He was the fifth Asian, and the first Sikh, to become a British MP.

From the retirement of Sir Edward Heath in 2001 until his death, Khabra was the oldest MP sitting in the House of Commons, and was the last sitting MP to have served in the Commonwealth's forces during the Second World War.[2]

Background[edit | edit source]

Piara Singh Khabra was born into a Punjabi Sikh farming family of the Khabra clan in the Punjab Province of British India.[3] Khabra gave his year of birth as 1924, but his marriage certificate dated it as 1921.[1]

He joined the Communist Party of India, and became a teacher in an elementary school.[4] He requalified in 1964, becoming an elementary teacher and then a social worker.[4] He also became the President of the Indian Workers' Association, which assisted Indian immigrants to establish themselves and find jobs, and was active in opposition to the far right.[5]

He left the Communist Party of Great Britain in the 1960s, and joined the Labour Party in 1972.[6] He became a justice of the peace in 1977, and was elected as a member of Ealing Council in 1978. He briefly joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 1981, leaving two years later and returning to Labour in 1988.[1]

Parliamentary career[edit | edit source]

He entered Parliament aged 70 at the 1992 election, the fifth Asian MP[1] and inherited a large majority in the safe Labour seat of Ealing Southall, following Labour's de-selection of the long-serving sitting MP Sydney Bidwell.[3] He claimed to have the largest caseload of immigration and asylum cases of any MP.[3] He maintained good attendance and voting records, but very rarely spoke in Parliament. He said he was proud to speak on the report into the murder of Stephen Lawrence, and on the Race Relations Amendment Act 2000.[6]

Khabra was a strong supporter of people with autism spectrum disorders.[7] He sponsored one of the most successful early day motions on autism in the 2002 Autism Awareness Year; it was supported by 153 parliamentarians of all parties. Khabra backed the work of the Autism Awareness Campaign UK.[8]

How Khabra voted on key issues from 2001 to 2007:[9]

Controversy[edit | edit source]

Khabra was known to have made several controversial statements. In the run-up to the 2001 general election, he suggested that Avtar Lit, chairman of Sunrise Radio and an independent challenger for his seat, should be "sent back to India".[6]

In 2002, Khabra also claimed that the local Somali population was behind a recent crime wave in Southall. Somali activists responded to these criticisms by suggesting that their community was being targeted by some Asians who were attempting to drive them out of the area. Ealing Police also indicated that they did not believe Somali youths were responsible for the string of street robberies in question.[10]

Retirement and death[edit | edit source]

In late 2006, Khabra announced that he would stand down at the next general election.[11]

Khabra died as a result of liver problems on the night of 19 June 2007 at Hammersmith Hospital in White City within Shepherd's Bush, West London; where he had been being treated for abscesses on the liver since April.[12]

He customarily gave his year of birth as 1924; birth registration was not compulsory in the Indian state of Punjab until 1970 and so no birth certificate exists, but on his marriage certificate his year of birth was recorded as 1921.[1]

He was married twice. His first wife died in 1985 in Canada where she was living with his son, and he remarried in 1990. He was survived by his second wife, Beulah Marian, and his son from his first marriage.[6]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Obituary: Piara Khabra". The Guardian. 21 June 2007. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  2. ↑ "House of Commons Hansard Debates for 21 Jun 2007 (pt 0004)". Parliament of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Piara Khabra". The Times. 21 June 2007. Retrieved 16 April 2022. (Subscription required.)
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Piara Khabra". The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 October 2007. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  5. ↑ "Labour MP Piara Khabra dies". The Guardian. 20 June 2007. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 "Piara Khabra". The Daily Telegraph. 21 June 2007. Retrieved 16 April 2022. (Subscription required.)
  7. ↑ "Lives Remembered: Piara Khabra". The Times. 22 June 2007. Retrieved 18 May 2019. (Subscription required.)
  8. ↑ "Autism Campaign's tribute to Piara Khabra MP". Autism Awareness Campaign UK. 21 June 2007. Archived from the original on 2 July 2007. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  9. ↑ "Piara Khabra". TheyWorkForYou.com. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  10. ↑ "MP in race row over crime". BBC News Online. 3 September 2002. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  11. ↑ "Slaughter will stand in new constituency". Ealing Gazette. 11 December 2006. Archived from the original on 10 August 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  12. ↑ "Piara Khabra dies". Ealing Times. Retrieved 11 October 2021.

External links[edit | edit source]

Unrecognised parameter
Preceded by
Syd Bidwell 		Member of Parliament for Ealing Southall
1992–2007 		Succeeded by
Virendra Sharma
Records
Preceded by
Sir Edward Heath 		Oldest sitting Member of Parliament
2001–2007 		Succeeded by
Ian Paisley
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