The Sikh Federation (UK), the first and only Sikh political party in the UK, met earlier today in Westminster with key Labour Members of Parliament close to Tony Blair. The meeting touched upon many issues that the Federation wished to be communicated to the UK Prime Minister. These included: The importance of the UK Government maintaining close ties with the first All Party Parliamentary Group for UK Sikhs that was formally established last week. The establishment of the Parliamentary group for UK Sikhs is seen as a massive achievement with office holders at senior levels from each of the main political parties. For example the five Vice-Chairs are: John Spellar MP for Warley (Labour) Minister for the Armed Forces - 1997-2001 Minister for Transport - 2002-03 Minister for Northern Ireland - 2003-05 Dominic Grieve MP for Beaconsfield (Conservative) Shadow Minister for Constitutional Affairs and Scotland 1999-2001 Shadow Home Office Minister - 2001-03 Shadow Attorney General - 2003 - Simon Hughes MP for Southwark North & Bermondsey (Liberal Democrat), Shadow Home Secretary - 1999-2003 President Liberal Democrat Party 2004 - Shadow Office of the Deputy Prime Minister 2005 - Alex Salmond MP for Banff and Buchan (Scottish National Party) Leader Scottish National Party - 1990-2000, 2004 - Elfyn Llwyd MP for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Plaid Cymru) Leader, Plaid Cymru Parliamentary Party 1997 - The APPG for UK Sikhs will be officially launched on Tuesday 12 July. MPs will be sending invites to over 3600 Gurdwaras and Sikh organisations in the next few days. Pushing the UK Prime Minister to take up the case of political prisoners held in Indian jails for many years and pro-Sikh independence protagonists, such as Kanwarpal Singh Bittu, Sarbjit Singh Ghuman and Simranjit Singh Mann who have recently been arrested. The meeting also touched upon the 5-point memorandum presented on behalf of UK Sikhs and discussed on 28 April 2005 with Manmohan Singh. In particular, attention was drawn to the need to ensure Tony Blair is aware of the importance of raising the dastaar issue at the G8 conference on 7 July. Sikhs abroad are lobbying four of the eight G8 leaders - this will be a big test for Manmohan Singh. Sikhs in Germany and Canada have already met with Chancellor Shroeder and Prime Minister Paul Martin and Sikhs in the UK and USA have been lobbying Prime Minister Tony Blair and President Bush via MPs and members of Congress respectively.

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