Pritam Singh removed as Leader of the Opposition following motion passed in Parliament

Pritam Singh has been officially removed as Leader of the Opposition, one day after Parliament  concluding that he was no longer suitable for the role. The move comes after Singh’s conviction for lying to the Committee of Privileges (COP), which was upheld by the High Court.

In a statement on 15 January 2026, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said Singh’s removal was necessary to uphold the rule of law and preserve the dignity and integrity of Parliament.

Prime Minister Wong said Singh’s conviction by the District Court—later upheld on appeal—confirmed the COP’s findings. “This legal outcome is final and conclusive – it must be respected, and given full effect in determining his suitability to continue as the Leader of the Opposition,” he said.

He also noted that Singh had expressed his disagreement with the court’s findings but accepted the outcome. “Mr Singh is entitled to his personal views on the matter. But questions of guilt or innocence are determined through the impartial court process,” Wong added.

The parliamentary motion that precipitated Singh’s removal was debated on 14 January. It was tabled by Leader of the House Indranee Rajah and called on MPs to express regret over Singh’s conduct, which was described as "dishonourable and unbecoming" of a Member of Parliament.

Indranee cited the High Court's findings that Singh had guided former WP MP Raeesah Khan in maintaining a lie to Parliament. She argued that allowing Singh to continue in the role would erode public confidence and undermine parliamentary integrity.

The motion passed after nearly four hours of debate, supported by People’s Action Party MPs and Nominated MPs who were present. All 11 Workers’ Party MPs present opposed it.

Responding during the debate, Singh stood by his conduct and stated that his conscience remained clear. He reiterated that while he accepted the court’s ruling, he disagreed with its characterisation of his actions as dishonourable.

Other WP MPs, including Sylvia Lim and Gerald Giam, warned that removing Singh from the post would undermine the role of the opposition and amount to an additional political penalty. Giam questioned the fairness of the decision, particularly in relation to WP members who were not involved in the trial.

Despite the lifting of the party whip, WP MPs were aligned in rejecting the motion’s broader implications. Singh clarified that the party accepted the court’s authority but maintained that legal acceptance did not require the abandonment of one’s convictions.

Following the vote, Prime Minister Wong invited the WP to nominate another elected Member of Parliament to assume the role of Leader of the Opposition. He said the nominee “should not have been implicated in the earlier findings of the Committee of Privileges” and must meet the high standards of the office.

WP, in a media statement, noted that it has received the letter and that it will deliberate on its contents carefully through its internal processes and respond in due course.

Singh was appointed to the role in 2020 by then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, following the General Election in which the WP secured Aljunied and Sengkang Group Representation Constituencies, and Hougang Single Member Constituency.

The Leader of the Opposition is granted enhanced parliamentary privileges, including additional speaking time, confidential briefings on national issues, staff support, and double the allowance of an elected MP.

After the 2025 General Election in May, Prime Minister Wong confirmed that Singh would remain in the role. That confirmation preceded the dismissal of Singh’s appeal by the High Court.