Labour Party chief Keir Starmer is set to replace Rishi Sunak as Britain’s prime minister, as early election results point to a crushing defeat for the Conservative Party. Keir Starmer’s first month as prime minister will be a whirlwind of international diplomacy, including meetings with US President Joe Biden and European leaders.
The Labour Party, out of power since 2010, has pledged a foreign policy of “progressive realism”, and said in the face of a more unstable world “this is not what we want”, said David Lammy, who is likely to become foreign minister.
The party has also pledged to “make Brexit a success” and reach “an ambitious” security deal with the EU.
Another key aspect of Starmer’s foreign policy agenda will be strengthening UK-India relations. Acknowledging historical wrongs, particularly Labour’s stance on issues such as Kashmir, Starmer has pledged to forge a new strategic partnership with India. His commitment to a free trade agreement (FTA) and increased bilateral cooperation in technology, security, education and climate change underline his ambition to enhance ties with one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.
His manifesto included a commitment to pursue a “new strategic partnership” with India, with an emphasis on a trade agreement.
To improve strained relations with Indian immigrants in Britain, Starmer launched domestic outreach efforts during his campaign, condemning Hinduphobia and celebrating cultural festivals such as Diwali and Holi. These gestures are aimed at promoting greater trust and inclusion within British-Indian communities, a demographic crucial to Labour’s electoral maths.
However, there are challenges to realising Starmer’s ambitious foreign policy goals, particularly in relation to immigration policies and trade agreements. With bipartisan consensus on the need to reduce immigration, negotiations over temporary visas for Indian workers in the UK services industry present a delicate balancing act for Labour.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s last-minute efforts to influence voters appear to have failed. The Conservatives have warned voters that electing Labour would lead to higher taxes. The Labour Party, led by Keir Starmer, is currently ahead in 220 seats, while Rishi Sunak’s party has won just 31 seats. To ensure victory, a party must win 326 seats in the 650-member House of Commons.
