As widely expected in the UK election, the Labour Party has recorded its biggest ever victory and the Conservative Party has suffered a massive defeat.
No one expected such a turnaround a few years ago. But Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who is set to become the next British prime minister, is being praised by all for turning around the party’s fortunes. He promised to pull Britain out of recession and claimed he would fix the ailing National Health Service. He also reached out to ethnic communities, including Indian immigrants.
“Hello,” Starmer
In the final days of the election campaign, Keir Starmer visited the Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Kingsbury, a prominent Hindu temple in London, and said “namaste” with folded hands. His charm included an offbeat manner in which he wore a skullcap. Tilak A garland on his forehead and a wreath of flowers around his neck. Starmer may have looked out of place, but it was an attempt to pacify angry Indian diaspora voters, most of whom were expected to be in favour of the Conservative Party. The visit to the temple was also aimed at sending a strong signal of friendship with India.
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Despite his discomfort, Starmer knew he had to do this political act, not only because his visit underlined Labour’s commitment to embracing and celebrating diversity within Britain, but also because he needed to improve relations with the influential Indian diaspora and by extension India. It had been clear for quite some time that his party was returning to power after a gap of 14 years and that he was going to be Britain’s next prime minister; so he needed to reach out to India before taking office.
burden of the past
Starmer’s visit to the temple was particularly significant given the events of September 2019, when the Labour Party led by Jeremy Corbyn passed a motion addressing the situation in Jammu and Kashmir during its annual conference in Brighton. The motion declared that there was a humanitarian crisis in the region and stressed that the people of Kashmir should be granted the right to self-determination. Additionally, it called for the deployment of international observers in the region to ensure the protection of human rights and assess the situation on the ground.
Needless to say, the Labour Party went too far. And despite the clarifications issued by Jeremy Corbyn, the damage had been done.
The proposal received a strong reaction from the Indian diaspora, who felt it was one-sided and did not consider the complexities of the Kashmir issue. The incident marked a turning point as many members of the Indian community began to shift their allegiance to the Conservative Party.
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The Indian government also reacted sharply to Labor’s proposal. The Indian High Commission in London is reported to have taken the unprecedented step of cancelling a dinner scheduled for Labor leaders, signalling its strong disapproval. The Indian government officially rejected the proposal, and emphasised its concerns that it perceived it as interference in its internal affairs.
In an attempt to improve relations, Starmer attempted to address the situation last year, when he stressed that the Labour Party would strive to maintain strong ties with India, indicating a desire to rebuild trust and cooperation. Despite these efforts, the episode highlighted the delicate nature of Labour’s relationship with India and underlined the significant political influence of Indian immigrants in the UK.
The image of the Labour Party has changed under Starmer’s leadership
A changed Labor
Indeed, the Labour Party has now made a spectacular comeback and has got a huge majority. We should keep in mind that the party has changed a lot under Starmer’s leadership. It wants to put more depth and substance into Britain’s strategic partnership with India.
India is likely to keep a careful eye on Labour’s policy stance on Kashmir, immigration and the proposed free trade agreement (FTA). The Indian government may have apprehensions about Labour’s views on its internal affairs, but overall, India-UK bilateral relations will not change much under Starmer’s leadership. In fact, Labour supporters in the Indian community believe that relations are likely to improve under his leadership. It is being claimed that the number of Labour MPs of Indian origin in the outgoing Parliament will double from the current six members.
Will relations improve?
Academics in the UK often try to romanticise the bilateral relationship between the two countries, viewing it primarily through the prism of colonial nostalgia. We are led to believe that it is in India’s interest to forge a deep strategic partnership with the UK. However, to be honest, India sees the UK as a middle power whose influence on the global stage has long since waned. One can only blame the Conservative Party, a troubled and divided House that ruled for 14 years in a state of stalemate. India under Narendra Modi, born after the country’s independence, rightly or wrongly, is not intimidated by its erstwhile colonial masters.
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Yes, bilateral trade in goods and services is growing steadily, and last year it was £39 billion, with the trade balance tilting in India’s favour. Yes, we have a vocal, upwardly mobile Indian diaspora, which acts as a bridge between the two countries and this is often to India’s advantage. But the passion factor in bilateral relations has long been missing. For example, India and the US warmed up to each other and became trusted partners only after the civil nuclear deal between the two countries under President George W Bush. This was a watershed moment that added significant “thrust” to the bilateral relationship and changed the dynamics of the relationship, leading to deeper strategic, economic and technological cooperation. It set the stage for an enduring partnership in the 21st century. The passion in bilateral relations never waned, even during the Obama and Trump administrations.
The same cannot be said about India-UK relations, which need a lot of energy, enthusiasm and big compromises.
FTA: Starmer’s first challenge in India-UK relations
In the context of India, the first task on Starmer’s desk will be to reach a free trade agreement. He has maintained his commitment to completing the FTA, but it is not going to be easy. India’s priority appears to be finalising the deal with the European Union (EU) first. Bilateral trade in goods and services stood at €113 billion last year. The two sides resumed negotiations in 2022 and progress is said to be satisfactory.
According to a group of researchers, another hurdle in the India-UK FTA is “resistance to Indian demands for more visas for intra-company transfers to the UK and in particular the reimbursement of social security contributions from Indian workers during such transfers.”
Immigration policies
Brexit has led to record numbers of Indian immigrants. Today, there are 6.85 lakh immigrants in the U.K., most of whom are from India. The Labour Party’s stated aim is to reduce legal immigration and curb illegal immigration. Many of the legal Indian immigrants are IT professionals on work permits, contributing to the U.K.’s technology sector. There is also a small number of illegal immigrants from India.
The party’s policy seeks to balance the economic benefits of skilled migrants with the goal of controlling overall immigration numbers, reflecting broader political and economic priorities.
Human rights and citizenship law
Historically, the Labour Party has been vocal on human rights issues in India, particularly on laws such as the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The Labour Party’s criticism has been perceived by the Indian government as interference and a misrepresentation of India’s internal policies aimed at addressing specific security concerns. Starmer will be under pressure from domestic human rights organisations to pursue a liberal British approach. His diplomatic skills are set to be tested in the months and years to come.
The relationship between the UK Labour Party and the Indian government is complex, influenced by historical ties, diaspora politics and differing policy priorities. Dealing with such challenges will require subtle diplomacy, mutual respect and an understanding of the sensitivities of both sides.
(Syed Zubair Ahmed is a senior London-based Indian journalist with three decades of experience in Western media)
Disclaimer: These are the personal views of the author