UK elections: Keir Starmer poised to be next PM, what is his stance on India?

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NEW DELH: With the Labour Party poised to become the largest party in the UK parliament, here is a look at how Labour leader Keir Starmer, who is likely to become UK’s next prime minister, has tried to woo British-Indians as well as India.
Starmer, the leader of the UK’s Labour Party, has sought to mend the strained relationship between Labour and India.He has recognized the need to build a stronger strategic partnership with India if Labour forms the next government.
Starmer has acknowledged past missteps by the Labour Party in handling relations with India, particularly over the party’s perceived stance favoring Pakistan in the Kashmir issue. He has emphasized the importance of cultivating a proper relationship with India moving forward.
Under Starmer’s leadership, the Labour Party has committed to stamping out any anti-India sentiments within its ranks. The party chair, Anneliese Dodds, has claimed that the party has “cleansed its ranks of any members with extremist views” on India.
Starmer has also recognized the growing political clout of the UK’s Indian-origin population, the largest immigrant group in the country. He has sought to win back the support of British Indian voters who had distanced themselves from Labour in recent years.
On the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, Starmer has been critical of the delays under the Conservative government. He has stated that Labour wants to see the FTA cover not just trade, but also cooperation in areas like new technologies, the environment, and security.
Starmer and the Labour Party have taken a more pro-India stance compared to the party’s previous leadership under Jeremy Corbyn. They are seeking to rebuild trust and strengthen the strategic partnership between the UK and India if they form the next government.

Steps Starmer has taken to eliminate anti-India sentiments within the Labour Party

  • Acknowledged past missteps by Labour under previous leadership, particularly over the party’s perceived stance favoring Pakistan in the Kashmir conflict. This had alienated many British Indian voters in the 2019 election.
  • Committed to stamping out any extremist views within Labour that could strain UK-India ties. The party chair, Anneliese Dodds, claimed Labour has “cleansed its ranks of any members with extremist views” on India.
  • Invited the Indian diaspora to report any instances of anti-India sentiment within Labour, pledging swift action to address such issues.
  • Sought to win back the support of British Indian voters who had distanced themselves from Labour in recent years. The party is now fielding a number of Indian-origin candidates in the 2024 election.
  • Emphasized Labour’s ambition to forge a robust strategic partnership with India under Starmer’s leadership, spanning trade, technology, environment and security cooperation. He reiterated this commitment during a visit to a Hindu temple in London.
  • Acknowledged the growing political clout of the UK’s Indian-origin population, the largest minority ethnic group, and the need to address their concerns.

(With inputs from agencies)

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