What does this mean for India

London:

Labor Party chief Keir Starmer is on track to replace Rishi Sunak as British Prime Minister, with results from the first election pointing to a landslide loss for the Conservatives. The first month of Keir Starmer’s term will be a whirlwind of international diplomacy, including meetings with US President Joe Biden and European leaders.

Labour, out of power since 2010, has promised a foreign policy of “progressive realism”, seeing a more volatile world “as it is not how we would like it to be”, said David Lammy, who is expected to become Foreign Secretary.

The party also pledged to “make Brexit work” and seek an “ambitious” security pact with the European Union.

Another key aspect of Starmer’s foreign policy agenda will be strengthening UK-India relations. Recognizing historical mistakes, particularly the Labor Party’s stance on issues such as Kashmir, Starmer committed to forging a new strategic partnership with India. Its commitment to a free trade agreement (FTA) and enhanced bilateral cooperation on technology, security, education and climate change underlines its ambition to elevate relations with one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.

Its manifesto included a commitment to pursue a “new strategic partnership” with India, emphasizing the trade agreement.

In a bid to repair strained ties with the Indian diaspora in the UK, Starmer, during his campaign, embarked on internal outreach efforts, denouncing Hinduphobia and celebrating cultural festivals such as Diwali and Holi. These gestures aim to promote greater trust and inclusion in Anglo-Indian communities, a demographic group vital to the Labor Party’s electoral calculus.

However, challenges arise on the path to achieving Starmer’s ambitious foreign policy objectives, particularly with regard 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 balance for the Labor Party.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s last-minute attempt to influence voters appears to have failed. The Conservatives warned voters that opting for the Labor Party would lead to higher taxes. Led by Keir Starmer, the Labor Party is currently ahead with 220 seats, while Rishi Sunak’s party won just 31. To secure victory, a party needs to win 326 seats in the 650-member House of Commons.