Britain’s Labour Party Shifts Stance on Kashmir Under Keir Starmer

The Labour Party’s overwhelming victory under Keir Starmer has opened a new chapter in the UK’s relations with India, which have previously been strained due to the Kashmir issue. On July 5, 2024, Keir Starmer delivered his first speech as the UK Prime Minister outside 10 Downing Street, signaling a potential shift in foreign policy.

Historically, the Labour Party has been more vocal about issues like alleged human rights violations in Kashmir compared to other British political parties. In 2019, under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership, the Labour Party passed an emergency motion at its annual conference, criticizing the Indian government’s decision to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special status. The motion described the situation as a humanitarian crisis and advocated for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination. This move was met with strong disapproval from India, which labeled it as “uninformed and unfounded.”

The resolution also caused backlash among Labour MPs of Indian origin and those representing constituencies with significant Indian communities, as it was perceived as anti-India. Jeremy Corbyn was later suspended from the Labour Party in 2020 over allegations of antisemitism and contested the subsequent elections as an Independent, winning from Islington North, a seat he has held since 1983.

Keir Starmer, now the Prime Minister, aims to rectify past missteps. His manifesto promises a “new strategic partnership” with India, focusing on areas such as security, education, technology, and climate change. The Labour Party’s new foreign secretary, David Lammy, has also emphasized the importance of strengthening ties with India. Speaking at the India Global Forum in London, Lammy highlighted India’s significant contributions to the UK economy and the potential for even greater collaboration.

Lammy pointed out that India was the UK’s second-largest foreign direct investment contributor last year, with over 950 Indian companies employing more than 100,000 people in the UK. He stressed the need for a “reset and a relaunch” of the India-UK relationship, criticizing the Conservative Party for failing to deliver on promises regarding India.

Summary in Bullet Points:

• Labour Party’s Victory: Keir Starmer’s leadership marks a new chapter in UK-India relations.
• Historical Context: Labour Party has been vocal about Kashmir and human rights issues.
• 2019 Emergency Motion: Under Jeremy Corbyn, Labour criticized India’s revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.
• Backlash: The motion faced strong disapproval from India and backlash among Labour MPs of Indian origin.
• Jeremy Corbyn’s Suspension: Corbyn was suspended in 2020 over antisemitism allegations and later won as an Independent.
• Keir Starmer’s Approach: Starmer aims to build a “new strategic partnership” with India, focusing on various sectors.
• David Lammy’s Remarks: The new foreign secretary emphasized India’s economic contributions and the need for stronger ties.
• Economic Contributions: India was the UK’s second-largest foreign direct investment contributor last year.
• Call for Reset: Lammy criticized the Conservative Party for not delivering on promises regarding India.