UK PM-elect Keir Starmer heralds ’change’ in ties with India: ’My Labour govt will seek...’

UK Prime Minister-elect Keir Starmer pledged a ‘reset’ for the country and its ties to India on Friday after the Labour party secured a landslide victory in the recent polls. The human rights barrister has repeatedly indicated that the Labour party will pursue a “new strategic partnership” with India — including a free trade agreement if his party won the mandate.

“I have a clear message for you all today: this is a changed Labour Party. What my Labour government will seek with India is a relationship based on our shared values of democracy and aspiration. That will seek a free trade agreement (FTA), we share that ambition, but also a new strategic partnership for global security, climate security, economic security,” he had declared last year during the India Global Forum.

His victory address on Friday morning reiterated the ‘change’ within the party as Starmer insisted that his government was ‘eady to restore Britain to the service of working people’. In recent years the lawyer-turned-politician has also led extensive efforts to rebuild ties with British Indians who had felt alienated under former leader Jeremy Corbyn over a perceived anti-India stance on Kashmir.

The new PM also ought to reassure British Hindus that there is “absolutely no place for Hinduphobia in Britain” during a visit to the Shree Swaminarayan Temple in London last week.

Meanwhile Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended hearty congratulations towards the newly elected politician and voiced hope for a ‘positive and constructive collaboration’ between the two countries.

“Heartiest congratulations and best wishes to Keir Starmer on the remarkable victory in the UK general elections. I look forward to our positive and constructive collaboration to further strengthen the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in all areas, fostering mutual growth and prosperity,” Modi tweeted.

Reports suggest that the new government is likely to retain a large degree of continuity on foreign policy. The Labour party's views on British support for Ukraine, for example, aligns with the existing Tory stance. Some changes are expected in the approach to the Israel-Gaza crisis, as Labour plans to stop arms sales to Israel and wants to progress towards recognising the Palestinian state.

(With inputs from agencies)