Keir Starmer To Be Next UK PM: What Should India Expect?

London: Labour Party chief Keir Starmer is poised to succeed Rishi Sunak as the Prime Minister of Britain, with election results indicating a significant defeat for the Conservatives. The initial month of Keir Starmer's tenure will be marked by a flurry of international diplomacy, including meetings with US President Joe Biden and European leaders.

Labour, having been out of power since 2010, has committed to a foreign policy of "progressive realism," recognizing a more volatile world "as it is, not as we would want it to be," according to David Lammy, who is expected to become foreign secretary. The party has also vowed to "make Brexit work" and pursue "an ambitious" security pact with the European Union.

A crucial element of Starmer's foreign policy agenda will be enhancing UK-India relations. Recognizing past mistakes, especially Labour's position on issues like Kashmir, Starmer has vowed to establish a new strategic partnership with India. His dedication to a free trade agreement (FTA) and increased bilateral cooperation in technology, security, education, and climate change highlights his ambition to strengthen ties with one of the world's fastest-growing economies.

His manifesto promises a "new strategic partnership" with India, with a strong focus on a trade agreement. To mend strained relations with the Indian diaspora in the UK, Starmer has made domestic outreach efforts during his campaign, condemning Hinduphobia and celebrating cultural festivals like Diwali and Holi. These actions aim to build greater trust and inclusion within British-Indian communities, a demographic crucial to Labour's electoral strategy.
However, significant challenges lie ahead for Starmer's ambitious foreign policy objectives, especially regarding immigration policies and trade agreements. With bipartisan agreement on reducing immigration, negotiating temporary visas for Indian workers in the UK service industry will be a delicate balancing act for Labour.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's last-minute effort to sway voters seems to have missed the mark. The Conservatives cautioned that voting for Labour would result in higher taxes. Under Keir Starmer's leadership, the Labour Party is currently leading with 403 seats, while Rishi Sunak's party has secured only 109. To achieve a majority, a party must win 326 seats in the 650-member House of Commons.