India-UK Relations under Labour Party

Source-This post on India-UK Relations under Labour Party has been created based on the article “C Raja Mohan writes: UK may have a new government — this time Labour could be better for India” published in “The Indian Express” on 3 July 2024.

UPSC Syllabus-GS Paper-2- Effect of Policies and Politics of Developed and Developing Countries on India’s interests

Context-Conservative Party is facing a likely defeat in Britain’s upcoming elections. The article explains about the potential impact of regime change on India-UK relations.

What are the contributions of conservative party in strengthening India-UK ties?

1) Shift from Colonial Era Issues-They have improved relations with India by moving away from colonial-era concerns like Pakistan and Kashmir, instead focusing on broader Indo-Pacific cooperation.

2) Comprehensive Bilateral Transformation– They have also laid out plans to transform bilateral relations comprehensively, covering areas such as green initiatives, defense, new technologies, and maritime security.

3) Migration and Mobility Agreement -They have implemented the Migration and Mobility Agreement to address illegal immigration and ease Indian talent flow into the UK.

However, anti-India activities in Britain still go unpunished. The British establishment has long resisted forming a new relationship.

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What is the historical context of India-UK relations under Labour Party?

1) Diplomatic Tragedies -Queen Elizabeth II’s trip to India in 1997 was meant to show post-colonial reconciliation   but ended up causing diplomatic problems.  During a stopover in Pakistan, British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook proposed mediation on the Kashmir issue, which was dismissed by Indian Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral.

2) Strong Indian Response-The then Prime Minister of India criticized Britain as a “third-rate power” with unrealistic views of its global influence.

3) Controversial Remarks at Jallianwala Bagh Incident-The Queen’s visit to Jallianwala Bagh caused controversy when Prince Philip hinted that the number of deaths might have been overstated. This sparked anger and criticism in India.

4) Ethical Foreign Policy-Cook’s push for an “ethical foreign policy,” along with supporting identity politics and appeasing anti-India groups, strained relations between India and UK.

What is the current position of the Labour Party regarding India?

1) They have taken steps to address anti-India sentiments within the party.However, UK-based Khalistani groups will continue to lobby the new government to push an anti-India agenda

2) They have shown the intent to build on foundations laid by Conservatives.

3) They support “progressive realism,” which focuses on being practical and realistic about how things really are in the world, rather than how they want them to be.

What should be the way forward for India?

1) Enhancing UK-India Cooperation on Diaspora and Security– Delhi should keep working to decrease anti-India activities in the UK and collaborate more closely with the British government to handle issues related to the growing South Asian diaspora effectively.

2) Britain’s Strategic Significance for India -Delhi should not underestimate the relative importance of Britain for India. India’s exports to Britain are nearly six times the exports to Russia. Britain is among the front-ranking middle powers. Its financial clout, technological depth, and global reach make Britain a force multiplier for a rising India.

Question for practice

How have India-UK relations evolved under the Labour Party, and what is the Labour Party’s current stance on India? What strategic steps should India consider moving forward in its relationship with the UK?