The annual party conferences are a major milestone ahead of the 2024 polls, as unprecedented interest was registered in this year’s conference. An event was reportedly held in South London to engage with the ethnic community and press and to raise interest. But sadly, during the time of delivery, many have been left out, and the international media bearing the brunt. The common chord between both parties in this year’s conference agenda was - the cost-of-living crisis and reviving the British economy, but what was uncommon was the Labour Party’s discriminatory behaviour towards international journalists, agencies and wires who tried to cover the conference. While Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was showered with glitters at the conference, Asian Voice through Foreign Press Association (FPA) sources can confirm that journalists representing international media in the UK including Indians, were not allowed to enter the Labour conference. Though the organisers claimed this was due to “limited capacity”, the journalist community doesn’t believe that this was just a “coincidence”. With its track record, this is a possible indicator that foreign relations under the Labour Party will continue to suffer, especially with India. The party’s engagement with the Indian community or related media has been bare minimum for the longest time. Other than individual events, such as on Diwali, Indian media, has been kept in the dark, especially as pro-Azad Kashmir and Khalistani supporters have been allegedly identified among Labour Party members and Parliamentarians.
Relations of Tories and Labour with India
Conservatives from David Cameron to Boris Johnson and now Rishi Sunak have maintained close ties with India in some way or form. However, Labour has been lagging behind. With this recent incident of not allowing not just Indian but other foreign journalists in their party conference, Labour has lost marks and added an impediment to strengthening its ties with foreign countries. The Labour Party has time and again accepted that it is trying to resolve internal conflicts within the party and has asserted a positive approach towards nurturing UK-India ties in the future.
Sir Keir Starmer recently said “a strategic partnership with India will be key” to a future Labour government in the UK. But Sunak is reportedly going one step further and due to lock the UK-India FTA, a rather historic one towards the end of October with Indian PM Narendra Modi. The difference between saying and doing is right now in the Conservative party’s court, and it’ll be instrumental to see how Starmer (should Labour win) nurtures his ties with Modi and India.
Keir Starmer had promised to reset relations between the Labour Party and India after years of tension between the two. The Labour leader said on record earlier in June 2023 that his party had made mistakes in its approach to relations with the world’s most populous country, and that it would seek closer ties if elected to power next year.
Labour’s reputation in Delhi and among British Indian voters in the UK has slipped in recent years, not least because of the support by some in the party for the independence of the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Some UK Indians have also complained that the party has focused more on poorer inner-city Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities than on them.
Sir Starmer told those attending the UK-India Week conference in June: “In the past Labour gave the impression we could only see the lives of people in communities who needed our support. But my Labour party understands that what working people in every community need is success, aspiration and security.”
He added: “There are lots of issues in the Labour Party where, over the last two years, we have openly taken the decision to change our party to look out to the world in a different way – and to recognise when it comes to India, what an incredible, powerful, important country India is … and to ensure that we have the right relationship as we go forward.”
Labour's relationship with the Indian community and Indian voters has faced challenges recently. This is due to India's increasingly nationalistic policies, while Labour has been accused of showing partiality to Pakistan in the Kashmir dispute. With 1.7 million British Indians, one of the largest minority ethnic groups in the UK, they are a potentially significant voting bloc in swing constituencies.
In 2019, Labour drew criticism from Indian groups for passing an emergency motion at its annual conference, advocating for international observers in the disputed territory of Kashmir, which India and Pakistan both claim. The party later issued a letter clarifying its stance, emphasising that it would not take sides in the dispute.
Conservatives on the other hand have been diplomatic about commenting on India’s ties with other nations and its stance on its internal conflicts while being vocal about issues such as Ukraine and openly criticising Russia and Putin while India juggled its diplomatic ties with the Soviets amid massive criticism.
Renewal and stability
The recent Conservative Party conference, held in Manchester, marked several crucial announcements and promises in anticipation of the upcoming 2024 general elections. The event featured notable attendees, including members of the Conservative Friends of India, Former Home Secretary Priti Patel and current Home Secretary Suella Braverman, and High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami.
Meanwhile, the Labour Party conference in Liverpool presented a vision of renewal and change under the leadership of Sir Keir Starmer. He acknowledged challenges like the cost-of-living crisis, attributing it to Brexit, pandemic lockdowns, and global instability. Starmer promised economic renewal through progressive policies, envisioning a "decade of national renewal." Labour aims to mend societal divisions, invest in infrastructure and public services, and position itself as the party of hope and transformation.
Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves outlined Labour's economic strategy, echoing Boris Johnson's approach while emphasizing fiscal responsibility and streamlining the planning system for energy and housing projects. This shift represents a departure from the economic policies during Jeremy Corbyn's leadership.
However, Conservative Chancellor Jeremy Hunt criticized Reeves for her "fairy tale" economics, expressing concerns about increased borrowing, inflation, mortgage rates, debt, and reduced growth. Hunt advocated for long-term decision-making to address inflation and promote growth. Notably, former Bank of England governor Mark Carney endorsed Rachel Reeves as the next chancellor.
Additionally, economists have warned of a looming third wave of inflation due to rising oil prices following the recent Hamas attack on Israel. The surge in Brent crude oil prices to $89 a barrel raises concerns about potential Middle East tensions, sanctions, and supply shortages, further impacting the global economy.
Speaking to Asian Voice, Labour Party MP Virendra Sharma said, “The Labour Party has shown it is ready for government. Keir, Angela, Rachel and the whole front bench have a plan for government - a plan to get Britain growing again. From investing in housing, green energy and growth, where Tories duck decisions, Labour takes them for the long term. With a Labour government we’ll have an NHS fit for the 21st Century, trains that run and cleaner rivers. I’ve been delighted by what I have seen, commitments to keep us safe at home with more police on the streets, and an armed forces to be proud of.”
Diversity
Prime Minister Boris Johnson in 2019 formed the UK's most ethnically diverse Cabinet to date. Key appointments include Sajid Javid as Chancellor, Priti Patel as Home Secretary, Alok Sharma as International Development Secretary, Rishi Sunak as Chief Secretary to the Treasury, James Cleverley as Party chairman, and Kwasi Kwarteng as Minister for business, energy, and industrial strategy. These appointments represent a notable increase, with Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Ministers now constituting 18% of the cabinet. This statistic stands in contrast to the fact that there have only been five full cabinet members from such backgrounds in history. It is worth noting that 14% of England and Wales' population belongs to ethnic minority groups, as per the 2011 census.
Moreover, within Johnson's 33-member cabinet, 24% of positions, including non-full members, were held by women. PM Sunak’s cabinet continues to reflect that diversity in some of the key portfolios in the hands of BAME members. The Conservative Party conference exhibited the same diversity in its various snippets and photos. However, the Labour Party despite being diverse in its own capacity did not translate that into its conferences, where the majority of the people who spoke were not people of colour, the exception being Mayor Sadiq Khan who lauded the members from the front row. Yes, Sunak may not be the ‘elected’ prime minister of the citizens of the country, but representation at every level has seen a new dawn since the ensemble of this diverse cabinet. Labour on the other hand, while having great ties with the ethnic minority communities, at some places better than Conservatives did not translate that into its party conference. Therefore, whether or not the Labour Party will carry forward Britain’s flag of multiculturalism ahead or not if it comes to power, is still debatable.
The make-or-break deal
In the lead-up to the upcoming general election, the Conservatives are facing a challenging political landscape while Labour maintains a substantial lead. According to The Telegraph's aggregated polls, Sir Keir Starmer's Labour Party is poised to secure almost double the vote share compared to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservatives in the forthcoming election, scheduled before January 2025.
Labour has maintained a consistent lead in polls since the beginning of 2022, largely attributed to public discontent with Boris Johnson's handling of "Partygate" and backlash against Liz Truss's mini-budget. This decline in Conservative popularity is significant, as it brings them to their lowest point in opinion polls since the 2019 general election.
The contrast between early 2020, when the Conservatives enjoyed robust public support following Johnson's election victory, and the current scenario is stark. During the initial stages of the pandemic, the nation rallied behind the government, bolstering their approval ratings. However, this support waned as dissatisfaction grew with the government's management of the pandemic, particularly during the second national lockdown in England in late 2020. The successful vaccine rollout and easing of Covid restrictions in 2021 briefly restored public confidence, with voting intentions reaching their peak during that summer.
Labour's prospects are also tied to the outcome in Scotland. A strong showing there would reduce their need to win as many seats in England and Wales, potentially eliminating the argument that a Labour government would depend on SNP support.
Within the Conservative Party, Rishi Sunak, a former Goldman Sachs analyst and hedge fund partner, faces internal challenges. Some members have criticized him for his role in Boris Johnson's ousting and doubt his election-winning capabilities. Labour may portray Sunak as out of touch with ordinary citizens due to the rising cost of living in the UK, adding to concerns about his ability to unite a party accustomed to rapid leadership changes.
Sunak's commitment to a small-state economic vision is also under scrutiny following high pandemic spending that led to tax increases. While initially gaining support from trade unions and employers, his popularity waned as Britain's debt escalated and a cost-of-living crisis emerged. Polls reflected declining public support, partly due to increased payroll taxes while his wife avoided British levies. Labour leader Keir Starmer could use Sunak's appointment as a reason for calling an early national election.
Brexit, once a dominant issue, is no longer a major concern for certain voters both parties are targeting, albeit for different reasons. This group includes socially conservative individuals in manual occupations who previously supported Labour but did not in the 2019 election. Labour avoids discussing Brexit to avoid alienating these voters, focusing on issues like immigration policies while trying not to upset their new supporters or Leave voters in general.
Will the young vote for Tories?
London is facing a growing crisis with soaring rents and house prices, causing the city to drift away from the Conservative Party. Areas that the Conservatives once won or nearly won in 2010 now have significant Labour majorities. What's even more concerning is that London is sending frustrated and financially unstable voters into its commuter belt. In these once-safe Conservative constituencies, known as the "Blue Wall," the average age of voters is decreasing, which is different from the national trend. This shift is reminiscent of the changes seen in Brighton and Canterbury, and it's likely to continue.
While some of these voters may move out to buy homes, being a homeowner doesn't automatically change their priorities. Many of them will have substantial mortgages and endure long commutes just to own smaller homes than their parents did at the same age. Those who can't afford to move out might end up living with relatives or sharing apartments well into their thirties, even if they have good professional salaries. This situation raises questions about why they would support the Conservative Party. Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, seems to recognise this opportunity and has placed a strong emphasis on housing, promising to build a new generation of attractive Georgian homes and even considering building in parts of the Green Belt.
During India Week, Sir Starmer had gone on record to say, “We have used the word reset before, this is what I mean by saying resetting relationship, which recognises where we are now, rather than defining ourselves by the past.” Going by the recent treatment of the foreign press, perhaps it's time for Labour to ‘reset’ its relations with international journalists before the race to Downing Street is lost or won.
