The Labour Party, the UK’s opposition party, has launched the ‘Labour Indians’ to enhance its connection with the 1.8-million-strong Indian diaspora in the UK and with India. Labour leader David Lammy committed that his party would complete the task of finalising a free trade agreement (FTA) with India.
The UK’s Opposition Labour Party has introduced a new diaspora organisation, Labour Indians, to help better its engagement with British Indians and strengthen ties with India ahead of upcoming general elections in both countries.
The new group aims to boost its engagement with the 1.8-million-strong Indian diaspora in the UK.
The launch event, held in London’s Houses of Parliament complex on Tuesday evening, was led by David Lammy, the party’s shadow foreign secretary, news agency PTI reported.
Lammy gave an update on his recent visit to India and shared his ambitions for the India-UK partnership if Labour were to win the next election.
Labour Party leader David Lammy highlighted the importance of India’s status as a “superpower” and emphasised the need for a strong UK-India relationship, regardless of political differences.
“India is a superpower with a superpower entrepreneurial, innovative, scientific, industrial base and a superpower-sized population,” Lammy was quoted by PTI as saying.
“Of course, India still has challenges. But I have no doubt that at this geopolitical moment, the UK must understand that India is the superpower force in the world. And, it should be the case that it actually does not matter who the Prime Minister of India, who is the Prime Minister at Number 10 (Downing Street), because it’s so important strategically that, notwithstanding our political position, we have a very strong relationship,” he added.
Acknowledging past challenges, particularly related to anti-India rhetoric during Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership, Lammy expressed optimism for the party’s future under Keir Starmer.
Lammy also committed that the party would complete the task of finalising a free trade agreement (FTA) with India. These negotiations began under the Conservative government in January 2022 and are now reaching a deadline due to upcoming general elections in both countries.
Labour Indians, chaired by Krish Raval with support from the fellow British-Indian vice-chairs, Councillor Shama Tatler and Labour’s prospective parliamentary candidate from Wales, Kanishka Narayan, aims to bridge the gap between the party and the British-Indian communities.
“Indian households had moved away from the Labour Party for various different reasons, and it was hard knocking on those doors to understand why families previously strong Labour voters felt that way. We are moving in the right direction [under Starmer] but we need to be talking more to the communities who have been let down by the Conservatives,” said Tatler.
Nikita Ved, co-founder of the British Indian think tank 1928 Institute and involved with Labour Indians, highlighted the organisation’s adaptability and focus on meeting the evolving needs of progressive British-Indians.
The establishment of Labour Indians follows the recent appointment of a dedicated India Engagement Organiser by the Labour Party, to engage with the 1.8-million-strong Indian diaspora ahead of anticipated general elections later this year.
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