London, the UK's opposition Labor Party, which hopes to win a mandate to form a government after the July 4 general election, has pledged to eradicate anti-India sentiments within its ranks and build a strong strategic partnership with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. directed administration.
The party's resolve during an annual conference under former Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn in favor of international intervention in Kashmir was widely seen as having cost it British Indian votes in the 2019 general election.
There has also been concern that some Labor councilors adopt pro-Khalistan views.
At a "Political Campaign" event for the South Asian community in Britain organized by "Asian Voice" in association with City Sikhs and City Hindus Network in London on Friday afternoon, Labor Party chairwoman and Secretary of State shadow for Women and Equalities, Anneliese Dodds, said the party led by Keir Starmer is confident it has cleared its ranks of members with such extremist views.
“We certainly would never take any group of voters for granted, wherever they come from; We are working hard to get everyone's votes,” Dodds said, in response to a question posed on how to win back Indian diaspora voters alienated in recent polls.
"If there is any evidence about that [anti-India sentiment], whatever group of people, I will do something about it," he said, asking the "incredible diaspora" community to "give him details" of any party representatives. which may pose a threat to closer ties between India and the UK under a future Labour-led government.
“Beyond warm words, we want to build that practical and solid relationship. Labor has talked a lot about a strategic partnership with India covering trade... but we want to see cooperation in other areas, such as new technologies, the environment and security,” she said.
On the part of the current Conservative Party, its candidate for Dudley North in the West Midlands region of England recently stoked controversy with an official campaign letter in which he stated that only he would speak on behalf of Kashmir in the British Parliament.
Marco Longhi, who is contesting against Labor Party's British-Indian pick Sonia Kumar, also referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's re-election for a third term as a cause of concern for British Kashmiris.
Felicity Buchan, Minister for the Department of Levelling, Housing and Communities, sought to highlight her party's pro-India record in election campaigns, including having a Prime Minister of Indian descent in Rishi Sunak.
"I think the relationship with India is incredibly important... the diaspora we have in the UK adds a lot to our life here in the UK," said Buchan, Conservative candidate for MP for Kensington and Bayswater in London.
“We have very strong historical and cultural ties, but there is much to do in the future. We are negotiating a free trade agreement (FTA) right now… it is a big priority for both of our Prime Ministers, but it is not just about the trade agreement,” she said, highlighting collaborations in fields such as COVID vaccines and defense and security.
Lord Christopher Fox, a Liberal Democrat peer who sits on the House of Lords International Agreements Committee which examines trade deals, also made reference to the FTA, which aims to enhance the £38.1bn India-UK trade partnership. pounds sterling, but which is currently stuck in fourteenth. round of negotiations in the middle of the electoral cycles in both countries.
“There are clear obstacles that have prevented us from reaching the point where we were supposed to have reached. But let's look at this from the UK's perspective: achieving this agreement is a huge benefit. India's economy is moving at full speed. Technology in India is advancing at full speed. And it's really important for the UK that we link up with this fantastic economy," said Fox. Pallavi Devulapalli, Green Party spokesperson for health, social care and public health and candidate for south-west Norfolk, noted the new Green Friends group of The India Party created “specifically to foster relations between India and the United Kingdom, promote trade, promote cultural exchange and simply strengthen ties.”
All parties and independent candidates are now in the midst of a final race for votes, including an important electorate within the UK's 1.8 million Indian diaspora, ahead of voting day on Thursday.
The party's resolve during an annual conference under former Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn in favor of international intervention in Kashmir was widely seen as having cost it British Indian votes in the 2019 general election.
There has also been concern that some Labor councilors adopt pro-Khalistan views.
At a "Political Campaign" event for the South Asian community in Britain organized by "Asian Voice" in association with City Sikhs and City Hindus Network in London on Friday afternoon, Labor Party chairwoman and Secretary of State shadow for Women and Equalities, Anneliese Dodds, said the party led by Keir Starmer is confident it has cleared its ranks of members with such extremist views.
“We certainly would never take any group of voters for granted, wherever they come from; We are working hard to get everyone's votes,” Dodds said, in response to a question posed on how to win back Indian diaspora voters alienated in recent polls.
"If there is any evidence about that [anti-India sentiment], whatever group of people, I will do something about it," he said, asking the "incredible diaspora" community to "give him details" of any party representatives. which may pose a threat to closer ties between India and the UK under a future Labour-led government.
“Beyond warm words, we want to build that practical and solid relationship. Labor has talked a lot about a strategic partnership with India covering trade... but we want to see cooperation in other areas, such as new technologies, the environment and security,” she said.
On the part of the current Conservative Party, its candidate for Dudley North in the West Midlands region of England recently stoked controversy with an official campaign letter in which he stated that only he would speak on behalf of Kashmir in the British Parliament.
Marco Longhi, who is contesting against Labor Party's British-Indian pick Sonia Kumar, also referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's re-election for a third term as a cause of concern for British Kashmiris.
Felicity Buchan, Minister for the Department of Levelling, Housing and Communities, sought to highlight her party's pro-India record in election campaigns, including having a Prime Minister of Indian descent in Rishi Sunak.
"I think the relationship with India is incredibly important... the diaspora we have in the UK adds a lot to our life here in the UK," said Buchan, Conservative candidate for MP for Kensington and Bayswater in London.
“We have very strong historical and cultural ties, but there is much to do in the future. We are negotiating a free trade agreement (FTA) right now… it is a big priority for both of our Prime Ministers, but it is not just about the trade agreement,” she said, highlighting collaborations in fields such as COVID vaccines and defense and security.
Lord Christopher Fox, a Liberal Democrat peer who sits on the House of Lords International Agreements Committee which examines trade deals, also made reference to the FTA, which aims to enhance the £38.1bn India-UK trade partnership. pounds sterling, but which is currently stuck in fourteenth. round of negotiations in the middle of the electoral cycles in both countries.
“There are clear obstacles that have prevented us from reaching the point where we were supposed to have reached. But let's look at this from the UK's perspective: achieving this agreement is a huge benefit. India's economy is moving at full speed. Technology in India is advancing at full speed. And it's really important for the UK that we link up with this fantastic economy," said Fox. Pallavi Devulapalli, Green Party spokesperson for health, social care and public health and candidate for south-west Norfolk, noted the new Green Friends group of The India Party created “specifically to foster relations between India and the United Kingdom, promote trade, promote cultural exchange and simply strengthen ties.”
All parties and independent candidates are now in the midst of a final race for votes, including an important electorate within the UK's 1.8 million Indian diaspora, ahead of voting day on Thursday.
