From India to Israel: What a Labour win in the UK means for the world

It’s official! The United Kingdom has a new government. The Labour Party has won the general election defeating the Conservative Party, which was in power for 14 years. Keir Starmer will be the country’s new prime minister.

This is the first time Labour will be in power since 2010. The party, which suffered its worst election loss since 1935 four-and-a-half years ago, has registered a thumping victory, having bagged more than 400 out of the 650 seats in the Commons.

Starmer’s win comes on the promise of change to Britain. But what does a change in government in the UK mean for the world at a time when it is more divided than ever in recent times? We explain.

India

Let’s begin with India. New Delhi features prominently on Starmer’s foreign policy agenda. He has promised to further strengthen UK-India ties.

Reflecting on India’s current standing in the world, he said last month that this was an opportunity for it to be India’s century. “When the history of two nations are as intertwined as ours, that can cast a long shadow. But, I don’t see that shadow over today’s India.”

The proposed free trade agreement (FTA) to boost trade between the two nations has been stuck in limbo. New Delhi and London have been holding negotiations for more than two years now. A landslide Labour victory could change that.

Starmer has pledged to forge a new strategic partnership with New Delhi and boost bilateral cooperation in security, technology, education, and climate change.

The Labour leader has also acknowledged the party’s past missteps in handling ties with India, particularly over the perceived stance of backing Pakistan over the Kashmir issue. Starmer has committed to stamping out any anti-India sentiments within the party and has campaigned to repair strained ties with the Indian diaspora in the UK.

China

Britain’s ties with China hit a low during the Conservative Party rule. Rishi Sunak did not mince words when he dubbed the country as “authoritarian”, calling it the “greatest state-based threat to our economic security”. It invited a sharp response from the Chinese embassy in London.

The Tories claim to have “reduced Chinese influence in our critical national infrastructure and sensitive technological sectors”. During the election campaign trail, it suggested in a tweet that Britain’s adversaries including Xi Jinping would welcome the Starmer government.

Labour has not hinted at any big policy shift toward Beijing. In its manifesto, the party has said it would bring “a long-term and strategic approach” to managing Britain’s relations with China and would “cooperate where we can, compete where we need to, and challenge where we must”.

The party said it would look to improve Britain’s capability to understand and respond to the challenges and opportunities China poses through an audit of the bilateral relationship. It also said it would stand with and support members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK, reports Reuters.

Europe

The European Union will face the first non-Conservative government in London since Brexit.

Starmer has insisted that the UK will not rejoin the EU , the single market or the customs union in his lifetime. “I’ve been really clear about not rejoining the EU, the single market or the customs union – or [allowing a] return to freedom of movement,” he said just ahead of Thursday’s election.

However, the Labour is looking to improve ties with the bloc. The party wants to reset the relationship with the EU by removing what it calls unnecessary trade barriers. The party has said it wants to negotiate a veterinary agreement to prevent unnecessary border checks and secure a mutual recognition agreement for professional qualifications.

Labour plans to seek a new UK-EU security pact to strengthen cooperation and rebuild relationships with key European allies, including France and Germany. It will also seek new bilateral agreements, reports Reuters.

Starmer has pledged to work with France’s far-right National Rally (RN) party if it wins power. “I will work with any government in Europe and across the world if we are elected… For me, that’s what serious government is about,” he said.

The United States

US President Joe Biden has had good ties with both Labour and the Conservatives. However, the country is preparing for a presidential election in November and a change in leadership is a possibility.

Donald Trump, who is the Republican nominee, has a soft spot for Tories.

Labour has described the US as an “indispensable ally”. It said the “special relationship” was crucial for security and prosperity, and it would continue to work with Washington based on shared values and common interests including economic cooperation, defence and intelligence.
Israel and Palestine

Israel would have preferred the Conservatives as they have traditionally followed the US in backing the Jewish nation unconditionally over Palestine, according to a report in The Guardian.

However, Starmer will tread carefully after his party was accused of anti-Semitism ahead of the 2019 election when his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn was in the race. “Antisemitism has been a stain on our party. I have seen the grief that it’s brought to so many Jewish communities. On behalf of the Labour Party, I am sorry,” he had said when he was elected the new leader of the party in April 2020.

The party has promised to continue to push for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, the upholding of international law, and a rapid increase of aid into the territory.

It has also committed to recognising a Palestinian state as a contribution to a renewed peace process which results in a two-state solution. It has described Palestinian statehood as “the inalienable right of the Palestinian people” and said it was essential to the long-term security of Israel, reports Reuters.

Russia and Ukraine

The UK has been one of Ukraine’s staunchest supporters, providing money, weapons and troop training to help in the war against Russia. Kyiv needs to support of the new UK government, which is a vocal member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and has diplomatic influence in Europe.

The backing of London matters more than ever, as Kyiv faces the possibility of Trump returning as president to the US and cutting off all military support.

Labour has pledged to maintain Britain’s military, financial, diplomatic and political support for Ukraine. It has also backed Kyiv’s NATO membership bid.

The party has said it would support efforts to hold Russia to account for the war, backing calls for a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression as well as working with allies to enable the seizure and repurposing of frozen Russian state assets to support Ukraine.

Starmer is expected to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy early to reaffirm his support in person. He has said that a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin is “simply not an issue” at the moment and described him as “the aggressor in Ukraine”, reports AFP.

“The most important thing is to be absolutely clear that our support for Ukraine is on a united front in this country,” he said.

With inputs from agencies