Sir Keir Starmer could be the next Prime Minister of Britain, with Labour forming government for 18 consecutive years. Exit polls published by Savanta on Monday, predicted a further widening of gaps between the Conservative, Labour, Lib Dem and Reform parties.
Yet experts are of the opinion that this election is not a straightforward one. ‘Voting hesitancy’ among Britain’s 5.6 million Asian voters persist. Issues like Reform candidate Andrew Parker hurling a racial slur at the Prime Minister and suggesting migrants should be used as “target practice”, deepens worries about disparities and inequalities thriving at the heart of today’s Britain.
Though Sir Keir stood by PM Rishi Sunak, saying “I share his disgust at the comments that were made,” our readers have come forward with intensifying fears of widespread anti-India sentiments, if the Labour party forms a government successfully.
Three days before Britain went to poll, Asian Voice EXCLUSIVELY interviewed Sir Keir Starmer, Leader of His Majesty’s Opposition, discussing key issues concerning the diaspora, as he emphasised on the “change” under his leadership, especially forging a steadfast relationship with India and British Indians among others.
AV: Pre-election, none of the parties have been specifically interacting with the British Asian communities to understand their requirements and sentiments. Does it not bother the Labour Party that this disconnect will lead to 5.6 million voters not voting for the Labour Party or not voting at all?
My Labour Party will never take British Asian communities for granted. Just last week, I had the privilege of visiting the Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Kingsbury, where I joined a prayer ceremony. I heard from the community there about the issues they’re facing. I assured them that my Labour party would always listen to British Asian communities and work with them on the things that are important to them – and I would say the same to Asian Voice readers.
I know that my colleagues in the shadow cabinet and across the Labour Party have been visiting their local temples, gurdwaras and mosques. They’ve been visiting community centres and holding roundtables with Asian-led businesses. That hasn’t just been happening since the election campaign began. This is sustained engagement which has been of enormous value to me and my Party, and that will continue beyond the election. The first overseas trip I made when I became an MP was to Bangladesh, because I know how important our international relationships are, but also how important it is for me to represent and support the Bangladeshi community in my own constituency.
And, of course, I’m so proud that in this election Labour has many candidates of South Asian origin standing for parliament. We have 21 South Asian candidates standing in key seats. That’s fantastic, because it’s so important that our politics reflects the face of the people we serve. There’s always more to do, but I know that with these fantastic colleagues we will make a real difference to the lives of British Asian communities.
Our policy agenda is a reflection of our engagement. It responds to issues that I know British Asian communities are really struggling with. Whether that’s our plan to slash NHS waiting lists with 40,000 extra appointments each week or tackle the cost-of-living crisis so families don’t have to struggle with bills, mortgages and food prices that are currently through the roof. We also have plans to introduce a landmark Race Equality Act. That will enshrine in law the full right to equal pay for Black, Asian, and other ethnic minority people, strengthen protections against dual discrimination and root out other racial inequalities.
AV: The Labour Party seems to be a recipient of criticism such as being called ‘a Tory in Labour’s hat’. Do you think that your party has moved very far away from its core values for the sake of “change”?
Since I became leader of the Labour Party, my mission has been to return politics to the service of working people.
I have changed the Labour Party in line with its founding values, and mine. And I’m proud of what we have achieved. Everything we have done has been about remembering who we are supposed to serve, and always putting them first.
Too often over the last 14 years, we’ve seen the government constantly putting themselves first, party before country. That will never happen with this Labour party.
So you won’t see gesture politics or politics of protest from us. At this election, we want to be a party that people can trust with the power of governing our country. We are, always have been, and always will be, a party for people who love this country, and want it to be better for their children and grandchildren.
AV: Labour is leading in the exit polls, but the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK could have the potential to prevent an absolute majority. How are you planning to reach out to the voters who decide to support these parties?
If people want change, they have to vote for it. So, if people want economic stability, cheaper bills, secure borders, the NHS back on its feet and fit for the future, safer streets, and the opportunities our children deserve, a vote for a local Labour MP sitting on government benches is the best way to get that.
Only Labour can stop the chaos, turn the page, and start to rebuild our country.
AV: How do you respond to concerns that the VAT grab on private schools might disproportionately impact certain demographics or regions? What measures will be put in place to ensure the transparency and effectiveness of the proposed tax?
My parents worked hard to make sure I had the best start in life. They knew the power of education – I was the first person in my family to go to university. So, I know parents have huge aspirations for their children in this country, and they know education is the key to a better life. That aspiration isn't confined to those parents who pay for private education.
I believe that every single child in Britain deserves a world class education. The vast majority of those children, around 94%, attend state schools. And right now, we have a school system where those children don’t have the right teachers in their schools. We have to fix that. So, we’ve made the difficult decision to remove the tax break private schools have. This cost is for schools and does not have to be passed onto parents in fees.
That will raise £1.3 billion that be invested straight into our children’s future. It’s not an easy choice to make, but my Labour government will always make the tough decisions to make sure all our children have the opportunities they deserve.
AV: If you take over No 10, what will be the government’s priorities in the first 100 days in office? How will the government make sure that the specific needs of minority stakeholders such as ethnic minorities and women, are represented and considered in policy making?
The first thing you will see is a change in the way we do politics in this country. We will return politics to public service. And we have a really clear plan to get our country out of the hole it’s in at the moment. That plan starts with six first steps. They’re fully funded, fully costed and ready to go.
The first step is economic stability. We’ll have tough fiscal rules to keep mortgages, taxes and inflation low. After 14 years of chopping and changing, stability is change.
Next, we need to get our NHS back on its feet. So, we’ll have 40,000 more NHS appointments each and every week to cut waiting times. We’ll pay for it by cracking down on tax avoidance and the non-dom status.
Third, we’ll set up a new Border Security Command to keep our borders secure, smash the criminal gangs running the vile people smuggling trade and make sure nobody makes that perilous journey across the channel.
We’ll also cut your bills for good with Great British Energy. A publicly owned company producing clean British power, so we don’t have to rely on foreign dictators for expensive oil and gas. It’ll cut bills, create the next generation of good jobs and do our bit for the environment at the same time.
Fifth, we’ll put 13,000 neighbourhood police in your communities, keeping your streets safe.
And finally, we’ll have 6,500 more teachers in our children’s schools, making sure they get the education they deserve.
I know people want to see change – in the country and in their lives. So, delivering on these six first steps will be our priority in the first 100 days of a new government.
AV: You have been able to somewhat address the anti-India narrative in your party and put an end to the extremism revolving around it. The British Indians, who were an original vote bank of Labour, now remain undecided. How would you ensure that you win back that confidence? If not at this election but in the next one?
As I said to the community at Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Kingsbury, my Labour party is determined to tackle the issues all of us, including British Asians, are facing, such as the NHS and the cost of living. But we’re also going to tackle the issues specific to British Asian communities.
So, I want to be absolutely clear here, that there is absolutely no place for discrimination of Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs or any other group in Britain. Any efforts to divide us, stoke hatred and demonise people will not – and never will be – tolerated.
This Labour party will always be committed to building a Britain where people of all faiths are safe, and respected. We want a society where diversity and the huge contribution of our South Asian communities is celebrated.
AV: The FTA remains half-done, and it’s been a relationship dampener. How do you intend to deal with this unfinished business, should you win? Is it going to be back to the drawing board or pick up where the last government left?
The number one mission for an incoming Labour government is higher growth. For that, we need security in an increasingly unstable world. So, our partnership with India, as the world’s fifth largest economy and the UK’s second biggest inward investor after the USA, is an important part of that mission.
If we are elected to serve, we want a new UK-India strategic parentship. The FTA is a base for this, and we will negotiate if we come into power. We will deepen trade and focus on new and green technologies, economic security, domestic security and global security.
We will also use our diplomatic network to attract foreign direct investment into the UK from India, expand Indian markets for British exporters, and shape emerging regulatory frameworks
Look at what we achieved during the pandemic with our cooperation on the vaccine – I want to build on that success to strengthen both our nations and our relationship with one another.
AV: There are seats that you may lose because of your party’s stand in the Palestine-Gaza conflict. You have been expected to take a side. How do you plan to sort this problem, or have you written those seats off?
We are not writing off a single seat in this election. The suffering in Gaza is horrific, and it’s natural and right that people care strongly about that. So, we will keep listening and working with communities to achieve an immediate ceasefire and a two-state solution.
It’s absolutely vital that we have a ceasefire in Gaza, that the hostages are released and that desperately needed aid gets into Gaza as quickly as possible. But we also need to get a foot in the door for a long-term political resolution of the conflict in the Middle East and be willing to do the hard yards to reach a two-state solution through a negotiated, diplomatic agreement.
Throughout all this, I’ve been clear that international law must be respected and upheld including the judgements of the ICC and ICJ.
Palestinian statehood is not in the gift of a neighbour; it is an inalienable right of the Palestinian people and the clear logic of any call for a two-state solution. Labour will work alongside international partners to recognise the state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel, as part of efforts to contribute to securing a negotiated two state solution.
There will not be a just and lasting peace until the occupation is brought to a permanent end, and both Palestinians and Israelis enjoy security, dignity and human rights. That is what my Labour Party is committed to. So, we will work to rebuild trust, to be a party that represents people here at home and calls for justice and peace on a world stage.
(With input from Anusha Singh)
