After the Citizenship Amendment Bill, UK elections have been the much-talked affair on the social media by the Indians.  Even the recently concluded Canadian Parliamentary elections where the New Democratic Party (NDP) led by the Canadian-Indian Jagmeet Singh who emerged as King maker with 24 seats also failed to elicit as much interest as the UK elections.  Indian Diaspora in Canada accounts for 4% of the total population and has a fairly dominant electoral presence unlike the 1.5 million Indian origin people in UK which account for 2.3% of total UK population. Then, what made Indians watch the UK elections so keenly? All this distils down to the unwarranted interventions of the UK Labour Party in India’s domestic affairs.

On August 5^th, in line with the constitutionally laid out legislative procedure Modi government having obtained consent of two-thirds of elected representatives in both the houses, revoked special status granted to the state of Jammu & Kashmir. Incensed Pakistan by India’s historic decision, it mobilised anti-India propaganda blitzkrieg through its diaspora. On August 10^th Pakistani origin Muslim MPs of Labour party forwarded letters to Prime Minister Boris Johnson to “strongly condemn” India for abrogating article 370. Conservative leader MP Bob Blackman shot back at Labour party stating that India is “perfectly entitled” to implement its election manifesto and advised that UK should keep away from the domestic affairs of a third country. Acknowledging the concerns of Muslim MPs, on Aug 11^th Jeremy Corbyn tweeted, “The situation in Kashmir is deeply disturbing. Human rights abuses taking place in Kashmir are unacceptable. The rights of Kashmiri people must be respected and UN resolutions implemented.”

With the tacit support of Labour party pro-Pakistani supporters under the garb of protests attacked women and children assembled at the Indian Embassy to celebrate Independence Day. India took strong objection to the protests, but Mayor Sadiq Khan and Corbyn refused to condemn the rally of over 10,000 protestors who descended on London. Emboldened by their silence, they marched again on September 7^th, hurled eggs, stones on the Indian Embassy. Labour party which has been a platform for anti-India lobby, Khalistanis and Islamists didn’t express any regrets for the second attack.

It is no secret that Labour had an uneasy relationship with India especially after Modi’s ascent to power. He reluctantly called upon Modi on his visit to London in 2015. Barely a year after the Brexit, UK shadow foreign minister Emily Thornberg in her conversation with Indian Journalists Association hinted that UK will invariably, “incorporate human rights into post-Brexit trade deal” and criticised India’s plans to deport illegal Rohingyas infiltrators. Corbyn who has never hidden his dislike for India, in contravention to norms of international politics, allowed Labour party to pass an emergency motion on an internal issue of India on September 25^th.

The resolution called upon Corbyn to seek the entry of international observers into Kashmir to demand for the self-determination of the people.  It stated, “accept that Kashmir is a disputed territory and the people of Kashmir should be given the right of self-determination in accordance with UN resolutions”. Pandering to the interests of its dedicated vote-bank, Labour Party left no stone unturned to rake up India’s domestic affair for its narrow political gains. Labour party’s brazen politicisation has evoked the backlash of the Indian Diaspora.

With an eye on the Muslim vote bank who constitute 5% of the UK population, Corbyn took to divisive politics. Liberal Democrats and Labour Party vied for support of Muslim community. During the election campaigning both toed an anti-India line. He met Indian Overseas Congress group which had expressed its disappointment with revocation of article 370 to create fissures among Indian groups. Despite Corbyn’s politicking, displaying rare unity, many from the Indian Diaspora demanded the retraction of Labour’s anti-India resolution. Though Indian-origin Labour leaders Keith Vaz and Virendra Sharma prevailed on the party to recall the motion, Corbyn didn’t change a word of it and alleged it was misinterpreted. Labour Party didn’t budge.

Despite the episodes of two violent protests, Pro-Pakistani groups under the banner of “Free Kashmir” planned a demonstration coinciding Diwali day. But neither the Labour party nor the mayor of London made any attempts to stop it. After strong complaints from Indian Embassy and MEA UK restricted the march after Johnson weighed in. Miffed by Labour’s obduracy, Indian groups in a joint statement termed its approval for march on Diwali as an “act of Hinduphobia and racism”.  

Indians have traditionally supported the Labour party but Corbyn’s move to placate the Pro-Pakistanis undermining the sensitivities of the Indian Diaspora is not lost on them. With elections seemingly imminent, Corbyn greeted Indians on Diwali and made hurried temple runs. But Corbyn’s anti-India stance ostensibly sprouted seeds of discontentment in Indian Diaspora. Exacerbating these rifts, Labour party even denied enough representation to the Indian candidates in the elections. Corbyn’s antipathy towards Jewish community and his regrettable arrogance to apologise for his anti-Semitic remarks generated angst among Jewish community. His unabashed appeasement, compulsive obsession to be politically right, an illusionary utopia of socialistic liberalism which offered no solutions Brexit have driven people away from the party and the self-styled “international leader”. Corbyn’s anti-Semitism, overt Hinduphobia, benign overtures towards Hamas and Hezbollah, support for the Irish Republic movement evoked questions about his integrity.

In sharp contrast, Johnson pledged to strengthen ties and trade engagement with India post-Brexit and lauded Modi’s nation building efforts. Adopting a wait and watch policy, conservatives maintained that Kashmir was a bilateral issue. Corbyn’s defiance to even alter a word in the Kashmir resolution is the final nail the coffin. Irked by his irredeemable anti-Indian stance a resilient and united Indian Diaspora voted enmasse against the party. Indian Diaspora which is known to be highly influential in their adopted country has for the first time delivered an impactful verdict driving home a message. This voting pattern should alert political outfits (intent on ganging up against India) in countries with sizeable Indian Diaspora.

2019 UK general elections, a third in four years delivered a comprehensive mandate to Conservative Party led by Prime Minister Boris Johnson who promised to get Brexit done by Jan 31^st 2020. Conservatives registered their greatest victory since Margret Thatcher’s 1983 mandate winning 365 seats polling 43.6% votes way ahead of the majority mark of 326. Labour tasted its worst defeat since 1935 obtaining 203 seats. Campaigning against Brexit, Nicolas Sturgeon’s Scottish National Party lapped up 48 seats up by 13 seats. 

Fatigued by the Brexit impasse that missed three deadlines voters turned out in huge numbers and delivered decisive mandate. Conjectured as ill-prepared, disorganised politician with a mop of ruffled blonde hair, the gaffe-prone Johnson, a product of Oxford is deemed as an elitist in British political circles. Infamous for his affairs, and regarded as wunderkind, he made no secret of his desire to be Prime Minister.

Pursuing career in journalism, he became an editor at the age of 35 and simultaneously forayed into politics. Defeating the Labour party in its bastion, London he became mayor in 2008 and got re-elected in 2012. As a mayor he reduced crime rate of the city, build more houses, introduced rent a bike scheme and presided over the 2012 Summer Olympics. Not good at playing a second fiddle, he failed to enthuse as foreign secretary under Prime Minister Theresa May. He unceremoniously exited after failing to rescue a British citizen jailed in Iran on her visit to the country on charges of spying.

Being an avid Brexiteer, after May failed to deliver, Johnson emerged as a favourite in the selection process that lasted for six weeks. Irresolutely committed to extricate UK from the EU even without a deal, he even prorogued the Parliament. Crippled by the absence of absolute majority to facilitate a Brexit, he finally announced elections needed to divorce EU.

Unlike Corbyn who is hostile to India, Johnson is intent on deepening ties with India. While Indo-UK took a hit due to May’s chaotic immigration policy, Priti Patel has promised to overhaul the immigration plan and introduce Australian-style point system. Johnson who brooks no complacency towards terrorism can be an effective partner in India’s counter terror cooperation. His election can be a big boost to Indo-UK bilateral relationship. In all, 15 Indian-origin Brits got elected, seven each from conservatives and Labour and one from Liberal Democratic Party the highest ever so far.

References:

1. https://www.livemint.com/news/india/article-370-protests-in-uk-as-british-mps-launch-tit-for-tat-letters-1565451370354.html
2. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/labour-party-concerned-about-kashmiri-human-rights-emily-thornberry/articleshow/61374616.cms
3. https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2019/09/26/uk-labour-party-passes-resolution-self-determination-kashmir-india-blasts-move.html
4. https://www.theweek.in/news/world/2019/12/11/how-indian-diaspora-kashmir-issue-could-turn-uk-elections-thursday.html
5. https://quillette.com/2019/07/23/cometh-the-hour-cometh-the-man-a-profile-of-boris-johnson/