“It does feel particularly special that I think this is the first time an event like this has taken place in Parliament,” said Sir Keir Starmer, the Leader of the UK Opposition, as he addressed a first event of its kind celebrating the 76th year of India’s Independence in the River Room of the House of Lords this week.
Reiterating his message from the keynote address at India Global Forum’s UK-India Week last month, the Labour Party Leader said he was committed to build a deeper strategic partnership between the UK and India.
He said: “That means our two great democracies working hand in hand to develop the three layers of security that define the modern world: global Security, climate security, which is going up and up the political agendas, and economic security… I believe India and the UK could provide solutions to the problems of tomorrow when we come together as a united force.”
With reference to the Opposition’s connect with the Indian diaspora, he stressed that he is leading a “changed Labour Party”.
“In the past, our party has not always got it right when engaging with India and with the diaspora. Under my leadership, a future Labour government will stand up for the rights of British Indians for work to ensure that all communities feel safe, secure and respected,” he added.
Organised by the British Indian think tank 1928 Institute with cross-party backing from the India (Trade and Investment) All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), the event began with a roundtable on the subject of ‘India and the Indo-Pacific’, which brought together diplomats from all major Indo-Pacific countries for deliberations on this crucial geopolitical dynamic.
Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami said: “One of the key pillars that binds us together is the community of people of Indian origin. You have essentially been a model community here. Your success has been a source of pride to both countries.
“It’s a great pleasure to be here to commemorate what 76 years of India and the UK has meant, but more importantly to be able to look at what the next 76 years will look like. In all that, I'm confident that irrespective of politics, the India-UK friendship will be one of the pillars of the world order going ahead.”
Baroness Sandy Verma, President of the India (Trade & Investment) APPG, and co-chair Lord Karan Bilimoria were among those who addressed the gathering that was also attended by Trade Minister Nigel Huddleston and Indo-Pacific Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan among other parliamentarians.
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