Bruised Tories May Turn More Right By Joining Hands With Nigel Farage

Amidst the euphoria of massive victory for Labour party in the parliamentary elections in Britain, there is certainly a bad news for its leader and now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer that his arch bête noire Jeremy Corbyn has defeated Keir’s nominee with a huge margin from the traditional Labour constituency. This may be inconsequential development. But certainly, it sends a strong message that Labour rank and file are not fully with Keir Starmer notwithstanding his leading the Labour to a big win. In July 4 polls.

Even the rightist leader Nigel Farage holds this view. Just after the results were announced, he came out with his prophetic observation that “historic Labour win isn’t rise of the Left”. While Conservatives, the party symbolizing the rightist politics and philosophy badly lost the election, it is noteworthy that Nigel Farage’s right wing Reformist UK, the party which was floated just five weeks ahead of the election, emerged as the third-largest in the UK in terms of vote share.

It is astonishing how could Rishi Sunak not feel the pulse of the people and the political changes, precisely shift of personal loyalty, is taking place at the ground level. The right leaning voters and people deserted their old party and opted for Reform UK. This underscores deficit of trust in the present Conservative leaders.

In this backdrop, victory of Keir’s Labour Party ought to be not treated as the victory of the left. Victory of Corbyn and the rise of Nigel Farage and his right-wing Reform UK make it explicit that it would be wrong to say that the UK election is about the rise of the pro people Labour Party instead it symbolises resurrection of centre right politics in another format. The Left leaders of the Party have been ousted or under subjugation.

Farage’s Reform UK, just within five weeks of its formation succeeded in getting 14.3% of the votes which comes as a counter to the Labour’s sweep of the polls. But Labour managed to increase its vote share by just 1.7 per cent from its earlier vote share of 33.9 per cent achieved under Corbyn’s leadership. Obviously it implied that Keir has not done some big magic.

The Britons hold the view that Tory became victim to its internal sabotage, something like palace intrigues. Ever since Sunak revolted against Boris Johnson and became Prime Minister, Boris, the former prime minister has been creating problems for him. Some six months back even a plan was hatched to unseat him. Interestingly Boris congratulated his old pal Nigel Farage but ignored Keir Starmer, the man who led the Labour Party to a landslide. At one stage Farage had shown solidarity with Boris Johnson’s move to pull down Sunak.

Rumours are making the round in the Conservative circle that some of the Tory leaders may prefer to thrown their support to Farage and join him. These leaders believe that Tories are not capable to challenge Labour. They are looking towards Farage how his Reform UK changes and shapes up the UK politics. Meanwhile a section of the senior Tory leaders nurse the view that Farage should come back and his Reform UK is accommodated by the Conservatives.

At least three main reasons are being cited for Conservative defeat and Sunak’s poor leadership. First has been his decision to leave early from the 80-year D-day commemorations in northern France on June 6. It was perceived as his disrespect to the veterans and diminished the U.K.’s international standing. Other world leaders including President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy all were present. Labour leader Keir Starmer was also present.

His second reason that is being mentioned is his lack of understanding of Britain’s economy. He boasted a lot but could not offer a viable alternative, the idea to overcome the crisis. Even the top bankers and economists were sceptical of his moves. His pedigree could not help him much beyond a certain stage.

The third reason has been his identifying with Narendra Modi and Hindutva too much. This stance distanced the Muslims as also the secular Hindus of Indian origin from Sunak’s party. He had made point to eulogise Modi at any event. Hindu organisations close to RSS have words of praise for him. Sunak took pride in identifying himself as Hindu. Initially the Hindus of Britain admired Modi for all his actions and decisions. But in recent months they had turned bitter critics. This attitudinal change primarily owes to Rahul’s meetings and discussions with the members of Indian diaspora. Sunak ironically failed to pickup this signal and continued to extend his support to Modi. The election results make apparent the massive switch over of the Indian diaspora members to Labour.

Indians are in quite large number in Britain. Currently, the British Indian population exceeds 1.9 million people in the UK, making them the single largest visible ethnic minority population in the country. 42.9% of people from the Indian ethnic group were born in the UK. In 2021, people born outside the UK made up an estimated 14.4% of the UK’s population, or 9.5 million people. According to a study, the percentage of Indian population in the age groups of 30 to 34 is 11.2 per cent in comparison to white British who constitute 5.6 per cent; 20 to 24 6.3% and 8.4%; 15 to 19 6.2% and 5.9%.

It is also a fact that Indians by and large keep distance from Labour, though it has many Indian faces as its leaders. The reason is obvious. They don’t intend to jeopardize their interest. They were against Corbyn and his left wing policies. After the takeover of the Labour Party by Starmer, many of those Indians supporting the Tories shifted to Labour despite having an India origin Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The British Indians will be watching the moves of the new Labour Prime Minister. (IPA Service)