Comment: To stay on target, Starmer needs to decide where he’s aiming
The prime minister’s inheritance from the Conservatives on immigration numbers is a political gift – but a potential trap too, writes Sunder Katwala
Prime minister Keir Starmer (Photo: Getty Images)
By Sunder KatwalaDec 02, 2024
Targets are prime minister Sir Keir Starmer’s theme of this week. His ‘plan for government’ will set out the measurable milestones that Labour intends to deliver.
Targets do different things in government and politics. They signal priorities to the public and the government machine. They can drive progress – or distort systems if badly designed. Governments tend to overestimate the public impact of statistical updates. Feelings often shape perceptions more than facts. But nothing draws quite so much attention to a government target as a spectacular failure to hit it.
How many voters could recall even three of Rishi Sunak’s five key pledges two years ago? His only memorable pledge – “Stop the boats” – was patently undeliverable. It was the latest chapter in a litany of failed immigration targets.
For a decade, the Conservatives promised to reduce net migration to the “tens of thousands”. Boris Johnson ditched this target, which was always missed, on his first day as prime minister – seeing that “numbers game” as a trap. He then forgot his own advice, committing (albeit reluctantly) in his election manifesto to cut numbers from their 2019 level, yet giving that promise no weight in deciding post-Brexit policy. Net migration tripled.
The Office of National Statistics reports a final score for the last government of 728,000 in the 12 months before the general election, revising the peak of the year before up to 900,000. That record presented an open goal to Starmer. He could have made that about trust – promising one thing and doing the opposite – or incompetence, after pledges to ‘take back control’.
In escalating the charge to Brexit being used for “a one-nation experiment in open borders,” the prime minister echoed the hyperbole of defeated Tory leadership candidate Robert Jenrick, who claimed his own party “replaced freedom of movement with Europe with a system so liberal it amounted to freedom of movement with the rest of the world". Starmer’s aides wanted to throw a jibe - that the Conservatives often chuck at Labour - right back at them. He can legitimately make net migration peaking at 900,000 a recurring theme in the Prime Minister’s Questions knockabout.
Sunak's only memorable pledge – “Stop the boats” – was patently undeliverable
Taking his own “open borders” hyperbole seriously would misdiagnose both his inheritance and his future challenge. In truth, the rules for EU workers were more restrictive, while non-EU visas were liberalised. In opposition, Starmer’s Labour supported each of Johnson’s liberal measures, championing the Ukraine and Hong Kong visa schemes, the return of post-study work visas for overseas graduates, while critiquing the lack of effort on domestic training.
But Starmer could not have inherited a massive asylum backlog from an ‘open borders’ policy. Rather, that is the chaotic consequence of a fantasy plan to declare Britain closed to asylum seekers – without any real-world plan for tens of thousands stuck in limbo. The prime minister’s inheritance from the Conservatives on immigration numbers is a political gift – but a potential trap too.
Starmer will exceed expectations on overall immigration numbers, provided he does not now generate new expectations that he would struggle to meet. Only 12 per cent expect the numbers to fall in 12 months and 50 per cent think they will rise further. Yet sharp drops in the number of visas issued means net migration in the second half of this year is running at about half the peak level, as next spring’s statistics will confirm. Yet lower numbers may not be noticed if Channel crossings – 40,000 people compared with 1.25 million visas – remain visibly uncontrolled.
What happens after the numbers halve? Is Starmer committed to an auction where he competes with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform’s Nigel Farage over who can say the lowest number? This Labour government does not believe net migration targets work. They made no difference in the past. They do not differentiate over what helps or hinders growth. The government knows how many visas it has issued – but does not control emigration. That the Office for National Statistics (ONS) so dramatically revised the net migration statistics for 2022 and 2023 shows how difficult it is to target this number as the main policy goal.
Sunder Katwala
The government has no crystal ball of economic and geopolitical conditions to guess the right immigration level in four years’ time. So the government’s white paper should introduce a new approach to democratic control of immigration. Labour should commit to an annual immigration plan in the Commons – analogous to how the Budget decides tax and spending plans. When politicians propose budgetary changes, they are asked how they would pay for them. That rarely happens with proposals about immigration numbers.
A more structured process of engagement could take the policy choices more seriously – with more scrutiny of how the impacts of immigration are managed too. Politicians who want to keep their promises should not make promises they cannot keep. They can choose their targets. Accountability matters if those pledges are to be more meaningful than mere soundbites and slogans in future.
CANADIAN prime minister Mark Carney invited his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to the upcoming Group of Seven summit in a phone call on Friday (6), as the two sides look to mend ties after relations soured in the past two years.
The leaders agreed to remain in contact and looked forward to meeting at the G7 summit later this month, a readout from Carney's office said.
India is not a G7 member but can be invited as a guest to its annual gathering, which will be held this year in Kananaskis in the Canadian province of Alberta, from June 15 to 17.
"Glad to receive a call from Prime Minister (Carney) ... thanked him for the invitation to the G7 Summit," Modi said in a post on X.
Modi also stated in his post on Friday that India and Canada would work together "with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests."
Bilateral ties deteriorated after Canada accused India of involvement in a Sikh separatist leader's murder, and of attempting to interfere in two recent elections. Canada expelled several top Indian diplomats and consular officials in October 2024 after linking them to the murder and alleged a broader effort to target Indian dissidents in Canada.
New Delhi has denied the allegations, and expelled the same number of Canadian diplomats in response.
India is Canada's 10th largest trading partner and Canada is the biggest exporter of pulses, including lentils, to India.
Carney, who is trying to diversify trade away from the United States, said it made sense for the G7 to invite India, since it had the fifth-largest economy in the world and was at the heart of a number of supply chains.
"In addition, bilaterally, we have now agreed, importantly, to continued law enforcement dialogue, so there's been some progress on that, that recognizes issues of accountability. I extended the invitation to prime minister Modi in that context," he told reporters in Ottawa.
Four Indian nationals have been charged in the killing of the Sikh separatist leader.
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The Ancient India: Living traditions exhibition at the British Museum
The British Museum’s Ancient India: Living Traditions is among the most significant displays for Hindus, Jains, and Buddhists living in the UK.
Eastern Eye was given a tour of the exhibition by its curator, Dr Sushma Jansari, the Tabor Foundation curator of South Asia at the British Museum, and Kajal Meghani, the project curator, who has completed a PhD on the contributions of South Asian collectors to the museum.
A seated Jain enlightened teacherAshmolean Museum, University of Oxford
Highlights in the exhibition include: Ardhanarishvara, “lord who is half woman” – Shiva and Parvati combined in one deity – dated about 1790–1810; the Bimaran casket, about 1st century; Gaja-Lakshmi (“Elephant Lakshmi”), goddess of good fortune, about 1780; Ganesha made in Java from volcanic stone, about AD 1000–1200; the head of a grimacing yaksha, about second or third century; Naga, about 17th century; a sandstone figure of Ganesha from Uttar Pradesh, about AD 750; a seated Jain enlightened teacher in meditation, about AD 1150–1200; and a silk watercolour painting of the Buddha from China, about AD 701–750.
Ganesha from JavaAshmolean Museum, University of Oxford
Jansari said one of the aims of the exhibition was to connect the figures with visitors, especially practitioners of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism in the UK.
She said: “Most of them don’t know a great deal about Indian religions, so (this is) just to say that these might be ancient images, but they are and have always been under veneration. People do venerate them. This isn’t all about just one religious tradition. It’s about three of the indigenous religions of the subcontinent. You’ve got the Buddha, Ganesh and a Jain enlightened teacher (in close proximity).
A Chinese silk painting depicting the BuddhaAshmolean Museum, University of Oxford
“It was important for me, as a member of the South Asian diaspora, that I didn’t want to split up these traditions. I wanted very much to look at our collections and ask, what are the commonalities between Jainism, Hinduism and Buddhism.
“What are their artistic origins? Just as we live alongside each other, it was the same in the ancient past. It was even more fluid because you didn’t subscribe to just one particular religion. You would venerate at different shrines. You’d subscribe to different aspects of these different religions.”
ArdhanarishvaraAshmolean Museum, University of Oxford
She stopped at one point: “We wanted you to feel the atmosphere of ancient India. We’re in early India, maybe about the second century BCE. Most of the population live in the countryside. There are obviously some amazing cities as well, but we’re looking at the countryside.
Head of a grimacing yakshaAshmolean Museum, University of Oxford
You’re living in an agrarian society. The failure of your crops means famine, and the success of your crops means you are likely to survive another year with your family, and you will prosper. And we’re just trying to evoke that.”
In Indian mythology, a yaksha is a class of supernatural beings, often nature spirits or deities, that can be benevolent, mischievous, or even malevolent. They are frequently associated with water, fertility, trees, the forest, treasure, and wilderness. Yakshas are often depicted as guardians of places or treasures and can be found in Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist texts, as well as in temples throughout South and Southeast Asia.
“You can hear the sounds of nature,” continued Jansari. “Maybe you’re walking through a dappled forest, and then you encounter the yakshas, the yakshis and the (snake gods) nagas and the naginis. And these are some of the earliest images of deities in the subcontinent, shaped in human form, which is incredibly important, but it doesn’t mean that they’re consigned to the past. This is not ancient and long gone, like an exhibition of beautiful Greek or Roman art, but those deities are no longer under active worship. These have a long continuous life.”
NagaAshmolean Museum, University of Oxford
The yakshas and the yakshis were “not all lovely, happy figures,” said Jansari. “Actually, they need to be placated. You’ve got these grimacing yakshas here, and they’re clutching sacrificial animals.”
She pointed out a figure of “a voluptuous woman draped in jewellery. There’s lots of floral imagery. You are thinking about fecundity and plenty. But then you look a bit more closely at her hair, there are weapons emanating out. These are powerful, independent goddesses with a martial quality.”
The Bimaran casketAshmolean Museum, University of Oxford
Jansari spoke about snakes and why in many societies in India, particularly in rural parts, they tend not to be killed.
She explained: “The nagas and the naginis were independent, really powerful gods. And in a society where the monsoon is incredibly important for the success or failure of your crops, the snakes are vital. You’ve got lovely plenty of water, which means your crops are growing, which means there are more rodents and frogs. So having lots of snakes around is a really healthy sign. They were venerated. They were not killed. It was considered very bad karma to kill a snake. And even now, you still don’t kill snakes. Within nature spirits, it’s not only yakshas and yakshis and nagas and naginis it’s also animal-headed deities.” She talked about the genesis of the exhibition: “I really wanted to show the connections between this ancient religious art and nature, but also the religions themselves. There are so many similarities. There are also key differences. I wanted to make sure that this exhibition is not seen as ancient objects from abroad which have no meaning or purpose here in the UK. They absolutely do for large portions of our society. This is very much part of British culture. That’s how Belgrave Road (in Leicester) happens.”
Meghani looked at “how these faiths and the practices travelled, not just from India to the UK, but there is this weaving through East Africa and other places, and how these traditions change and are adapted to these spaces, how it allows people to maintain a sense of connection with their families and also their faith.”
The curators had consulted places of worship in the UK. They included the Buddhapadipa temple in Wimbledon, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden in north London, as well as the Oshwal Association of the UK in Potter’s Bar in Hertfordshire.
Meghani said: “This is one of the films we created with a community partner in Potter’s bar. Manjula Shah, who volunteers at Potter’s Bar, wakes up at the crack of dawn to get to the temple for 7 am. She’s preparing sandalwood paste, and she’ll use that in the ceremony.
“And we wanted to include sites in the UK to show how South Asians are still carrying on their veneration practices within Britain today.
” In Ancient India: Living traditions is at the British Museum until October 19, 2025.
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FILE PHOTO: Piyush Chawla. (Photo by INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP via Getty Images)
VETERAN leg-spinner Piyush Chawla, who played key roles in India's 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup victories, announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Friday (6) after more than two decades in the sport.
The 36-year-old made the announcement through an Instagram post, describing his decision as the end of an "incredible journey" while hinting at a new unspecified venture ahead.
"After more than two decades on the field, the time has come to bid adieu to the beautiful game," Chawla wrote. "Though I step away from the crease, cricket will always live within me. I now look forward to embarking on a new journey, carrying with me the spirit and lessons of this beautiful game."
Chawla represented India across all three formats, playing three Tests, 25 ODIs and seven T20 internationals, claiming 43 wickets in total. However, his most memorable contributions came as part of India's World Cup-winning squads in 2007 and 2011.
"From representing India at the highest level to being part of the victorious 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup squads, every moment in this incredible journey has been nothing short of a blessing," he said. "These memories will forever remain etched in my heart."
The spinner enjoyed particular success in the Indian Premier League, playing for four franchises during his career - Punjab Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians. He was part of KKR's 2014 IPL championship team and famously hit the winning runs in the final against Punjab Kings in Bengaluru.
Chawla paid tribute to the IPL franchises who showed faith in him, describing the tournament as "a truly special chapter in my career". He also thanked his coaches, particularly K.K. Gautam and the late Pankaj Saraswat, for nurturing his development.
The Uttar Pradesh player burst onto the cricket scene as a teenager, making his competitive debut at just 15 and his first-class debut at 17. He gained national attention when he bowled out batting legend Sachin Tendulkar with a googly during the Challenger Series in 2005-06.
In domestic cricket, Chawla accumulated over 1,000 wickets across all formats, representing India Under-19 and Uttar Pradesh Under-22 teams during his early career.
"Today is a deeply emotional day for me as I officially announce my retirement from all forms of international and domestic cricket," he said, paying special tribute to his late father. "A special mention to my late father, whose belief in me lit the path I walked. Without him, this journey would never have been possible."
(PTI)
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The inspiring motoring enthusiast spoke to Eastern Eye about female empowerment
In an industry long considered the domain of men and machines, Ritika Jatin Ahuja is rewriting the rules – at full throttle.
As the founder of Queen’s Drive Club, India’s first all-women supercar collective, Ahuja is on a mission to change how females are seen in the automotive world.
What began as a personal love for driving has blossomed into a nationwide movement, connecting women who share a passion for power, performance and the open road. She is also the chief operating officer of Big Boy Toyz, a leading pre-owned luxury car brand in India, founded by her husband Jatin Ahuja.
Having carved a bold path that merges business acumen with a powerful vision, Ahuja is proof that there is plenty of room for women – both behind the wheel of a Lamborghini and in leadership.
The inspiring motoring enthusiast spoke to Eastern Eye about female empowerment, the world of supercars, her groundbreaking club, and advice for women aiming to thrive in male-dominated fields.
Instagram/ ritika_jatin_ahuja
What made you want to launch an all-women supercar club?
When Jatin and his friends went for drives, they were always happy for me to join, but I wanted more women to share that experience. I started looking for female car enthusiasts, and Queen’s Drive Club was born. Today, we are India’s first and largest all-women supercar club.
Tell us about the club.
Queen’s Drive Club is about uplifting and empowering women. It breaks stereotypes around women and driving. We have built a community of women with shared interests and a desire to connect. With committed members, the club continues to grow.
What challenges did you face in establishing yourself in the supercar world?
One of the biggest challenges was entering a male-dominated industry where women were often overlooked. I overcame this by proving my capabilities and creating spaces for women to support each other. Queen’s Drive Club was born out of that need – a platform for women to express their passion for cars without judgement. Balancing a family business while creating my own identity was also difficult, but perseverance and focus helped me navigate it.
How has the perception of women in the automotive space changed since you began?
I see more women taking the wheel and participating confidently. It has been a long-time dream of mine to launch an initiative through the club to help women learn driving and eventually find employment as drivers. I have a friend who once hesitated to drive, thinking it would only mean chauffeuring the family. I helped her see the freedom driving offers – now, she is a huge car enthusiast.
How else is your platform empowering women?
Queen’s Drive Club has become a motivational space. People see us enjoying our drives and want to join. When women support each other, there’s no stopping us. We come from different walks of life, and our shared experiences create a beautiful synergy. The club has inspired many women to learn how to drive, creating a ripple effect.
As a mother of two, how do you manage a work–family balance?
I am very organised. I do not let my schedule overwhelm me and make sure to maintain a healthy balance between work and personal life. Even when work gets hectic, I always spend time with my children. Fortunately, Jatin is a very hands-on father, so we have a rhythm – one of us is always available. Weekends are strictly reserved for family.
What advice would you give to young women pursuing unconventional or challenging careers?
Dreams are important, but nothing happens until you take that first step. My advice to young women is to strive for independence – especially financial independence. Do not wait for someone to drive you or pay your way. Take control and create your own path.
What advice would you give women trying to succeed in male-dominated industries?
Stand your ground and communicate your boundaries. Be excellent at what you do – your work will speak for itself. There is nothing women cannot achieve. So many women have led by example, showing that nothing is impossible.
Which supercar best represents your personality?
I would say the Range Rover SVR – it is the perfect “mum car” with the right mix of power, performance, space and comfort. It is safe and dependable, which reflects how I like to manage both family and work. But when I am not with the kids, I enjoy the thrill of the Lamborghini Urus – bold, edgy and high-performing, just like my ambitious side.
Do you have a life mantra?
My mother, despite being incredibly studious and talented, did not have the freedom that many women enjoy today. Yet, she stood by me like a rock. Her support taught me to be fearless. My guiding mantra has always been: Everything can be achieved if you are willing to try. That mindset has helped me overcome every challenge.
You have ambitious goals for Big Boy Toyz and Queen’s Drive Club – what inspires you?
I am inspired by anyone who dares to dream and takes the steps to pursue it – whether that is my husband, my mother or everyday women breaking norms. But above all, I believe in self-inspiration. I am proud of what I have accomplished, and knowing I have made a difference keeps me moving forward.
Instagram: @ritika_jatin_ahuja & @queensdriveclub
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Foreign secretary David Lammy. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
FOREIGN SECRETARY David Lammy arrived in Delhi on Saturday (7) for a two-day visit aimed at strengthening economic and security ties with India, following the landmark free trade agreement finalised last month.
During his visit, Lammy will hold wide-ranging talks with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar and is scheduled to meet prime minister Narendra Modi, as well as commerce minister Piyush Goyal.
According to a statement, the discussions will focus on bilateral ties in areas of trade, defence and security, building on the ambitious free trade agreement (FTA) finalised on May 6.
The FTA represents the biggest deal the UK has finalised since leaving the European Union. Under the agreement, 99 per cent of Indian exports will be exempt from tariffs, while making it easier for British firms to export whisky, cars and other products to India.
"India was one of my first visits as Foreign Secretary, and since then has been a key partner in the delivery of our Plan for Change," Lammy said. "Signing a free trade agreement is just the start of our ambitions - we're building a modern partnership with India for a new global era. We want to go even further to foster an even closer relationship and cooperate when it comes to delivering growth, fostering innovative technology, tackling the climate crisis and delivering our migration priorities."
The minister will also welcome progress on migration partnerships, including ongoing efforts to safeguard citizens and secure borders in both countries. Migration remains a top priority for the government, with Lammy focused on working with international partners to strengthen the UK's border security.
Business investment will also feature prominently in the discussions, with Lammy set to meet leading Indian business figures to explore opportunities for greater Indian investment in Britain.
The current investment relationship already supports over 600,000 jobs across both countries, with more than 950 Indian-owned companies operating in the UK and over 650 British companies in India. For five consecutive years, India has been the UK's second-largest source of investment projects.
The talks will also address regional security concerns, with India expected to raise the issue of cross-border terrorism from Pakistan with the foreign secretary. The UK played a role in helping to de-escalate tensions during last month's military conflict between India and Pakistan, following the deadly Pahalgam terrorist attack in Kashmir.
Lammy had previously visited Islamabad from May 16, during which he welcomed the understanding between India and Pakistan to halt military actions.
His visit is also expected to lay the groundwork for a possible trip to New Delhi by prime minister Keir Starmer. This is Lammy's second visit to India as foreign secretary, following his inaugural trip in July when he announced the UK-India Technology Security Initiative focusing on collaboration in telecoms security and emerging technologies.