Marrakech – The resounding victory of Britain’s Labour Party in the recent snap general election has ushered in a new era of left-leaning leadership in the UK. As Prime Minister Keir Starmer assumes office, ending 14 years of Conservative rule, Morocco finds itself carefully assessing the implications for its key foreign policy objective – securing international recognition of its sovereignty over Western Sahara.
While the Conservatives have been generally supportive of Morocco’s position, particularly after the UK’s exit from the European Union (Brexit) in 2016, Labour has traditionally been more sympathetic to the Polisario Front, the Algeria-backed separatist group. This dynamic has raised concerns in Rabat that Labour’s rise could stall or even reverse the diplomatic progress made in recent years.
Relations between Rabat and London improved significantly under the Conservative government. On October 26, 2019, the two countries signed a landmark association agreement, which included the southern provinces of Morocco. This integration was subsequently validated by the courts, sparking anger among Polisario supporters.
Polisario Front leader Brahim Ghali was quick to congratulate Starmer on his election as Labour leader back in 2020, hailing the party’s “strong and continuous solidarity and unconditional support for the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination and freedom.” He expressed hope that under Starmer’s leadership, the UK would contribute to “ending colonialism in Western Sahara.”
Such statements have not been lost on Moroccan observers. While serving as opposition leader, Starmer refrained from taking a clear public stance on the issue. But his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn, known for his personal support of the Polisario cause, stated in 2019 that he had “long been a supporter of the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination.”
Labour MPs have consistently criticized the improvement in UK-Morocco relations over the Western Sahara issue. They have used written questions to the Foreign Office and spoken on behalf of the Polisario during meetings initiated by pro-Moroccan MPs advocating for recognition of Morocco’s claim to the territory.
Meanwhile, Jeremy Corbyn, the main defender of Polisario’s position in Parliament, currently sits as an independent MP. He was expelled from the Labour Party in 2020 by the current Prime Minister over allegations of anti-Semitism.
Morocco counts on strategic partnership to transcend party politics
Despite these concerning signals, many analysts believe the UK’s strategic calculus and Morocco’s growing importance as a partner will ultimately take precedence over any ideological affinities within Labour. Sabri Lhou, a lawyer and expert on international law, migration issues, and the Western Sahara conflict, told Morocco World News (MWN) he is convinced Labour’s victory “will not change the direction, nature, and pace in favor of Morocco.”
Elhou argued the dispute has moved beyond the realm of investigation and hesitation to a “decisive stage” characterized by clarity of conviction and boldness in decision-making. Major powers like the US have recognized Moroccan sovereignty, he noted, while over 80 countries have praised the Moroccan autonomy proposal as the most practical path forward. On the ground, Morocco’s development of the region is accelerating with the opening of foreign consulates and an influx of international investment.
Just as crucially, Elhou contended, Britain’s strategic orientation does not fundamentally change with the party in power. The “deep state establishment” plays a pivotal role in major foreign policy decisions, such as the choice to rapidly expand ties with Morocco in recent years across economic, commercial, agricultural, and energy domains. Landmark agreements like the UK-Morocco association deal covering Western Sahara products reflect this state-level commitment.
Even under Corbyn’s vocally pro-Polisario leadership, Labour was unable to alter this trajectory as the opposition party. The “general trend of the deep state” prevailed, Elhou said, distinguishing Corbyn’s personal views from Britain’s national interests, which ultimately align with Morocco.
He cited the example of the London Court of Appeal rejecting in December 2022 a lawsuit seeking to annul the UK-Morocco association agreement. In its ruling, the court said it had found no basis to differentiate the disputed region from Moroccan territory.
This “sacred” legal precedent, Elhou argued, constrains the actions of any British government, including Starmer’s, as it was based on international law and the legitimacy of Morocco’s historical rights rather than political expediency.
As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, Britain has also consistently voted for resolutions describing the Moroccan autonomy plan as “serious and credible” since 2007. It would be untenable, Elhou maintains, for a Labour government to dismiss all these precedents or contradict the UK’s strategic interests as defined by the political establishment and endorsed by the British people.
Geopolitical shifts test traditional left-right divide
Speaking to MWN, Professor Mohamed El Ghali, an expert in political science and constitutional law at Cadi Ayyad University in Marrakech, noted that the seismic geopolitical transformations underway make it difficult to predict with certainty the stances of European political parties on this issue, regardless of their ideological affiliations.
In the past, El Ghali said, the left championed its “progressive, liberationist” vision and any movement embracing such slogans found a strong affinity with this ideological current. Conservatives, by contrast, were known for their “innate, classical ability” to preserve the authentic and hold fast to fundamental cultural aspects.
But today, he argued, Labour must act to preserve Britain’s strategic interests, and it would be misguided to believe Starmer’s government could take steps that would seriously damage the UK’s relations with Morocco.
“The past few months have seen significant and important progress in Moroccan-British relations, economic and even political ties,” El Ghali noted. Managing these bonds strategically “does not depend on the nature of the political color, whether conservative or progressive, but rather on the management of these interests.”
As long as there is understanding and consensus between British and Moroccan leaders in this regard, preserving shared interests, “the Labor Party will undoubtedly not risk taking positions or decisions to undermine them.”
The coming weeks will provide an opportunity for Labour to conduct its assessments and set its framework, El Ghali said, predicting the UK’s new ruling party to undoubtedly “remain conservative on Britain’s strategic interests.” Current geopolitical shifts indicate the Moroccan-British relationship will serve as a model for future cooperation across many sectors, he added, especially in strategic economic areas related to energy.
The UK has forged landmark deals with Morocco to import green and blue electricity by harnessing the kingdom’s renewable potential, he noted. “Such qualitative advances in bilateral cooperation cannot be reconsidered under a Labour government, no matter the ideological background of some of its members.”
As Rabat braces for the uncertainty of PM Starmer’s approach, it will likely rely on the strength of the strategic partnership forged in recent years to weather any shifts in the political winds. But it will undoubtedly be watching closely for signs of Labour’s ultimate direction on a critical issue for Morocco’s future.
Read also: Western Sahara: Is UK Support for Morocco’s Territorial Integrity on the Horizon?
