On Tuesday, 26 October, Conservative MP Bob Blackman filed an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons to reassert India’s sovereignty over Jammu and Kashmir. The motion ties the day to the 1947 Instrument of Accession signed by Maharaja Hari Singh and notes that the region was reorganised as a Union Territory in 2019, with Ladakh carved out as a separate entity.
Three cross‑party MPs—Labour’s Gill Furniss, the Democratic Unionist Party’s Jim Shannon, and the Liberal Democrat Luke Taylor—signed the motion, signalling a rare bipartisan consensus on the matter. Their support underscores the UK Parliament’s willingness to engage on sensitive foreign policy issues.
The motion expresses sympathy for civilians killed and injured in terror attacks, including those in the so‑called Pakistan‑occupied regions, and mourns the ongoing targeted killings of Kashmiri Pandits. It recognises the cultural contribution of British residents of Kashmiri descent and welcomes peaceful commemorations that promote historical literacy— a sentiment echoed by a London‑based Kashmiri‑descended activist who said the motion validates her community’s heritage.
By invoking Accession Day, the motion sends a clear diplomatic message that the UK respects India’s territorial integrity. The motion is now awaiting debate, and its passage could strengthen bilateral ties ahead of the upcoming India‑UK trade summit.