THE Prime Minister’s flagship trade deal with India is in serious jeopardy after Indian ministers reacted furiously to comments made by the Home Secretary.
Last week, Suella Braverman said she had “concerns” about the trade deal because it would increase migration to the UK - and Indians represented the largest group of visa overstayers.
She told The Spectator magazine: “I do have some reservations. Look at migration in this country – the largest group of people who overstay are Indian migrants.”
The Times reports that the comments sparked a furious reaction from Indian government ministers and officials.
A source in Delhi told the newspaper they were “shocked and disappointed” by the “disrespectful” remarks.
Indian government sources said the “relationship has taken a step back” following the Home Secretary’s comments.
They added: “There’s still a lot of goodwill but if certain individuals are still embedded in the government it will paralyse the talks.”
They said Truss should publicly “disassociate” herself from the comments made by Braverman is she wanted to revive the deal.
Delhi is demanding more work and study visa for its citizens, including a new visa that would emulate a deal made with Australia and New Zealand which allows under-35ss to live in the UK for up to three years.
The enhanced terms are referred to as “mobility” in talks.
A senior UK Government source told the newspaper: “Mobility has been the key Indian ask and everything else – financial services, banking, education, rules of origin on whisky, etc, hinges on the mobility ask.
“And Suella has gone and pulled the rug from under that mobility ask.”
A UK Government source who spoke with Indian officials involved with trade negotiations said: “They were apoplectic. Mad doesn’t even come close to describing how angry they are.”
Truss had hoped the trade deal would be finalised on October 24, although that timetable had been doubtful, with one UK Government source saying only 40% of the chapters of the deal had been completed.
A Home Office source has insisted that Braverman and Truss were aligned on concerns about higher immigration.
They said: “The reality is that of course immigration forms part of every single trade negotiation but it’s very clear that the Prime Minister and Home Secretary are very united on this and approaching it in the same direction.”
A Department for International Trade representative said: “We have a close, positive working relationship with India and a thriving trade partnership worth £24 billion in 2021.
“We continue to seek improvements to our current trading relationship. This is why we are negotiating a high-ambition free trade agreement.
“We remain clear we won’t sacrifice quality for speed and will only sign when we have a deal that meets both countries’ interests.”
