The government should ease migration rules for Indians coming to Britain if it wants to secure a post-Brexit trade deal with one of the world’s fastest growing economies, says the Commons foreign affairs committee.
The cross-party group of MPs has warned that Britain is falling behind other countries in the battle to forge ties with India as it becomes an economic giant. In 1999, the UK was India’s second-biggest trade partner but it has since fallen to 17th.
Tom Tugendhat, the Tory chair of the foreign affairs committee, said: “The government needs to make sure the UK is making its support for India clear, reawakening the ties between us and building bridges that are made to last.”
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Launched at the start of UK-India week, the committee’s report told ministers they must either reform migration rules or accept that strict controls will prevent a “global Britain” trading around the world after Brexit.
“There is a tension between the FCO’s [Foreign and Commonwealth Office] promotion of a ‘global Britain’ and some wider government efforts to reduce net migration,” says the committee’s report.
“While the global Britain strategy is barely being communicated in India, the ‘hostile environment’ message is being heard loud and clear.”
The committee has told ministers they “urgently” need to update their strategy on India and “cannot rely on historical links from the days of empire”.
There must be greater priority for post-Brexit trade talks with India, continues the MPs' report, which is calling on the government to prioritise the easy movement of people to come to Britain.
Although more than one million people of Indian heritage live in the UK, skilled workers, students and tourists find the migration system confusing, expensive and hostile, says the report.
“Facilitating the movement of these groups is inseparable from the goal of increasing trade with India,” it insists.
“We are concerned that government policy has been driven by the single-minded objective of reducing net migration.”
-
A private zoo run by Asia's richest family is facing criticism and investigationsUnder the radar The zoo is owned by Anant Ambani, the son of Asia's richest person
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
Delhi's dogs earn Supreme Court reprieveIN THE SPOTLIGHT After an outcry from the public and animal rights activists, India's Supreme Court walks back a controversial plan to round the city's stray dog population into shelters
-
India's fake weddingsUnder The Radar New party trend promises all the fun of a wedding without any of the downsides
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
Russia's 'shared values' visaThe Explainer The 'anti-woke' scheme is aimed at foreigners who reject LGBTQ+ rights and 'non-traditional' values – and who can provide Moscow with online clout and skilled workers
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
China looms large over India and Pakistan's latest violenceIN THE SPOTLIGHT Beijing may not have had troops on the ground, but as South Asia's two nuclear powers bared their teeth over Kashmir, China eyed an opportunity
