London
Kemi Badenoch, the former UK business and trade secretary, has claimed that her refusal to accommodate India’s visa demands was a key reason for blocking the India-UK free trade agreement (FTA), according to reports on Saturday. As she vies to succeed Rishi Sunak as Conservative Party leader, Badenoch stated that during her tenure, India sought more concessions on immigration, which she opposed.
Badenoch reportedly told The Telegraph that while she aimed to limit immigration, India was persistent in linking the FTA to migration issues. ‘It’s one of the reasons why we didn’t sign it,’ she said. However, former Tory ministers countered her claims in The Times, arguing that Badenoch had been eager to secure a deal, having overseen multiple negotiation rounds aimed at enhancing the £38 billion annual trade relationship.
A former Cabinet minister criticized Badenoch’s approach, asserting that the balance of power favored India during negotiations. ‘There was a lot more pressure on us to do all the running,’ they noted. In contrast, a source close to Badenoch denied that she was willing to sign any deal that altered UK immigration rules, claiming that India was holding out for potentially better terms under a Labour government.
As negotiations for the FTA are set to resume under a Labour administration led by Keir Starmer, officials in the UK have not provided a timeline for future discussions after 14 previous rounds. A spokesperson reiterated the UK’s commitment to finalizing a trade deal with India as soon as possible. The new Conservative Party leader will be announced on November 2, following Sunak’s resignation after the party’s electoral defeat.
