Keir Starmer and Narendra Modi to sign UK-India trade deal
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Keir Starmer and Narendra Modi to sign UK-India trade deal – UK politics live
Narendra Modi is in London to sign a £4.8bn trade deal with the UK. The deal will see tariffs cut on goods and increase market access for both countries. For India, it marks its first major free trade pact outside Asia. A record number of police officers were sacked from forces in England and Wales in the past year. Charities have warned of the increasing danger to asylum seekers posed by far-right protesters after small boat arrivals were moved from their usual landing place in Dover to further along the coast. Newly appointed shadow housing secretary James Cleverly has criticised the prime minister for a ‘disconnect from reality’ when it comes to housing asylum seekers. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has called for the force’s chief constable to resign after claims officers ‘bussed’ counter-demonstrators to a hotel housing Asylum seekers in Epping. The Home Office data reveals 426 officers were dismissed or had their contracts terminated in the 12 months to March, up 17% year on year from the previous record of 365.
Hello and welcome to the UK politics blog. I’m Tom Ambrose and I will be bringing you all the latest news lines throughout the day.
We start with the news that India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, is visiting London to sign a landmark free trade agreement between his country and the UK.
Modi, who arrived yesterday, is expected to sign the long-awaited deal later on Thursday, which will see tariffs cut on goods and increase market access for both countries.
He is also due to speak with prime minister Keir Starmer and meet King Charles before leaving for the Maldives.
For Britain, eager to score a post-Brexit win, the £4.8bn deal is its most economically significant trade agreement since leaving the EU. For India, it marks its first major free trade pact outside Asia. For both, analysts say, the agreement signals a long-term economic partnership.
“The UK and India, in many ways we have complementarities. We have had a historical relationship. It’s good to have a deeper trade relationship,” said Indian economist Sanjaya Baru.
India stood firm on key demands during negotiations, winning concessions on work visas, recognition of professional qualifications, and exemptions from national insurance contributions for Indian nationals working temporarily in the UK, all longstanding sticking points.
Modi, accompanied by his commerce minister, Piyush Goyal, who led the negotiations, can claim India held its ground while the UK compromised, bolstering his message of India’s rising global clout.
However, the deal must still be ratified by both parliaments, likely delaying implementation until mid-2026.
For more detail, see our full report here:
And for a full analysis of the deal, see my colleague Eleni Courea’s piece:
In other news:
Newly appointed shadow housing secretary James Cleverly has criticised the prime minister for a “disconnect from reality” when it comes to housing asylum seekers. The Tory MP and former home secretary said asylum hotels are being reopened and that more asylum seekers are likely to be sent to an accommodation centre in his own constituency of Braintree.
Essex police have denied claims officers “bussed” counter-demonstrators to a protest outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Epping last week. The claims have promoted a call from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage for the force’s chief constable to resign. Clacton MP Farage earlier posted a video on X, saying: “This video proves EssexPoliceUK transported left-wing protesters to The Bell hotel in Epping. There is no way Chief Constable BJ Harrington can stay in position.”
A record number of police officers were sacked from forces in England and Wales in the past year, new figures show. Latest Home Office data reveals 426 officers were dismissed or had their contracts terminated in the 12 months to March. This is up 17% year on year from the previous record of 365 and more than double the number fired at the start of the decade, when 164 officers were dismissed in 2019/20.
Kemi Badenoch blamed Labour for the strains on social cohesion highlighted by deputy prime minister Angela Rayner. The Conservative leader said: “I’m surprised it’s taken her this long to actually understand what is going on.” Speaking in north-west London she said Hillingdon council had a £17m deficit because it has had asylum seekers “dumped on their doorstep”.
Charities have warned of the increasing danger to asylum seekers posed by far-right protesters after small boat arrivals were moved from their usual landing place in Dover to further along the coast to avoid clashes. The Guardian understands that Home Office officials received intelligence that some of those participating in what was billed the Great British National Protest in Dover on Saturday afternoon could have been planning to target Kent Intake Unit, where small boat arrivals are initially processed after being escorted to shore in Dover by the Border Force.
Reform UK councillors have been accused of hypocrisy after voting to spend £150,000 on hiring political advisers at a county council despite pledging to cut waste and save money. The plans were put forward by Reform councillor George Finch, a 19-year-old who was narrowly elected as the leader of Warwickshire county council during a meeting on Tuesday, which was picketed by protesters.