The move represents an olive branch to Delhi after an outraged Indian government put plans for an agreement on ice in response to home secretary Suella Braverman’s comments about Indian migrants.
Mr Sunak, who is set to meet Indian PM Narendra Modi on the margins of the G20 summit in Indonesia today, said it formed part of a new tilt” towards the Indo-Pacific region, which will become a greater priority in UK foreign policy under his premiership. However, he distanced himself from the deadline-driven approach to trade deals adopted by his predecessors Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, insisting he would not sacrifice quality for speed”.
His comment came a day after ex-cabinet minister George Eustice criticised an over-hasty Liz Truss for delivering pacts with Australia and New Zealand as trade secretary which were bad for Britain. As PM, Mr. Johnson pledged to complete the Indian deal, with a value estimated by the government at 24bn, by Diwali. But with the UK government seemingly unwilling to budge on India’s demand for more work and study visas, the date passed without agreement last month.
An initial agreement on the UK-India Young Professionals Scheme was reached by then home secretary Priti Patel in 2021, as part of a deal which will also make it easier for Britain to return individuals who overstay their visas. But it had not yet come into effect, and Mr Sunak’s final green light was needed for the first young people to come to the UK in early 2023.
Denne historien er fra November 16, 2022-utgaven av The Independent.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra November 16, 2022-utgaven av The Independent.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Ireland hold off Argentina fightback in narrow victory
Ireland survived a major scare as they kickstarted their autumn campaign by holding off a spirited Argentina side to return to winning ways with an unconvincing 22-19 victory in Dublin.
Revamped England hope to disrupt mighty Springboks
The mixed memories of an enchanting Paris evening cut short have swirled in English heads for 13 months.
England find a new way to play... without their captain
Once again, Harry Kane is the first name on the England football team teamsheet.
EU allies are impatient for Brexit reset, Starmer is told
Sir Keir Starmer has been urged to step up his plans for a postBrexit reset of relations with the European Union after an unprecedented warning from the Bank of England.
Cop climate talks no longer fit for purpose, say experts
Former high-ranking UN officials have written an open letter calling for a complete overhaul of the Cop talks, stating that the process is \"no longer fit for purpose\" in dealing with a rapidly intensifying climate crisis.
Ukraine will have to pay the price for Putin and Trump's delusions about one another
Tom Watling speaks to US and British former officials about the overconfidence of the president-elect and Russia's leader
Iran 'won't block Lebanon' in ceasefire talks with Israel
Iran will back any decision taken by Lebanon in talks to secure a ceasefire with Israel, a senior Iranian official has said, signalling Tehran wants to see an end to a conflict that has dealt heavy blows to its Lebanese ally, Hezbollah.
RFK Jr faces pushback to nomination from the right
Robert F Kennedy Jr is facing criticism from proand antiabortion activists, arguing he is not a conviction politician
Met Office says winter is coming with 20cm of snow
The Met Office has issued several yellow weather warnings for snow and ice for this weekend and the start of next week.
Five guilty of killing teens in mistaken identity case
A man and four teenagers were found guilty yesterday of murdering two boys in a case of mistaken identity in a botched revenge attack.
