MAY WANTS TO BUILD ON INDIA TIES, BUT COOL ON VISA RULES
Prime Minister Theresa May is keen to build on the “very strong relationship” with India after Britain leaves the European Union but is unlikely to relax visa rules, a sticking point between the two countries. With the June 8 mid-term election approaching, May hopes to retain and widen support among the 1.5 million-strong Indian community. “I want to ensure that we build on the very strong relationship that we already have with India,” she told HT.
LONDON: Prime Minister Theresa May is keen to build on the “very strong relationship” with India after Britain leaves the European Union, but it is unlikely that visa rules will be relaxed as promised by some members of her cabinet during the June 2016 referendum.
Less than two weeks before the June 8 mid-term election, the ruling Conservative Party continues to lead opinion polls, but the gap with Labour is narrowing by the day. May hopes to retain and increase the support of the Indian community.
May told Hindustan Times on Monday that work was already on to ensure increased trade with India even before Britain leaves the EU, expected in mid-2019. She recalled having “lengthy discussions” on the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during her visit to India in 2016.
“I want to ensure that we build on the very strong relationship that we already have with India. I was very pleased to visit India last November with a trade mission… It’ s a huge ly dynamic economy. I met fantastic businesses there,” she said.
India has already indicated the mobility or visa issue will be a key issue in talks on a free trade agreement, but May indicated there is unlikely to be any relaxation of rules. The Conservative manifesto also promises to “bear down” on non-EU immigration.
“We have already made quite great strides in what we have provided in India, with the priority services, which are now being extended to the type of visas they cover. We are helping people to get swifter and smoother process of applying for visa for coming to the UK,” she said.
Talking about an anti-caste discrimination law, which has divided the Indian community in Britain, May said: “I recognise the sensitivity on the caste issue; there is a consultation taking place. There was wording put into the relevant legislation in the House of Lords by Labour and Liberal Democrats working together on that, but I realise how sensitive this issue is.”
May said if her government were returned to power, it will “look carefully” at the consultation results.
The Conservative Party is seen to be closer to the influential Hindu-Sikh lobbies that oppose the anti-caste discrimination law.
On the under-representation of minorities in Britain’s judiciary, armed forces and civil services, May said: “Under my predecessor as prime minister, there was a real push to increase diversity in judiciary.
“I know this is something that the current Lord Chancellor has taken up as well.
“The Indian community is a very important part of our society here in the UK. I want to see a country where how far somebody gets on is about their talents and their willingness to work hard, regardless of their background,” she added.