Prime Minister Keir Starmer has finally done something worth praising—he’s secured a trade deal with India after years of difficult talks, and that’s a big win not just for him, but for the UK too.
I’ve spent the past 10 months pointing out everything Labour has done wrong, and most of the time, there’s been plenty to criticize. But this time, credit where it’s due.
In addition to this India deal, Starmer has also handled the Ukraine situation fairly well and managed to deal with Donald Trump in a calm and steady way. That’s three things he’s done reasonably well.
Some people are trying to pick holes in this trade deal with India, but they’re missing the point. Making a trade agreement with one of the world’s biggest economies is exactly what Britain should be doing post-Brexit. It’s one of those rare, clear benefits of leaving the EU, something Brexiteers have wanted and Remainers feared. This deal helps strengthen the UK’s position outside the EU.
Boris Johnson actually started these talks when he was Prime Minister, so Conservatives should be pleased that Starmer has been able to finish the job. Of course, opposition leaders like Kemi Badenoch are expected to criticize anything Labour does—it’s part of their role—but hopefully this time she can just acknowledge it’s a good move and move on.
Some people might be concerned about immigration because of this deal, and that’s understandable. The UK’s immigration system does need fixing. But this deal isn’t about opening the floodgates. It’s focused on trade, not immigration.
Daniel Hannan, a strong Brexit supporter, wrote in the Telegraph that there’s no truth to the rumors about a big influx of Indian students or easier immigration. The deal simply allows a limited number of short-term business visas—people who won’t stay in the UK or settle here.
There’s also been a fuss over Indian workers being exempt from paying National Insurance while they’re here. But this isn’t something new or shady—it’s a standard tax agreement we have with lots of countries. These workers won’t be here long enough to claim UK benefits or pensions, so they’ll keep paying their national insurance in India, where they’ll return after a few years. It just prevents them from being taxed twice.
So no, this deal doesn’t make immigration worse—and it brings a lot of benefits.
It will reduce taxes on British exports, making it cheaper to sell our products in India. That’s great news for major UK businesses like Jaguar, JCB, Tetley, and other producers of whisky, gin, electronics, medical gear, beauty products, food like lamb, salmon, chocolate, and luxury cars. The deal also opens the door to India’s massive financial services market.
In return, we’ll get more affordable Indian goods like clothes, shoes, and frozen prawns.
It’s also a bit of a quiet victory for those who always go on about the British Empire. India seems to have moved on. We ruled them for centuries, and now they’re doing business with us like equals.
We even beat the EU in signing a deal with India—which is exactly the kind of quick, independent trade action Brexit was supposed to allow.
Free trade is something Britain should always support. While there are threats to it globally, including from people like Trump, even Labour is backing it now.
So instead of looking for problems, let’s enjoy this rare bit of good news. Maybe even celebrate with a few frozen prawns from India—now cheaper than ever.
