Sir Keir Starmer has just sold Britain to the Indians without a shot being fired, says Patrick Christys

British workers are feeling the pressure more than ever. Taxes have gone up, especially National Insurance, meaning everyday people are seeing less of their wages. In the middle of this, the UK government, under Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, has just signed a new trade deal with India that’s raising a lot of eyebrows.

The deal was presented as a big win. The Prime Minister proudly called it fantastic news for British businesses, workers, and shoppers. It was supposed to bring more money into the economy and boost trade between the two countries.

But shortly after the announcement, things started to look different. While the UK government highlighted the economic benefits, the Indian government quickly issued a statement calling it a massive success  not just for trade, but for making it easier for Indians to move to and work in Britain.

One of the biggest talking points is the tax arrangement included in the deal. Indian citizens who come to work in the UK, and British citizens who go to work in India, won’t have to pay National Insurance in their host country for the first three years.

That might sound like a fair exchange, but in reality, more Indians are likely to move to the UK than the other way around. So, Indian workers will get to earn money in Britain without paying into the system that supports health care, pensions, and other public services  things British workers continue to fund through their own taxes.

Political commentator Patrick Christys has criticised this move, saying it puts British workers at a disadvantage. While Labour has already raised National Insurance for Brits, this deal now creates a loophole that allows incoming Indian workers to avoid paying that same tax.

Employers might prefer hiring them because they can potentially be paid less, and that could mean fewer job opportunities and lower wages for people born and working here.

The Labour Party insists that this deal does not change the UK’s immigration laws. But Indian officials say otherwise, explaining that Indian chefs, musicians, yoga instructors, and other skilled professionals will now be able to apply for UK work visas under this agreement  something that wasn’t possible before.

That raises questions about who’s really in control of the deal and how honest the UK government has been with the British public.

When asked about the real impact of the deal, the UK Government said it would add £4.8 billion to the economy and raise wages by £2.2 billion a year by 2040. But some are challenging those numbers.

A Conservative MP argued that the actual increase to the UK economy will only be about 0.1%, and that there will be no real improvement to income per person. Some even fear the deal might end up costing the country money in the long run.

There are also serious concerns about enforcement and past experience. In 2020, more Indian nationals overstayed their UK visas than people from any other country over 20,000 individuals stayed illegally.

A recent report also showed that by 2025, around 3,561 Indian nationals were claiming benefits in the UK, making them one of the top five foreign national groups receiving support from the British taxpayer.

So now British citizens are left asking: how is this fair? They’re paying more taxes than ever, but foreign workers are being welcomed in under special terms that allow them to skip out on contributing to the same system.

If these workers end up out of a job or in need of support, it will be the British taxpayer footing the bill. For many, it feels like the government has made a decision that benefits outsiders more than the people who live and work here every day. Some are even going as far as to say that Britain is being handed away  not through conflict, but through quiet policy decisions that the public barely got to question.