UK/India Trade Deal: Only a fraction of what we could get from the EU

EMBARGO: Immediate Release 

Responding to the signing of the UK/India trade deal being signed this morning, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Calum Miller MP said:

"We support the opening of trade, which is vital in the face of the tariff wars launched by Donald Trump. But the gains from this deal are a small fraction of what the Government could deliver for jobs and growth from a better deal with the EU.

“The Government needs to cut the mountains of red-tape - ushered in by the Conservatives' botched deal - that currently holds up trade with the EU. Ministers should now set their sights higher and move quickly to negotiate a new UK-EU customs union.

"Keir Starmer also urgently needs to raise the case of Jagtar Singh Johal at his meeting with Prime Minister Modi today. It's unacceptable that Jagtar has now been arbitrarily jailed for over eight years, with allegations from human rights groups that he has faced torture. Rather than trying to sweep this under the rug, our Prime Minister needs to show his backbone today and call for Jagtar's immediate release."

ENDS