Rishi Sunak is due to meet his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in New Delhi Photo: Leon Neal/Reuters
Prime Minister refuses to offer more work and student visas to India to secure a free trade agreement with the country.
Rishi Sunak flew to New Delhi on Thursday evening for the G20 summit, where he will hold talks with Narendra Modi. , India's prime minister, on his first visit to India since arriving in Downing Street.
It is understood Mr Modi's negotiators had previously demanded more visas for nurses and IT specialists as a price for the deal with India. UK
However, No 10's spokesman insisted that any free trade agreement (FTA) would focus only on «trade and business», adding: «Immigration is a separate issue.»
The move will be seen as a victory for Conservatives on the right of the party, who feared the government was preparing to offer major concessions on visas — a move that Suella Braverman, the home secretary, opposes — amid soaring net migration rates.
India already receives the largest number of student visas of any country, and Ms. Braverman is particularly concerned about the increase in illegal arrivals from India.
Net migration stands at 2,605
Mr Sunak's spokesman said: “This is a trade deal. It is oriented towards trade and business. The only aspect of the movement of people covered by a free trade agreement is business mobility, that is, the temporary movement of business people for specific purposes.
“We have no plans to change our immigration policies to achieve a free trade agreement or achieve free trade agreements. this is a free trade agreement.”
Asked about reports that Ms Braverman had raised concerns with the Cabinet Office about possible visa easing, the spokesman added: “The Prime Minister has made it clear that he believes current levels of migration are too high. He and the Home Secretary are united in their commitment to reducing net migration.
“To be clear, we have no plans to change our immigration policy to achieve this free trade agreement. This includes student visas.”
Ministers also ruled out any relaxation on skilled worker visas for Indians.
Mr Sunak's meeting with Mr Modi on Saturday is expected to include discussions on outstanding elements of the agreement, including disputes over tariffs on alcohol and the UK's demands to limit the production of cheap generic drugs.
Mr Sunak speaks to reporters on his way to the G20 summit on Thursday evening. Photo: GETTY IMAGES
A government source said Mr Sunak would not accept a replacement-standard deal, despite pressure from the Indian government to reach an agreement quickly. «We're not going to get a worse deal because there's some momentum right now,» they said.
On Thursday, Vikram Doraiswamy, India's High Commissioner in London, said the country is also asking that its workers' pension pots be made «portable» so that they can be carried back when Indian citizens return home after working in Britain.
Mr Sunak is also expected to call on Mr Modi, as host of the G20 summit, to end neutrality over Russia's intervention in Ukraine. Its spokesman said: «India, as the world's largest democracy, of course has a vital role to play in exposing Russian attacks on human rights and, indeed, on democracy itself.»
«We will use meetings with Modi or elsewhere to encourage them to use this influence to end Putin's brutal invasion.»
Countries with which the UK has struck post-Brexit trade deals
Mr Modi also can express his desire to return the island of Ko. Diamond-i-Nur and other artifacts were exported to Great Britain.
It had previously been thought that a trade deal between the two countries would be announced during Mr Sunak's visit to the G20 meeting. During his visit to India as prime minister last April, Boris Johnson raised the prospect of a quick strike.
Sources on both sides have downplayed the likelihood of a quick deal. An Indian official said: “It is unlikely that a trade deal can be concluded this week.
“Both countries agreed to temporarily waive contentious issues such as visas, lower wine tariffs and protection of Indian industry, including generic drug makers.”
Addressing the issue of immigration being part of the discussions, a government source said: “The only issue being discussed is business mobility, which is very specific to companies moving and affects a limited number of people. We want to make it easier for Indian companies to trade, but we don't provide visas in trade transactions.”
India is pushing for more visas for nurses, care workers, IT professionals and financial advisers. however, a British source said: «Whatever needs to be agreed must be very specific, targeted and work for the UK economy.»
On Thursday, the government's message appeared to be accepted by the Indian government.
Mr Doraiswamy told Times Radio: “We never said visas were part of our request. We are not asking that migrants be allowed to come here… we are a net recipient of migration and not a net hub of migrants.»
Som Parkash, India's Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, added: «The visa issue will be to be discussed separately.»
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