UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is slated to participate in India’s G20 summit this September. During his visit, Sunak plans to address UK-India trade discussions in a separate bilateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
However, Sunak is currently facing criticism due to concerns about a potential conflict of interest. A report from The Guardian suggests that Indian IT firm Infosys could benefit from a UK-India trade deal, and as Sunak’s wife, Akshata Murty, possesses shares valued at around £500 million in Infosys, his role is seen as conflicting.
Darren Jones, the Labour chair of the business and trade select committee, has urged Sunak to address the allegations surrounding the conflict of interest. Committee members have also pressed the UK government to allow them to visit India to investigate the matter further.
Jones remarked, “It’s important he declares any interests properly. I expect him to do so in respect of the India trade deal too.”
Notably, Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch recently visited India, laying the groundwork for anticipated trade negotiations.
Experts predict that through the trade deal, Infosys and other Indian IT companies might seek revisions to the UK’s visa policy to facilitate easier access for their staff to work in the country. In the negotiations for a free-trade agreement with the UK, India is anticipated to request more visas for its IT and AI sector employees.
Alan Manning, an economics professor at the London School of Economics, who chaired the migration advisory committee from 2016 to 2020, explained why India would prioritize the IT sector in trade talks. “Software services are one of India’s biggest export sectors, and India will be looking for opportunities to grow them in their trade deals, including with the UK,” he noted.
Considering Sunak’s family’s potential financial interest in immigration deals, Manning suggested that the prime minister should abstain from negotiations involving immigration to avoid perceptions of conflict of interest.
On this matter, Shadow Trade Secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds emphasized transparency. He stated, “it is important that he [the prime minister] is transparent about any relevant business links and his personal role in negotiations.”
Meanwhile, a UK government spokesperson responded, “The prime minister’s interests have been declared in accordance with the normal processes.”
Reportedly, the UK aims to negotiate reductions in high tariffs applied to goods like Scotch whisky and cars that are exported to India.
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