LIVE: Keir Starmer Grilled at PMQs Amid India Trade Deal

The trade secretary has said he would never undercut British workers, as he accused the Tories of attacking the India trade deal because they were unable get it “across the line”.

READ MORE: www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/britain-india…

Jonathan Reynolds described Britain’s new agreement with India as “a smasher of a deal” and accused the Conservatives and Reform of being “unable to accept” that a Labour government had done something they could not.

Britain’s £5 billion-a-year free trade agreement with India has been criticised for offering a controversial tax break to Indian workers and companies.

Ministers conceded to demands to exempt Indian workers and companies from paying national insurance contributions for up to three years on staff seconded to the UK. However, Reynolds told Times Radio: “No British worker is undercut.”

He told Sky News: “This is the Conservatives — and Reform — unable to accept that this Labour government has done what they couldn’t do and get this deal across the line.”

The agreement, which is the biggest involving trade since Brexit, will result in Indian taxes on British exports such as whisky and cars falling by up to 90 per cent. It is expected to increase trade between the two countries by almost 40 per cent and boost GDP by £4.8 billion within 15 years.

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