India-UK ties will get boost, says minister

London, June 24

Britain’s senior-most Indian-origin minister Priti Patel, who had campaigned vehemently in favour of Brexit, believes today’s historic referendum result in favour of Britain leaving the European Union (EU) will ultimately be good for India-UK ties.

Patel, who has a seat in the UK Cabinet as minister for employment and also serves as PM David Cameron’s Indian diaspora champion, is now expected to play an active role on the front-benches of politics. 

“India is a growing market with the fastest growing working age population of any other major economy - but it is a market that we are forbidden from striking a trade deal with because it is against EU rules...After we Vote Leave, the UK would be free to negotiate its own far-reaching trade deals with India and dozens of other growing economies. It will be a boost to India-UK ties,” she said.

The Gujarati-origin Conservative party minister has also repeatedly made personal references to her own Indian roots on the Vote Leave campaign trail. “They (her parents and grandparents] worked hard to give us a good future and play a positive role in British life. But while we remain a member of the EU, the businesses that we have worked hard to establish are at risk from costly red tape and regulations from Brussels. — PTI