Narendra Modi ’s victory in the Indian elections this week is not only the biggest democratic mandate of any leader in the world, in a subcontinent with more than 900 million eligible voters — it’s also a vindication of the relationship that successive British prime ministers, led by David Cameron, have built up with the fastest growing country in the G20.
Modi’s second consecutive term in office will raise expectations of more action to accelerate domestic economic reform, create jobs and boost investment in a country where one million young people join the workforce every month and which has a backlog of $1 trillion in infrastructure projects.
It also provides an opportunity for Britain to demonstrate whether Brexit is merely a series of slogans masking economic nationalism or part of a coherent strategy which embraces globalisation and free movement of goods, services, capital and people. It is widely accepted that the economic destiny of the 21st century will be shaped by Asia — China led the way as a key engine of global growth, while India has played an increasingly pivotal role as it picks up the baton from the Chinese.
India’s rise comes at a time when the relationship with China is becoming more complex, exemplified by the ongoing controversy over Huawei and reservations about the Belt and Road Initiative, connecting markets through Chinese-funded investment in infrastructure. The debate is shifting from fair trade and protecting intellectual property to preserving a Western rules- based order based on US hegemony. While India will never provide a substitute for finding the right accommodation with China, it does provide a useful hedge if the new Cold War between the US and China gets frostier.
That is why the UK’s relationship with India is a litmus test for anyone who advocates a brighter future for the UK outside the EU. If we can’t win big with the largest Commonwealth nation, where English is the lingua franca of business, which uses a similar common law system and institutional framework and where more than 1.5 million members of the Indian diaspora provide a “living bridge”, then where can we secure the spoils of Brexit?
When I accompanied Theresa May on her first trade mission to India as Prime Minister, in November 2016, it became clear that top of India’s list would be fair access for its people to study and work in the UK. It is a topic which the Tory leadership hopefuls should think about carefully if they genuinely want to make a success of Brexit. Our new immigration policy will need to be flexible enough to seal a deal with India.
Next month, I am hosting the first ever UK-India Day in Parliament. It provides an opportunity to demonstrate that “Global Britain” is not an empty slogan but a genuine attempt to win friends in a country which will play an increasingly significant role in our future prosperity.
