UK-India trade deal: Government risks “undercutting” British businesses with “half-baked” national insurance plans

EMBARGO: Immediate Release

The Indian government has said that the agreed trade deal with the UK has secured an “unprecedented achievement” through negotiating an exemption for Indian workers and their employers from paying national insurance contributions.

It added that “this will make Indian service providers significantly more competitive in the UK”. The UK government has said that it is yet to do an impact assessment on the changes.

Responding, Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said:

“This deal risks undercutting British workers at a time when they’re already being hammered by Trump’s trade war and Labour's misguided jobs tax.

“The Government’s failure to even publish an impact assessment of these changes gives the impression of something that is completely half-baked.

"It shows exactly why Parliament needs the opportunity to debate and vote on trade deals. We Liberal Democrats are clear, we cannot vote for any trade deal that undercuts British workers in this way.

“With trade talks with the US continuing, it doesn’t give us much hope for any Trump trade deal this Government negotiates.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Reporting can be found here: https://x.com/SamCoatesSky/status/1919762840811962641