Lammy and Reynolds to discuss new ‘UK-India strategic partnership’ on three-day visit to Delhi and Mumbai

Today, Monday 5th February, Shadow Foreign Secretary, David Lammy MP, and Shadow Business and Trade Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds MP, have begun a three-day visit to India, where they will discuss Labour’s proposals for a new ‘UK-India strategic partnership’ with counterparts and business leaders.

On the joint visit, Lammy and Reynolds will say “India is a prime example of how Labour’s foreign, industrial, business and trade policy will work hand in glove” to help deliver Keir Starmer’s mission to make the UK the country with the highest sustained growth in the G7.

India is projected to become the third largest economy in the world by 2030. The Conservative government have so-far failed to deliver the much-anticipated UK-India free trade agreement, which Boris Johnson had promised to deliver by Diwali 2022.

On the visit, Lammy and Reynolds will meet with senior Indian politicians including External Affairs Minister, Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar; Commerce and Industry Minister, Piyush Goyal, as well as Railways, IT and Telecoms Minister: Ashwini Vaishnaw. They will also be holding meetings with senior business leaders, including from Essar Group, TCS, Piramal Group, HDFC, as well as visiting the stock exchange in Mumbai.

Labour’s proposed strategic partnership will use a future FTA as a starting block to build a closer partnership on technology, as well as economic, climate and global security.

The pair will also highlight Labour's plans to build a Clean Power Alliance with international partners, using diplomatic efforts to help drive the clean energy transition across the globe.

From Delhi, Labour Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, David Lammy MP, and Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds MP, said:

“For too many years, the Conservative government have overpromised and undelivered on the UK’s relationship with India. We still haven’t seen the trade deal that was promised by Diwali 2022.

“Labour will offer a fresh approach. India is a prime example of how Labour’s foreign, industrial, business and trade policy will work hand in glove to help deliver Keir Starmer’s mission to make the UK the country with the highest sustained growth in the G7.

“Labour’s ambition for working with India does not stop with a trade deal. India is on track to become the world’s third largest economy by 2030 and Labour is committed to deepening our relationship for the modern era. We are in Delhi discussing the need for a new UK-India strategic partnership that focuses on new and green technologies, economic security, domestic security and global security.”