Kemi Badenoch Claims She Blocked India-UK FTA Over Visa Demands

In a bold move that has sparked fresh debate in the ongoing Conservative Party leadership race, Britain’s former Business and Trade Secretary, Kemi Badenoch, has claimed that she blocked the India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) due to India’s demands for increased migration. The revelation comes as Kemi Badenoch, a prominent figure of Nigerian heritage, battles former Cabinet colleague Robert Jenrick in the race to succeed Rishi Sunak as Conservative Party leader and Opposition Leader.

According to media reports in the UK, Kemi Badenoch made the claim during an interview with The Telegraph, stating that her firm stance on immigration was one of the key reasons the FTA could not be signed under the Sunak-led government. “As business secretary, even as I was trying to do things to limit immigration, we had an India FTA where they kept trying to bring in migration and I said no. It’s one of the reasons why we didn’t sign it,” Badenoch reportedly said.

Migration Demands Block FTA Progress

At the heart of Kemi Badenoch’s claim lies the contentious issue of migration, a topic that has long been a flashpoint in the UK’s political landscape. The India-UK FTA, which had the potential to significantly enhance the £38 billion annual trade partnership between the two nations, stalled during negotiations as the Indian government pushed for more visas and access to the UK labor market.

Badenoch’s firm stance on immigration aligns with her broader Conservative ideology, where limiting migration has been a cornerstone policy. Kemi Badenoch argued that conceding to India’s demands would have compromised the UK’s immigration rules, which she was not prepared to do. “Kemi didn’t want to do a deal that would have changed any UK immigration rules. It’s categorically untrue, she would have never done that,” a source close to her told The Times.

However, the claim has been met with skepticism by some of her former ministerial colleagues. A former Cabinet minister, quoted in The Times, suggested that Badenoch had actually been keen to secure a trade deal and was pushing for it regardless of the immigration issue. “Kemi just wanted to get a deal at all costs and didn’t really think that the objections that were being put forward were serious. She said they were ideologically driven, impractical, and weren’t conducive to good relations with the Indians,” said the former minister.

Kemi Badenoch: Power Imbalance in Negotiations

Another perspective offered by Badenoch’s critics points to the significant leverage India held during the negotiations. According to insiders, the power dynamic heavily favored India, placing immense pressure on the UK to make concessions. “The reality was, all the bargaining power was with the Indians, and they had more leverage in negotiations than we did. There was a lot more pressure on us to do all the running,” the ex-minister said.

Despite this, Kemi Badenoch’s camp insists that she was unwilling to budge on the issue of migration. According to a source, India strategically withheld from signing the agreement in the hope that a future Labour government, which is seen as more lenient on immigration, would offer better terms. “India held out because they knew that under a Labour government, they would get a better deal on students and social security,” the source added.

Ongoing Tory Leadership Battle

As the leadership race heats up, immigration has emerged as a key policy area where Kemi Badenoch and Jenrick have clashed. Both contenders are appealing to the estimated 140,000 Conservative Party members who will decide the party’s future leader, with a final decision expected on November 2. Sunak’s resignation after the party’s general election defeat in July has left a power vacuum, and Badenoch is positioning herself as the candidate who will uphold a tough stance on immigration and push forward post-Brexit benefits.

Her claim of blocking the India-UK FTA has added a new layer of complexity to the race. While some members of the party may admire her hardline stance, others may question the long-term implications of failing to secure such a critical trade agreement.

What’s Next for the India-UK FTA?

With the Sunak-led government out of power, all eyes are now on the incoming Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his Labour administration. According to reports from India, FTA negotiations are set to resume next month under Starmer’s leadership, with expectations that a deal might be easier to reach under Labour, which is generally viewed as more flexible on immigration.

However, officials in the UK have refrained from committing to a specific timeline. A spokesperson from 10 Downing Street emphasized the importance of securing a trade deal but did not offer a clear roadmap. “We remain committed to securing a trade deal with India and intend to resume talks as soon as possible,” Starmer’s foreign affairs spokesperson told PTI this week.