The British government says the new India trade agreement does not...

The British government says the new India trade agreement does not change immigration policy.

But that’s not what the Indian government says.

A quick thread (1/n).

India’s Prime Minister has boasted that this new deal will deliver a Double Contribution Convention - meaning Indian workers in Britain pay less tax than Brits.

The consequences for our labour market could be huge.
x.com/narendramodi/s…

In a press release, the Indian government is clear about what this means.

They call it a “huge win” that will provide a three-year National Insurance Contributions exemption for Indian workers and their employers in the UK. pib.gov.in/PressReleseDet…

Don’t let the Government fool you by downplaying these changes.

Indian officials say this is an “unprecedented achievement” that will “make Indian service providers significantly more competitive in the UK.”

While our government stays silent, the Indian government says the deal “eases mobility” for intra-corporate transferees as well as their partners and dependant children, and people like yoga instructors, musicians and chefs.

These changes will create a massive incentive for UK firms to work with Indian service providers, undercutting domestic workers, companies and contractors.

The Convention puts India in the same column as the EU, US, Canada, and New Zealand, which have deep and extensive connections with our labour market, smaller populations and comparable salaries and living standards. gov.uk/government/pub…

And yet the economic benefit will just be 0.1% additional GDP growth for us.

In other words no meaningful per capita gain at all.

Yet again the benefit of the immigration will go to the immigrant and the cost will fall to the British public. gov.uk/government/pub…

Ministers claim that they have “ensured the points-based immigration system is not affected” but this is as meaningful as it is misleading.

They are conning you, yet again. gov.uk/government/new…