Rishi Sunak faces a new conflict of interest row over India trade talks. Image source: IANS News
New Delhi, August 27: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is facing a fresh conflict of interest ahead of the G-20 summit in New Delhi next month over allegations that his family could benefit financially from a post-Brexit trade deal he is negotiating with India, media reported.
MPs and trade experts say there are concerns at the highest levels of government about potential “transparency” issues surrounding his wife Akshata Murty’s stake – worth around £500m – in Bengaluru-based international IT services and advisory giant Infosys. mentioned.
Labor and the chairman of the House of Commons Business and Trade Committee on Saturday night called on Sunak to be more open about his wife’s financial interests, given that Infosys could be the main beneficiary of any deal. One prominent expert said he should distance himself from trade negotiations altogether.
Darren Jones, chair of the Labor Select Business and Trade Committee, said: “As the prime minister has learned recently, it is important that he declares any interests properly. I would expect him to do so in relation to the Indian trade agreement as well.”
The Guardian newspaper reported that these calls come at a time when former Minister of Culture Nadine Dorries, an outspoken critic of the Prime Minister, resigned from her position as a member of Parliament.
Sunak will attend the G20 summit in New Delhi in two weeks and is expected to discuss trade negotiations between the UK and India in a separate bilateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Guardian reported that Trade Minister Kimi Badinosh returned from India this weekend after holding extensive talks about the deal.
Infosys, which has contracts with the British government as well as many British companies, is known to want to improve access to the country for its many thousands of contract workers through changes to the UK visa regime.
Allowing more visas for workers in sectors such as information technology and artificial intelligence is a key Indian demand in talks on a free trade agreement. The Guardian reported that the UK, for its part, is seeking to reduce high tariffs on exports to India of goods including Scotch whiskey and cars.
Source: IANS
Disclaimer: This story has not been edited by the WBSETCL team and is auto-generated from syndicated feed.
