After facing disastrous results in United Kingdom, Kemi Badenoch on Saturday became the first Black woman to lead Britain’s Conservative Party as she succeeded Rishi Sunak in the House of Commons as the Leader of Opposition. The 44-year-old Nigerian-heritage parliamentarian defeated former Cabinet minister Robert Jenrick after a three-month-long leadership election following Sunak’s resignation after the Tories suffered a bruising general election defeat on July 4.The shadow secretary of state for Housing, Communities and Local Government began by thanking her predecessor – who was the first British Indian leader of the party.”I want to thank Rishi, no one could have worked harder in such difficult times. Rishi, thank you for everything you did. We all wish you and your wonderful family the very best for the future,” said Badenoch in her acceptance speech.Rishi Sunak took to social media to extend his support. “Congratulations to Kemi Badenoch on being elected Conservative Party leader. I know that she will be a superb leader of our great party. She will renew our party, stand up for Conservative values, and take the fight to Labour. Let’s unite behind her,” he said.What does Kemi’s appointment say for India?Badenoch is likely to run for PM in the next UK general elections scheduled for 2029. Badenoch’s victory confirms a further shift to the right for the UK’s oldest political party, suggesting it may take a more hardline approach toward immigration, climate measures and culture politics in opposition, reported ToI. Having previously served as business and trade secretary and dealt with free trade agreement (FTA) talks with India, Badenoch indicated during the course of the Tory leadership campaign that she blocked the deal over demands for more visas. The FTA negotiations, which were paused for general elections in both countries, are aimed at significantly enhancing the estimated GBP 38.1 billion a year bilateral trading partnership.”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 told ‘The Telegraph’.Both candidates had put immigration in the spotlight during the campaign, with Jenrick singling out India as one of the countries that should be subjected to tough visa restrictions across all categories unless it takes back its nationals who enter Britain illegally.Badenoch, meanwhile, condemned new migrants bringing their disputes from India to cause unrest on the streets of the country.”I saw as equalities minister people bringing cultural disputes from India to the streets of Leicester,” she said back in September.UK-India FTA deal closer?All in all, however, the situation remains positive for India as the UK is very keen to clinch the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India and is building towards that magic moment, Britain’s minister in charge of the Indo-Pacific said during a special Diwali reception in London. Catherine West, parliamentary under-secretary of state in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), referenced the previous Conservative government’s Diwali 2022 deadline to complete the FTA negotiations as she reiterated the recently elected Labour government’s commitment to get the deal done.”As the new government, we’re still extremely keen to be getting on with our trade deal, which was meant to be signed a couple of Diwalis ago. But we don’t mind, what’s a Diwali between friends,” said West, addressing the FCDO’s gathering of parliamentarians, community leaders and professionals at Lancaster House to celebrate the Festival of Lights.”Our new Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is in the works, and all of these things go to building towards that magic moment where we light the candle on the free trade agreement. While I’m thinking of a lot of different things (this Diwali), it would be good to light the candle on that deal. Please pray for those negotiations, so we can have the light that goes on to the best positive feelings and the magic that you do get when you get a deal,” she said.(with agency inputs)Nominations for ET MSME Awards are now open. The last day to apply is November 30, 2024. Click here to submit your entry for any one or more of the 22 categories and stand a chance to win a prestigious award.
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