Developing trade agreements

Theresa May discovered what fun it is negotiating trade agreements on her visit to India last week.

Having arrived with a package of 'investments' in her briefcase which she could 'announce' she found herself up against fairly stoney-faced Indian politicians pointing out the difficulties of obtaining visas for the UK, especially amongst students.

The Times of India called her Muddled May and pointed out that A UK-India free trade agreement would be a non-starter as long as the visa issue isn't sorted.

This was echoed by one of the participants, Keith Burnett Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield who said he was 'truly ashamed' by the trip with entries from Indian students significantly down because of the desire to kick them out the moment they had graduated.

No 10 announced, of course, that the mission had been 'a stunning success' and went on to say that 'successful high-value travellers, of the kind most countries are keen to welcome, would have the extra help and advice for their families and themselves.'

What is it that TM does not understand? The revolt by the people of the UK in the referendum is remarkably similar to the rebellion in the USA: against the rich and powerful. Yet here she and her people are encouraging 'successful high-value travellers'. Let's forget the ordinary people, we only want the monied elites. No, no and no!

She was going to govern for all people, remember.

The 'host of commercial deals' that were due to be signed involved investments of various forms, several of them investments into India, witness:

• a £1.2 million joint venture initiative between the Pandrol Group UK and Rahee Group in India – to set up a state-of the-art manufacturing plant in India, supplying metro and Indian rail projects across the country
• a £15 million high-end imaging and diagnostic centre in Chennai to be developed by Lyca Health UK
• a £350 million investment from British start-up, Kloudpad, into high-tech electronics manufacturing in Kochi. The company will create a manufacturing facility and a highly advanced research and development facility allowing them to expand their global reach

These, we are told 'are expected to create 1,370 jobs in the UK, providing a real boost to our workforce and financial security for hundreds of families across the country'.

Will someone explain how investment in India will 'provide a real boost to our workforce in, say, Sunderland who cannot get jobs?