Building stronger ties with India a priority for Labour, says minister
Catherine West's comments were made at the Diwali reception held jointly by the newly formed “India All Party Parliamentary Group” and the High Commission of India.
Baroness
Sandip Verma (left) and Catherine West
By Amit RoyOct 17, 2024
GOOD relations with India are of paramount importance for the government, a Labour minister has said.
Equally important is the need to conclude the UK-India Free Trade Agreement. This was stated by Catherine West, the parliamentary under-secretary (IndoPacific) at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Her comments were made last Wednesday (9) at the Diwali reception held jointly by the newly formed “India All Party Parliamentary Group” and the High Commission of India.
The venue chosen was the Cinnamon Club, the upmarket Indian restaurant in Great Smith Street, a short walk from the Palace of Westminster.
The minister’s responsibilities – which she confirmed to Eastern Eye – include “India and the Indian Ocean; China and Northeast Asia; Southeast Asia and the Pacific; economic security and growth; economics and evaluation; technology and analysis; departmental operations, including legal affairs”.
West, who was born on September 14, 1966, in Mansfield, Australia, and came to Britain with her husband Colin Sutherland in 1998 – he is now co-director of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine’s Malaria Centre – has been a Labour MP since 2015. She now represents Hornsey and Friern Barnet.
She appears experienced in dealing with overseas affairs. She held shadow minister roles for Asia and the Pacific (2021 to 2024), Europe and the Americas (2020 to 2021), Sport (2020), and Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (2015 to 2017). She was previously a member of the International Trade Select Committee (2017 to 2018) and the Foreign Affairs Select Committee (2018 to 2019).
She joined the Labour Party in 1998 and became a caseworker for Tottenham MP David Lammy, now her boss as the foreign secretary.
West was introduced to guests by Baroness Sandip Verma, a Tory active in UKIndia business affairs.
The upbeat mood of the Diwali party changed suddenly when news came through, while the Indian high commissioner Vikram Doraiswami was speaking, that Ratan Tata had passed away in India.
Lord Karan Bilimoria, the co-chair of the India All Party Parliamentary Group, said: “We had a minute’s silence.”
The other co-chair is Dr Jeevun Gurpreet Singh Sandher, the newly elected Labour MP for Loughborough. He was born in the UK into a Sikh family from Jalandhar in Punjab. His knowledge of economics will come in useful in dealing with UK-India business affairs.
Sandher was awarded an MSc in Economic Development and Policy Analysis and a BA in Economics and Philosophy from the University of Nottingham. He graduated with a PhD in Political Economy from King’s College London in 2022. Before undertaking his doctorate, Sandher worked in Somaliland as an economist in the Ministry of Finance. He has also had roles in HM Treasury, and the Department for Work and Pensions, where he advised on budgeting, macroeconomic policy, inequality, poverty and social security.
(From left) Chandrajit Banerjee, Dr Jeevun Gurpreet Singh Sandher, Lord Karan Bilimoria and Vikram Doraiswami at the Diwali reception last Wednesday (9)
Bilimoria, a crossbench peer, said the All-Party Parliamentary Group had met West to discuss India and had found the government to be “very supportive”.
He explained how the All Party Parliamentary Group, a recent creation, had evolved: “For many years, we’ve had the Indo-British All Party Parliamentary Group, of which I was a vice-chairman for many years, and Virendra Sharma (who stepped down as Labour MP for Ealing Southall at the general election) was the chair for many years. And then a few years ago, we formed the UK-India Trade and Investment all party parliamentary group, which I was a co-chair of. And after the new parliament and the elections, we decided to merge them into one India All Party Parliamentary Group, which would look after all aspects of the UK-India relationship, including trade and investment, culture, movement of people, security, business and bilateral investment.”
He went on: “We’ve got visiting chief ministers of states coming in the next couple of weeks, and we will be hosting them in Parliament. It gives an opportunity for any visiting delegation to interact with parliamentarians, and for parliamentarians to meet them and learn more about what’s happening in India. And I think more and more people are realising the prominence and the importance of India as the fastest growing major economy in the world. It will continue to be so for years to come. And there is generally a growing interest in parliament on all aspects to do with India. And our group will be the focal point for informing parliamentarians and allowing parliamentarians to engage with India. And, of course, we will have delegations going out. That’s another one of our objectives.”
He explained the advantages of having a group whose members included both peers and members of the Commons: “One of the great strengths is that this is one of the few initiatives that bring together both houses. Because, on the whole, we operate very separately. The House of Lords and House of Commons – we don’t have that much interaction with each other. The All Party Group is cross party. So that makes them much, much more effective. And they deal with whoever is the government of the day.”
Guests at the Diwali party included Chandrajit Banerjee, director general of the Confederation of Indian Industry, Bilimoria pointed out.
At the All Party Parliamentary Group, “we will focus on the Free Trade Agreement,” Bilimoria emphasised. “After 14 rounds of negotiations, we will be doing our best to help get that over the line.”
Bilimoria also spoke about Tata, a fellow Parsi who had been a key figure on the Indo-British scene: “I was very fortunate to know Ratan Tata personally for over two decades. I’ve shared a platform with him many times. We were both members of the Cambridge India board, although he didn’t go to Cambridge University himself. His family historically have had a strong association with Cambridge University, and especially Gonville ad Caius College, which Dorabji Tata attended, as did Homi Bhabha, the scientist. Ratan Tata attended every single meeting we had in India.
“The Tata group has always been one of India’s largest business groups and conglomerates. Under his leadership it has gone from strength to strength. Its market capitalisation today is over $400 billion; it’s approaching $500 billion, making it one of the largest companies in the world.
“The best thing about Ratan Tata was the charitable work. He just continually did non-stop philanthropy. The reputation of the Tatas and Ratan Tata himself been an absolute inspiration. He was a national hero. The whole country wanted to show how much people respected him. And I’ve seen what a huge impact he’s had on UK-India relations.”
TATA STEEL UK has started construction of a new Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) at its Port Talbot site in South Wales. Tata Group chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran marked the groundbreaking ceremony on July 14, joined by Tata Steel CEO and managing director TV Narendran and Tata Steel UK CEO Rajesh Nair.
The EAF project is part of Tata Steel UK’s £1.25 billion plan to transition to low-carbon steelmaking, backed by £500 million from the UK government. The furnace is expected to be commissioned by the end of 2027 and aims to reduce carbon emissions at Port Talbot by about 90 per cent, or 5 million tonnes of CO₂ annually. The project is expected to support 5,000 jobs.
“This is an important day for Tata Group, Tata Steel and for the UK,” said Mr Chandrasekaran. “Today’s groundbreaking marks not just the beginning of a new Electric Arc Furnace, but a new era for sustainable manufacturing in Britain. At Port Talbot, we are building the foundations of a cleaner, greener future, supporting jobs, driving innovation, and demonstrating our commitment to responsible industry leadership.”
Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: “This is our Industrial Strategy in action and is great news for Welsh steelmaking backing this crucial Welsh industry, which will give certainty to local communities and thousands of local jobs for years to come.”
Wales Secretary Jo Stevens said: “The UK Government acted decisively to ensure that steelmaking in Port Talbot will continue for generations to come, backing Tata Steel with £500 million to secure its future in the town.”
The Port Talbot EAF will produce up to 3 million tonnes of steel per year using UK-sourced scrap. Construction is being led by Sir Robert McAlpine, with support from regional contractors and technology providers including Tenova, ABB, and Clecim.
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Starmer and Reeves during a visit to Horiba Mira in Nuneaton in Nuneaton. (Photo: Getty Images)
PLANS by Labour to overhaul the tax rules for non-domiciled residents in the UK could cost the public purse up to £4 billion and result in the loss of thousands of private sector jobs, according to a new analysis.
A report by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), shared with The Times, suggested that scrapping the current non-dom regime could lead to a sharp drop in tax revenues if even a fraction of those affected decide to leave the country.
The thinktank estimates that if a quarter of non-doms - roughly 10,000 individuals - moved abroad, tax receipts could fall by £4.6bn over the next five years. That figure could rise to nearly £8bn if half of them departed.
The CEBR’s model, based on the approach used by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), also predicted that such a shift could cause the UK to lose between 3,100 and 6,300 jobs, depending on how many wealthy residents choose to relocate.
This potential tax shortfall poses a serious challenge for chancellor Rachel Reeves, who currently has £9.9bn in fiscal headroom. Experts warn that this cushion could be halved or even wiped out by the autumn due to other financial pressures, such as changes to welfare payments and weaker-than-expected economic growth.
Although Labour has stood by its commitment to end the non-dom tax regime, Reeves is now believed to be considering a partial rethink. Specifically, she may drop plans to apply inheritance tax to non-doms' worldwide assets, following concerns that the proposal could accelerate the departure of wealthy individuals.
“We’re continuing to work with stakeholders to ensure the new system remains competitive on the international stage,” a Treasury spokesperson said, noting the importance of attracting global talent and investment.
Some high-profile figures have already indicated they might leave, including steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal.
Lakshmi Mittal
According to Companies House filings, more than 4,400 directors have stepped down from UK-based firms in the past year, with April departures up 75 per cent compared to the same month in 2024. Most of those exits were from finance, insurance, and property - sectors with high numbers of non-doms.
According to the report, the policy change is triggering an exodus of top earners. The centuries-old non-dom system allowed wealthy foreign residents to shield overseas income from UK taxes for a flat annual fee starting at £30,000. In its place, the government introduced a stricter residence-based scheme.
Now, anyone living in Britain for more than four years must pay income and capital gains tax on global income, with inheritance tax at 40 per cent also looming if they stay longer.
Sam Miley of the CEBR warned that even small economic shifts could have wider implications. “Our findings show the changes would negatively affect the economy, albeit modestly,” he was quoted as saying. “At a time of limited fiscal space, even marginal losses matter.”
Andrew Barclay, who runs the entrepreneur-led group Land of Opportunity, which commissioned the report, said: “It’s increasingly clear that abolishing non-dom status could do real harm to the economy and public finances. There’s still time to stop the outflow.”
A recent Oxford Economics survey of tax advisers found that 60 per cent expect over 40 per cent of their non-dom clients to leave the UK within two years of the changes taking effect.
While the exact number of departures remains unclear, the list of wealthy individuals who have already moved abroad includes billionaire Anne Beaufour, investor Max Gottschalk, and boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, among others.
Meanwhile, Labour faces growing pressure to strike a balance between tax fairness and maintaining the UK’s status as a global hub for wealth and investment.
US CARMAKER Tesla is finally making its official debut in India with the opening of its first showroom in Mumbai.
The firm, led by Elon Musk, will unveil the new “Tesla Experience Centre” on Tuesday (15) at Maker Maxity Mall in the Bandra Kurla Complex, one of the city's top commercial hubs.
This marks Tesla’s first formal step into the Indian market, after years of delays and speculation. According to official records, the company has already imported around $1 million (£780,000) worth of cars, charging equipment, and accessories into the country—mostly from China and the US.
Among the imported vehicles are six units of the popular Model Y, with five standard versions valued at £25,350 each and one long-range model at £35,880. Several Tesla Superchargers were also shipped in as part of the initial setup.
Although India has been eager to welcome Tesla, including introducing policies to encourage local production, the company has chosen to start with imports.
This means Tesla will have to pay high import duties - nearly 70 per cent - making its cars much pricier in India compared to other markets. The government has offered lower duties of 15 per cent for companies willing to invest $500m (£390m) and set up manufacturing locally, but so far, Tesla has not agreed to those terms.
Reports suggest Tesla is not currently interested in building a factory in India. Musk had previously planned a visit to the country in 2024, during which he was expected to announce a multi-billion-dollar investment, but the trip was cancelled at the last minute.
Despite the absence of local production, Tesla appears committed to growing its presence. It has started hiring in India, filling positions for showroom advisors, service engineers, vehicle testers for its Autopilot system, and other roles in cities like Mumbai and Delhi.
The Indian EV market is growing rapidly, with local player Tata Motors and Chinese firm BYD already established in the sector. Tesla’s entry is expected to increase competition and raise interest in premium electric vehicles, even as high costs remain a concern for most buyers.
(with inputs from agencies)
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UK-based Nanak Hotels acquired the 60-room Kings Court Hotel in Warwickshire for £2.75 million. (Photo: Colliers International UK)
UK-BASED Nanak Hotels recently acquired the 60-room Kings Court Hotel, a 17th-century property in Warwickshire, England, for £2.75 million. This is the first regional acquisition by the privately held firm led by British Indians Harpreet Singh Saluja and Karamvir Singh.
Nanak Hotels, which operates a UK property portfolio, plans to invest in the property's refurbishment and repositioning, according to a statement from Colliers International UK, which brokered the transaction.
“We’re excited to bring Kings Court Hotel into our portfolio as our first Warwickshire acquisition,” said Saluja. “It has a solid foundation and loyal customer base. We see potential to develop the hotel while preserving its heritage.”
The West Midlands hotel, on a 4.2-acre site between Alcester and Redditch, began as a 17th-century farmhouse and now operates as a hospitality business with public areas, event and conference facilities and wedding capacity for up to 130 guests.
The hotel’s previous owner said Kings Court had been central to their work for over 30 years.
“It’s been a privilege to grow it into what it is today,” the owner said. “As we retire, we’re pleased to see it pass to a new owner who shares our commitment to hospitality and has a vision for its future.”
“The sale of Kings Court Hotel drew strong interest due to its size, location and trading performance,” said Josh Sullivan and Peter Brunt of Colliers International UK. “We’re pleased to have completed the transaction with Nanak Hotels and look forward to seeing how they develop the asset.”
In February, UK-based Shiva Hotels, led by founder and CEO Rishi Sachdev, secured $372m (£289m) to renovate The BoTree in Marylebone, London. Separately, Indian tech firm Oyo announced a $62m (£48m), three-year plan to expand its UK hotel portfolio by acquiring inventory and securing leasehold and management contracts, supporting 1,000 jobs.
PRIYA NAIR has been appointed as the CEO and managing director of Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL), effective from August 1. She will be the first woman to lead the company in its history.
The announcement was made by HUL on Thursday (10). Nair, who currently serves as president, Beauty & Wellbeing at Unilever, will take over the role from Rohit Jawa, who will step down on July 31 to pursue other interests.
She has been appointed for a five-year term and will also join the HUL board, subject to necessary approvals. She will continue to be a member of the Unilever Leadership Executive.
Nair began her career with HUL in 1995 and has held various roles across sales and marketing in the company’s Home Care, Beauty & Wellbeing, and Personal Care businesses.
Between 2014 and 2020, she served as executive director, Home Care and later as executive director, Beauty & Personal Care from 2020 to 2022. She then moved to a global role as the chief marketing officer for Beauty & Wellbeing at Unilever, and in 2023, was named president of the business.
Under her leadership, the Beauty & Wellbeing division has grown into a more than £10 billion global business covering hair care, skin care, prestige beauty, and health and wellbeing, including vitamins, minerals and supplements.
She has overseen brand building, innovation, revenue growth, digital transformation, and profit delivery.
Speaking on her appointment, HUL chairman Nitin Paranjpe said, “Priya has had an outstanding career in HUL and Unilever. I am certain that with her deep understanding of the Indian market and excellent track record, Priya will take HUL to the next level of performance.”
Nair’s appointment comes after Jawa’s two-year term, during which the company focused on volume-led growth. “On behalf of the Board of HUL, I would like to thank Rohit for leading the business through tough market conditions and strengthening its foundations for success,” Paranjpe added.
Over her 28-year career, Nair has built and managed several leading consumer brands. She is recognised for turning around underperforming businesses and leading cross-functional teams.
The Indian executive has also served as an independent director on the board of a publicly listed Indian company, a board member of the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), and a member of several government-backed partnerships and industry bodies.
Nair currently lives in London with her husband and daughter.