‘Always been in favour of…’: British PM Boris Johnson signals visa flexibility with India

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has signalled that he was ready to offer more visas to India in return for a free-trade deal after Britain’s exit from the European Union.

Speaking to reporters, Johnson said, “I have always been in favour of talented people coming to this country.”

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“We are short to the tune of hundreds of thousands of people in our economy and we need to have a progressive approach and we will.”

Johnson will on Thursday begin his long-delayed visit from Ahmedabad where he will meet business leaders to discuss thriving commercial, trade and people links between the two countries.

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The British Prime Minister will then travel to New Delhi to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday.

While speaking to reporters on the plane on his way to India, Johnson indicated that he was ready to be more accommodating on issues that could stall the post-Brexit deal with India, according to Reuters.

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Earlier, Johnson’s office said that the two leaders will hold “in-depth talks on the UK and India’s strategic defence, diplomatic and economic partnership, aimed at bolstering our close partnership and stepping up security co-operation in the Indo-Pacific.”

His visit is also being watched closely for a possible attempt from Johnson to coax India away from Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine as New Delhi stood back from international efforts to criticise President Vladimir Putin by abstaining from UN votes.

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“My visit to India will deliver on the things that really matter to the people of both our nations – from job creation and economic growth, to energy security and defence,” Johnson had said last week.