'Another two-tier deal!' Keir Starmer scolded by Tory minister over UK-India agreement: 'Not what Britons voted for'

WATCH NOW: Shadow Policing Minister Matt Vickers speaks to GB News Breakfast

GB News
Georgia Pearce

By Georgia Pearce


Published: 07/05/2025

- 16:53

The Prime Minister told MPs during PMQs that the deal is a 'huge win for working people in this country'

Conservative Shadow Policing Minister Matt Vickers has criticised the Government's trade deal with India, claiming it will disadvantage British workers.

Speaking to GB News, Vickers argued that the agreement negotiated by Labour creates an unfair system.


"When Labour negotiates, Britain loses," he declared.

Vickers welcomed increased global trade opportunities but expressed concern about "where this deal has got to."

Keir Starmer, Matt Vickers

Matt Vickers hit out at Labour's 'two-tier' trade deal with India, claiming that when 'Labour negotiates, Britain loses'

PA / GB News

Vickers highlighted what he described as "another two-tier agreement" emerging under Keir Starmer's Government.

He told GB News: "We welcome the opportunity to do more trade with countries across the globe. But what we don't want, what we don't welcome is quite where this deal's got to. When Labour negotiates, Britain loses.

"We've seen another two-tier agreement coming out of Keir. British workers and British companies across the country are being slammed by Labour's job tax. That increase in national insurance [will have] a huge, huge impact on them."

Meanwhile, according to Vickers, workers coming from India under the new trade agreement will not be subject to National Insurance payments.

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"It's a lose, lose for British taxpayers," Vickers claimed.

He emphasised that employers of British workers will continue paying National Insurance contributions: "In fact, they're paying 20 per cent more. They're paying a fortune in tax now, thanks to Labour's jobs tax," he said.

Meanwhile, those bringing in Indian workers "will be paying less," according to Vickers.

"It's completely wrong. It's not what people out there voted for. It's not what people out there want."

Matt Vickers

Vickers told GB News that the deal is 'not what people voted for'

GB News

Vickers argued the arrangement creates a perverse incentive in the labour market.

"Those bringing transferring Indian workers into this country will be paying less, disincentivising people to come here and employ British workers," he explained.

Defending his deal in Prime Minister's Questions today, Sir Keir Starmer said the agreement with India is a "huge win" for British workers.

He told MPs: "The landmark deal we have secured with India is a huge win for working people in this country. After years of negotiation, this Government has delivered in months slashing tariffs, boosting wages, unleashing opportunities for UK businesses. It's the biggest trade deal the UK has delivered since we left the EU."