Reform UK MP Lee Anderson has furiously hit out at Labour’s decision to pen a wide-ranging agreement with India which he fears will result in even more migration to Britain.
He locked horns with ex-Labour MP Stephen Pound who argued in favour of the trade deal which will make it easier for the UK and India to buy and sell goods and services to each other.
The deal, which the British Government has branded the “biggest and most economically significant” since Brexit, has been criticised for its three-year exemption on the social security paid by Indian employees working in the UK on short-term visas.
Lee fears this will promote more migration to Britain, and he questioned Stephen whether Britain “needs” more Indian people.
Lee Anderson was left exasperated by the GB News guest's claims
GB NEWS
“It’s a deal. India has dropped tariffs on things like scotch whiskey”, he said.
“We can now sell to India at a much, much reduced tariff rate. It’s much better for the British economy.”
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Britain's trade deal with India to cost UK £200m a year, analysis showsPAPolitical commentator Emma Woolf weighed in to say there are “bigger concerns” for Britain and Indians will “get a leg up” over Britons.
“Where are they going to live?”, Lee asked, to which Stephen responded: “Company houses.”
Before he could continue his point, Lee Anderson had his head in hands as he despaired at the point made by his debating partner.
“Seriously Stephen, you can’t defend this. This is madness”, he said.
The Government's trade deal with India was hotly debated on GB News
GB NEWS
Woolf claimed that despite Labour's efforts to talk up the deal, there is a much less optimistic economic reality.
She argued: “When we talk about this being the greatest trade deal since Brexit, let’s look at what it actually does.
“It adds around 0.1 per cent on GDP by 2040. By 15 years time, that is pretty pathetic.
“If this is being hailed as an economic triumph, this Government needs to resign and walk out right now.”
Pound hit back: “That says a lot about what a disaster leaving the EU was. If you’re right, what a disaster it was.”
He continued by further defending the Labour Government, highlighting its efforts to deport people at a rapid rate.
Woolf said his point was “irrelevant”, before Lee continued: “You need to stop spouting this nonsense.
“The people this Government is deporting are overstayers and they are being paid £3,000 to leave. Not one of these people they have deported came over on a small boat or on the back of a lorry.
“Stop that nonsense.”
