Conspicuous absence of Indian voice at UK House debate on bilateral trade

A senior politician who describes himself as the “foremost solid advocate of India” in the British Houses of Parliament has launched a stinging attack on the Indian High Commission in London, and accused India of downgrading its relationship with Britain.

Mr Barry Gardiner, a Labour Member of Parliament, who chairs the UK-India Trade and Investment all-party group in the legislature, described the High Commission as “rudderless” following the failure of any representatives to attend a major parliamentary debate on UK-India trade on Wednesday.

“It is absolutely extraordinary. In 15 years I have never known a debate of this nature not being attended by a representative of the Indian High Commission,” he told

Business Line . The debate was the first to take place on India in the current session of Parliament, and the High Commission's failure to send a single representative was indicative of how low down India's list of priorities Britain had fallen, he said.

Also indicative of this was the lack of stability within the High Commission, which had involved a large number of changes in senior positions, he said. “This is a relationship that is more important for the UK, but about which India simply isn't bothered,” he said.

The controversy comes ahead of Prime Minister Mr Manmohan Singh's visit to the UK over the summer. At the time of going to press, no one from the Indian High Commission in London was available for comment.

Responding to the parliamentary debate, Business Minister, Mr David Willets, said trade with India was vital to Britain as it sought to rebalance and rebuild the economy at home.

Mr Gardiner noted that Britain had fallen to India's seventh largest export trading partner in 2010, from fourth a decade ago, and was merely its 22nd largest import partner, providing just 1 per cent of India's imports. “We used to have a strong diplomatic alliance, which has now broken down,” he said.

The debate took place at the behest of Conservative Member of Parliament, Mr Stephen Hammond, who chairs the Conservative Parliamentary Friends of India group. Following the debate he told Business Line that he was “surprised and disappointed” at the lack of High Commission representation.

“There would have been a number of points of interest on both sides — the failure of UK businesses to grapple some of the opportunities in India and, equally, criticism of the pace of liberalisation in India, and regulatory hindrances to business.”

He added, “There is an onus on both Governments to ensure that conditions exist so that trade can thrive.”