British Government

Sunil Bharti Mittal bestowed honorary knighthood by British High Commission

Sunil Mittal, on receiving the honour, expressed his gratitude, "It is an honour to have received the KBE from King Charles III"

Tata Group's N Chandrasekaran honoured with UK's Most Excellent OBE honour

Natarajan Chandrasekaran has been the Chairman of Tata Sons since 2017, having joined its board in October 2016

Grooming gangs: Eight men jailed in UK for sexually abusing teenagers

The survivors, aged 13 and 16 at the time, endured years of abuse that came to light after one came forward as an adult

Elon Musk grooming attacks 'misjudged and misinformed': UK Health Secretary

A senior British politician pushed back Friday on Elon Musk's criticism of the government's handling of a historic child grooming scandal. In recent days, Musk has shared and reacted to posts on his X platform that have been critical of the British government after it rejected a call for a public inquiry into the grooming scandal in the north of England town of Oldham. Though Health Secretary Wes Streeting said Musk's views were was "misjudged and certainly misinformed, he urged the world's richest man and close confidant of US President-elect Donald Trump to work with the government on tackling the issue of child sexual exploitation. The government has argued that Oldham must follow in the footsteps of other towns and commission its own inquiry into the historical abuse of mainly girls. A 2022 report into safeguarding measures in Oldham between 2011 and 2014 found that children were failed by local agencies, but that there was no cover-up despite legitimate concerns that the ...

In another blow to new Labour govt, British economy flatlines in Q3

The British economy flatlined in the third quarter of the year, according to downwardly revised official figures Monday, in another blow to the new Labour government that has made growth its number one mission. In its latest revision of the July to September period, the Office for National Statistics said the British economy showed no growth against the previous estimate of 0.1%. The agency partly blamed the reduction on fresh survey data showing weaker trading across bars and restaurants. The reduction has prompted critics to say that Labour talked down the economy on taking power on July 5 for the first time in 14 years when it described its economic inheritance from the previous Conservative administration as being the worst in generations. Treasury chief Rachel Reeves promised to turbocharge economic growth after Labour won the July election but has now seen the economy stall over the three months to September, while official figures earlier this month also pointed towards a 0.

UK economy shrinks in Oct, suffers first back-to-back declines since 2020

Gross domestic product shrank 0.1 per cent month-on-month in October, as it did in September, the Office for National Statistics said

UK services sector sentiment drops at fastest rate in two years, says CBI

The index represents the difference between the percentages of businesses which say they are more optimistic and those who are more pessimistic

India vital partner, UK committed to foster deeper collab: British minister

The UK is committed to foster deeper cooperation with India as it is a "vital" partner and one of the fastest growing economies in the world, British Minister for Indo-Pacific Catherine West said on Monday as she embarked on a two-day visit to the country. West will continue to unlock the full potential of the UK-India partnership and drive forward greater growth for both countries building upon the ambitions set out by Foreign Secretary David Lammy during his visit to New Delhi in July, a British government readout said. She will also reiterate that the UK remains committed to negotiating a mutually beneficial free trade agreement and bilateral investment treaty, it added. "I am delighted to be visiting India for the first time as Minister for the Indo-Pacific," West said. "As one of the fastest growing economies in the world, India is a vital partner," she said. Minister West's visit will include a meeting at the Ministry of External Affairs where she will reinforce the UK's ...

UK foreign minister Lammy travels to China seeking 'pragmatic' ties

Lammy's visit is not expected to yield major diplomatic agreements or intended to mark a reset in relations

Britain's Labour Party gets back after rocky start in govt, clothes scandal

This should be a time of celebration for Britain's Labour Party, which opens its annual conference Sunday less than three months after winning power in a landslide after 14 years in opposition. But it's no victory lap for Prime Minister Keir Starmer. His government is facing a reckoning with a battered economy and an electorate impatient for change. The mood among Labour members gathering in the northwest England city of Liverpool has been further dampened by a tempest over Starmer's acceptance of freebies at a time when the millions of people are struggling with the cost of living. Starmer insists he followed the rules when he took clothes and designer eyeglasses from Waheed Alli, a media entrepreneur and longtime Labour donor. But after days of negative headlines, the party now says Starmer won't accept any more free outfits. I get that people are angry, said Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, who also accepted donations to pay for clothing. But donations for gifts and hospita

India-UK FTA talks delayed as new British govt yet to form negotiation team

The FTA talks have yet to resume because the UK has not yet appointed its negotiating team, but the process is likely to be finalised soon

PM Starmer announces police unit to counter violence after fatal stabbings

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Thursday that he will create the ability for police forces to work across the UK to crack down on violent protesters after clashes with police across England on the past two nights that followed a horrific stabbing. Starmer condemned the violence by a tiny mindless minority and said: We will put a stop to it. The announcement came after police were pelted with bottles in several cities by what Starmer called marauding mobs who apparently were reacting to a stabbing Monday at a children's dance class that killed three and wounded 10. The attack at a Taylor Swift-themed summer holiday dance class shocked a country where knife crime is a long-standing and vexing problem, though mass stabbings are rare. Far-right activists have used the deaths to stoke anger at immigrants and Muslims though the suspect is not an immigrant, and his religion has not been disclosed. The announcement came as the 17-year-old boy charged with murdering three girls and stabbi

New British Sikh MP Jeevun Sandher wishes for strong India-UK connection

Jeevun Sandher, one of Britain's newest members of Parliament elected in the Labour Party's landslide general election victory earlier this month, is determined to restore trust in politics and strengthen his party's connection with India and its diaspora communities. The British Sikh first-time MP was elected from Loughborough in the East Midlands region of England, considered a bellwether constituency which has reflected the national result in UK general elections over the years. He referenced the visit of UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy to India earlier this week as a symbol of the high level of priority the incoming government places on the relationship as it gets on with the job of delivering change. From a personal perspective, I am a part of the Indian diaspora so I see it as a natural connection, for the Labour Party and the incoming Labour government, he told PTI in an interview at the Parliament complex in London this week. It is a hugely important strategic partnership

Newly-elected British Indian MPs swear oath on Bhagavad Gita, Gutka, Bible

Newly elected Indian-origin MPs to the House of Commons have been pledging their allegiance to the British Crown as a symbol of loyalty to the country, choosing to swear on holy texts or to affirm their oath during the first week of a new Parliament. A new copy of the Bhagavad Gita' presented to Speaker Lindsay Hoyle by Shailesh Vara, former Conservative Party member of Parliament who lost his Cambridgeshire seat in last week's general election, featured early on as Rishi Sunak was among the first British Indian MPs to take his oath as Leader of the Opposition on Tuesday. Holding the text in his right hand, the former prime minister read out the customary text: I swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. First-time MP Kanishka Narayan, who is the first Indian-origin member of Parliament to represent Wales in the Westminster Parliament after winning the Vale of ...

Record 29 Indian-Origin MPs set to shape UK Parliament after 2024 election

Labour has emerged as the predominant party among People of Indian Origin (PIO) MPs, winning 19 seats, marking a substantial rise compared to previous terms

Who is Keir Starmer, the man on course to become new British Prime Minister

The Labour Party, led by Keir Starmer, has won 360 seats and crossed the majority mark of 326 seats to form the government in the UK

Frontrunners trade barbs on economy as UK poll campaign enters final day

Opinion polls show Starmer's Labour Party is set for a big win that would end 14 years of Conservative government

India-UK innings back on track

India's ties with the UK are at an interesting crossroads. Regardless of the direction taken, relations seem poised to move in an upward trajectory

Rishi Sunak faces pre-election turmoil as 78 Tory MPs, key ministers resign

UK faces political shakeup: 78 Conservative Party MPs, including key ministers, announced their exit ahead of snap elections which are slated to be held on July 4

Ships transiting the Gulf, Western Indian Ocean should stay alert: Ambrey

Ambrey said it had received information that indicated an "Israeli military strike" was conducted on Isfahan, Iran