Press Trust of India
London, June 15: India’s federal structure has been cited as an example in favour of maintaining the UK’s membership within the European Union (EU). At a debate entitled ‘Would Brexit Benefit India?’ at a House of Commons committee room Tuesday, parliamentarians argued over the fallout of a potential vote in favour of Britain’s exit from the EU in the June 23 referendum.”India will carry on doing what it does best (in the event of Brexit). It is this country that we need to focus on. Let’s stay trading with Europe and the great federal nation that is India,” said Stephen Pound, MP for Ealing North – a heavily Indian-origin constituency of London.
“Don’t be terrified of EU’s federalism; look at India’s successful federalism. Britain’s bilateralism with India will suffer if we vote to leave the EU,” he added. He was joined on the side in favour of Britain remaining in the EU by Lord Dolar Popat, who said it was “vital for India that we remain part of the large EU family” and that “leaving will be like a bomb for the UK economy”. The opposing side was represented by Bob Blackman, MP for Harrow East – another heavily Indian-origin area of London – and Lord Hamilton, former UK defence minister. They both argued that professionals from India would be met with a fairer immigration system once Britain was able to curtail migration from the EU.
