To wonder what Starmer was thinking with this one

This is exactly the sort of deal we did Brexit for. Farage can't have it both ways.

He's so bad it's almost funny to watch isn't he. Who knows why he does what he does - but he is the PM and labour were voted in so...

Cheap clothes?

We are drowning in cheap clothes. The planet is drowning in cheap clothes.

the Indian rate is 24% (employer and employee) so there is no real saving to either employer or employee

this is purely to ensure individuals who go on a short term secondment do not lose access to their home social security (eg in the UK you don’t miss years paid in for state pension purposes)

this is only for people who are going on short term secondment

I'm no fan of the current governments economic plans but this is a complete storm in a tea cup and shows that people wilfully don’t want to understand

It’s for Indian employees of Indian firms seconded to the U.K. Doesn’t affect U.K. employment at all.

Anyone who thinks you can have a trade deal without giving things away is terribly stupid.

The NI thing is reciprocal so any Uk worker in India won’t pay the equivalent of NI there.

There are so many good things for British exporters in this deal, especially reduced tariffs on Whisky and Cars. Also clothes made in India when imported into the Uk, will be cheaper for us.
But let’s not talk about the good things.

Pure insanity. It's hard enough for (young) people to get a job as it is and this is bound to make it so much worse, especially when UK companies have been hammered with NI employer hikes just last month, so no incentive to hire new workers. Absolutely terrible optics from Labour.

I'm not sure how he gets out of bed and scratches his own balls of a morning tbh

Reform is the party run by Nigel Farage which was formerly known as the Brexit Party.

If there are people voting for Reform who were against Brexit then that is rather bizarre on their part.

One of the much lauded benefits of Brexit was the ability to make our own trade deals. This is one of them. And still they are not happy?

It only applies to Indian companies bringing over Indian nationals. I don’t believe this was negotiated under Labour but, I suspect, Sunak. Although Starmer still gets it in the neck 😂

I don’t know.

Didn’t vote fur Brexit, have never voted for Farage, but am getting a bit bemused now.

Useful distraction from Lucy Powell but A) it has backfired with the NI stuff and B) Lucy issue hasn't gone away

Terrible optics on both and Starmer looks more and more out of touch. He needs to sack her otherwise as otherwise he is defending her and it is indefensible. The NI stuff just plays into Reform's agenda, Farage must be sat rubbing his hands.

UKIP, Brexit Party, Reform, it's all Nigel Farage isn't it? This trade deal is what he wanted to leave the EU for.

Was Reform even born back then?

Reform voters wanted the freedom to make trade deals like this when they voted for Brexit.

Well, I’m not a Reform
voter, and I fear deals like this will land us with a Reform victory.

The Brits seconded over to India will still be paying NI in the UK. This just stops double taxation for a short secondment and ensures people are still qualifying by or their social security in their home country.

This. And so many more comments I can’t be arsed to type.

He’s incompetent at best. Actively working against our interests more my suspicion.

Look I'm a reform voter and even I support this. We are not talking about Jabber the gardener here. Indian and British companies are not going to temp relocate the gardener, receptionist or cleaner...it will be high level employees who will add value.
We are also talking people of working age in full time employment so very unlikely to use the nhs.

And where is the fairness in the large number of people who bought a place in the sun in spain, France etc, paid no uk tax, vat, etc then come back when they need medical treatment?
How many people do you think will be temp transferred ? A few thousand tops.
We need managed migration...this is part of it

Who will pay for their medical care etc? While there may be handwashing deal on the income tax n earnings what about the NICs hat should be due to be paid by the employee and employer? Will there be an enforcement of minimum wage rules?
The other issue is the complete fallure to read the room.

You should be paying tax and NI where you live and work because that’s where you use services.

If Indian workers are exempt from NI contributions then who will be paying for their NHS treatment?

"The exemption applies to the staff of Indian companies temporarily transferred to the UK, and to UK firms' workers transferred to India. Social security contributions will be paid by employers and employees in their home country only, rather than in both places.
The UK already has similar reciprocal "double contribution convention" agreements with 17 other countries including the EU, the US and South Korea, the government said"

Says the BBC.

Suspect this one is being whipped up by racists.

The headlines are already looking bad, he is handing more voters over to Reform UK.

Thanks a lot, Keir.