To wonder what Starmer was thinking with this one

[sideeyes]

Indian nationals being cheaper to hire in the UK? Not paying NI contributions? What is the massive gain we get from this? As a life-long Labour voter this is just another policy that makes me want to cry. He just doesn’t get it, does he?

Sounds like NI is paid in the home country, similar to an A1 set up currently in place with various European countries.

thinking about negotiating a deal? Where concessions are made for other gains…

Yes but he has no idea how this plays to the audience. He just got a kicking from Reform. He has never had any idea how to do politics.

Or is it fair that if was posted to India for a year by my employer I pay taxes there and here? Or visa versa? It's for employees being moved by their companies temporarily not permanent employment in the uk

Access to skilled labour via secondments is surely exactly the type of temporary, skills based immigration that reform would say is the right way to do it?

Or will they just twist and lie about any move he can possibly make and continue to perpetrate the 'labour lie about everything' deflection

Well it’s a shame if the public is that dumb

is it better that he gets the best deal or that he priorities what it might look like at a brief glance to people who don’t engage their brains just to make a gesture?

As I understand it, it applies to Indian companies employing Indian nationals in the UK. It does not apply to UK companies employing Indians, so not actually nearly as big a deal as some are portraying it.

At least that’s my reading of it. Admittedly it is quite confusing.

It’s impossible to comment on this without understanding what the wider deal is. He’s also not going to beat Reform by imitating them - Reform-supporters will always back the full fat version.

I understand this but that is one of his major weaknesses: he has no idea how to communicate to the audience. He also doesn’t seem to stand for anything. I really do think he’s a waste of a Labour PM.

Also - he’s not beating Reform on his current tack. He needs to align with the EU but hasn’t got the bloody balls

Oh yeah, don’t get me wrong, he’s fine at running stuff, but awful at the comms.

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

Thanks a lot, Keir.

"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.

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?

Exactly. Whatever the bones of the deal, he really is fucking clueless about how to play to the crowd. It’s essential.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

Was Reform even born back then?

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

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.

I don’t know.

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