LONDON: Rival camps took to the Thames on Wednesday to enlist support as the “Remain in EU” camp made a forceful plea to learn from the success of federalism in India and to vote to stay in the 28-nation bloc during the June 23 referendum.
Four lawmakers – two MPs and two members of the House of Lords – debated the question “Would Brexit benefit India” . They included Bob Blackman and Archibald Hamilton for “Vote Leave”, and Stephen Pound and Dolar Popat for Remain. Making a forceful plea for Britain to remain in the EU, Labour MP Pound said :“Don’ t be terrified of EU’ sf ed era li sm; look at India’s successful federalism. Britain’ s bilateral ism with India will suffer if we vote to leave EU .” On claims that Britain was better off trading with the Commonwealth than the EU, Pound said “it is not an either, or”.
Hamilton, who was defence minister in Margaret Thatcher government, said Britain was unable to have a free trade deal with India due to EU membership. Noting India is the third largest investor in Britain, Pop at highlighted the “Make in India“programme and said Indian firms came to Britain to access the 500 million-strong EU market. Blackman said it was unfair Indian professionals have to go through hoops to get a visa, while unskilled EU nationals could walk in.